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HAPPY birthday, Paultons!

Exactly 25 years ago today, the Hampshire theme park that was once the grounds of a large country mansion opened its doors to the public for the first time.

Over the last quarter of a century the park has grown into one of the south's major family destinations, with more than 50 attractions spread throughout the grounds in Ower, in the New Forest.

The story of the theme park dates back to 1979 - four years before Paultons welcomed its first visitors - when the former estate, which covered 3,000 acres and had belonged to the Sloane-Stanley family since the mid-1600s, was split up and sold.

At the time, the long-established Hampshire farming family of Richard and Anne Mancey, together with their son, Richard and his wife Sara, were looking for more land and were interested in the estate surrounding the house, which had fallen into disuse and was burned down in 1963.

At first the family had no intention of breaking away from traditional farming, but once the idea of using the land for recreation and leisure had taken root, enthusiasm grew.

The land was bought in 1980 and planning permission was sought the following year.

The local authorities looked favourably on the project as they recognised the need for such a park, both for the local residents and to relieve tourist pressure on the New Forest.

At this time most of the land, which the park now covers, had become derelict and the ten-acre lake was almost completely silted up.

For the next three years an intense work programme was undertaken and gradually the new attraction emerged ready to receive the public on May 17, 1983.

Originally named Paultons Country Park and Bird Gardens, and at the time it was opened the attraction boasted the largest private collection of wildfowl in the south of England.

The park has grown steadily over the years to become today's popular Paultons Park, welcoming more than 500,000 guests annually.

While still retaining the beautiful gardens - which owe so much to Anne Mancey's original plans - and exotic bird collection, the park now has dozens of different family rides and attractions appealing to all ages.

New for 2008 is the awesome Sky Swinger, a beautiful hand-decorated ride that lifts riders six metres above the ground as it tilts and twirls. It also has special double seats so that smaller children can enjoy a thrilling aerial ride with mum or dad.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary, a fascinating "floating globe" has been installed in the new entrance plaza. This intriguing feature is made of solid granite weighing more than 6.5 tonnes yet, suspended on a layer of water, it can be turned by a child's finger.

Another new feature is John's Garden, made as a tribute to the late. John Mancey, who died in 2003.

5:45am Sunday 18th May 2008

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