Conkers, National Forest
PSL was selected after tender as operators of Conkers (www.visitconkers.com), a £16 million high profile environmentally themed national attraction in a rural area of  Leicestershire which opened in April 2001 (the also operated the former Heart of the National Forest Visitor Centre).

Planning Solutions Limited’s operational responsibility covers a 120 acre site which attracts 220,000 visitors annually (including 35,000 education visits and 60,000 visits from our community membership scheme.) The range of tasks involves the direct operation of the interactive attraction, three lakeside restaurants, specialist shops, the events and educational programmes and the marketing and corporate strategy.

Benefits of Conkers include:

• Creating a tourist destination in an area not known for its tourism product
• Creating significant number of jobsDeveloping a new (and positive) branded identity for the area
• Attracting significant inward investment to the area
• Extending the tourist season

We were also responsible for carrying out the market assessment, financial modelling, business planning, planning application and marketing & promotional strategies.