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Plantasia Tropical Zoo in Swansea welcomes Giants of the Past

Plantasia Tropical Zoo, operated by Parkwood Leisure, is thrilled to announce the launch of its newest attraction, ‘Giants of the Past,’ set to debut on July 1st, 2024. Parkwood Leisure is proving its commitment to outdoor sites as well as its catalogue of leisure centres with a £90k investment into this new project.

This innovative exhibition will transport visitors back in time to the era of prehistoric giants while highlighting the fascinating connections between ancient species and their modern-day relatives.

What sets this exhibition apart is the incorporation of cutting-edge Augmented Reality (AR) technology by Magic Memories. Each installation will be accompanied by signage featuring QR codes, allowing visitors to unlock a magical experience on their mobile devices. By scanning the QR code and pointing their cameras at the skeletons or fossils, visitors will witness these ancient creatures come to life in stunning detail, thanks to the magic of AR.

Shaun Moroney, Business Development Director at Magic Memories said “Magic Memories is thrilled to be a part of the Giants of the Past project, as a ‘first of its kind’ for Magic Memories where we’re adding Augmented Reality to our World Class Content Platform. By combining our new cutting-edge AR technology with the wonder of fossilised skeletons we will bring prehistoric giants back to life in an immersive and educational experience in partnership with Plantasia. We believe this project will captivate audiences of all ages and ignite a passion for palaeontology and history. This is part of the technology content path that Magic Memories brings to its guests to enhance partners’ brand experience and guests memories!”

Building entrance

Swansea Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “It’s great that our partners at Parkwood Leisure are investing in Plantasia in this innovative way. It’ll mean that our city centre zoo will be even more of an attraction to local people and visitors. We’re pleased to continue supporting Plantasia, helping to make it a must-see visitor attraction.”

“We are incredibly excited to unveil ‘Giants of the Past’ to our visitors,” says Paul Sheppard, Attraction Manager at Plantasia Tropical Zoo. “This exhibition promises to combine awe-inspiring displays with state-of-the-art AR technology. We believe it will not only attract new visitors to the area but also delight and educate our loyal guests.”

‘Giants of the Past’ is more than just entertainment—it’s an educational experience designed to inspire wonder and curiosity about the natural world. Visitors will discover fascinating facts about each species and learn about the importance of conservation in preserving biodiversity and preventing extinction. In addition to the ‘Giants of the Past’ exhibit, Plantasia Tropical Zoo will be launching an exciting new retail item and trail in collaboration with the popular brand Top Trumps, offering visitors a fun and educational zoo-themed card game featuring a wide range of species, complete with fascinating facts and captivating images.

The trail will encompass 5 giant cards strategically placed around the zoo, each next to the corresponding animal’s habitat, accompanied by a series of engaging quizzes and games for visitors to enjoy, creating an immersive and interactive experience for all ages.

Plantasia Tropical Zoo looks forward to welcoming guests to embark on an unforgettable journey through time with ‘Giants of the Past.’ Join us as we bring ancient creatures back to life in the heart of Swansea!