Chessington World of Adventures, the Merlin Entertainments theme park in Surrey, England is to open a new land in March 2020, inspired by the resort's support of international conservation charity, World Land Trust (WLT).

'Rainforest' will be the park's eleventh land. It will allow kids to explore the rainforests of the world through three rides: by road in "Jungle Rangers", by river with "River Rafts" and climbing through the treetop canopy in "Treetop Hoppers". Along the way, they will encounter animals such as tortoises and capybaras.

Chessington said its support for the WLT over the last eight years has helped save an area of threatened rainforest in Ecuador more than twice the size of the resort, and it contributes to protecting this land from poaching, illegal logging, mining and encroaching from farming by funding rangers to safeguard the area.

The resort said it hopes to "educate guests, via a fun day out, about the importance of conserving the world's rainforests".

A further development at Chessington is the launch of the first ever themed ride based on children's picture book character, Elmer. Inspired by the books of David McKee, the new carousel ride based on the patchwork elephant will be called "Elmer's Flying Jumbos", with children able to choose a colourful elephant that takes them "to the skies".