Eye of the tiger

by

Chessington has a beautiful new feline foursome and an exhilarating ride to go with it. Miranda Jessop meets the brains behind the attraction

I have never really considered myself a thrill seeker. Yet the idea of getting up close and personal with four big cats, while simultaneously enjoying an exhilarating log flume ride, does hold a certain appeal. 

So it is that I find myself at the launch of Land of the Tiger, the latest sparkling attraction at Chessington World of Adventures Resort, in the company of civil engineer Michelle Hicks. Who better, after all, to hold my hand than the 26-year-old project manager responsible for making this unique visitor experience a reality?

Sure enough, all trace of the jitters rapidly disappears: Land of the Tiger is a place to burn bright in the memory. Home to four new tiger arrivals of the endangered Amur variety, it’s an innovative big cat enclosure complete with overhead trails to link the constituent parts: the first of its kind in Europe. 

As the world’s largest tigers roam freely in a spacious environment closely based on their natural habitat, visitors can observe Tsar, Kyra, Olga and Kalinka both beside them and right above their heads. And for those craving further excitement, the Tiger Rock log flume ride runs partly alongside the enclosure, separated from it by glass, affording even better views of these four magnificent beasts.

“Our aim was to combine a really exciting ride with the chance to view live animals,” explains Michelle, whose Chessington team began work on the project 20 months ago. “And right from the outset, we knew that we wanted to make the experience as immersive as possible.” 

The perils of working with children and animals are familiar enough, but when the animals in question form a quartet of majestic carnivores, the difficulty ascends to new heights. 

 “Yes, you don’t really get challenges like that in any other job! We wanted our guests to get as close as possible, so our two priorities were to ensure that the tigers would be happy and that the public would be safe.”  

Did Michelle have to get close to the tigers herself?

Land of the Tiger is the second major attraction on which Michelle has worked since joining Chessington two years ago. Her first was the Gruffalo River Ride Adventure in which visitors take a magical riverboat journey through a forest – ideal for younger and less daring members of the family. As you float down the river, the world of the Gruffalo unfolds through a series of exciting twists and turns. 

“It took the place of Bubbleworks, which was a much loved attraction, so we knew that we needed to create something really special. Now people are telling us that they love the Gruffalo River Ride even more, which is fabulous to hear.”

For Michelle, one senses, her role at Chessington constitutes the dream job. 

“I was completely hooked on theme parks from the time I first rode on Colossus at Thorpe Park when I was 12,” she admits. “Believe me, developing new attractions is an incredibly rewarding experience for someone who adores the rides herself.”

Michelle even spends her holidays visiting theme parks all over the world and relishes the opportunity to bring new ideas back to Chessington.

Still in her twenties, her path to becoming an established civil engineer was relatively short. Pursuing her passion for maths and physics at A-level, she chose to study for a degree in civil engineering at the University of Surrey. Then, after a subsequent master’s degree, she joined a big civil engineering consultancy.  

“I was part of a team charged with designing new bridges and assessing existing bridge structures,” she explains. “Very useful for my work today.”

Sheer hard graft, she insists, is responsible for her success at such a young age. Nor has she ever felt that being a woman has in any way held her back. Quite the contrary, in fact. 

“Having women in the industry is very important, as it provides a balance between the male and female ways of thinking. Things are definitely changing, with more and more women coming through. 

“People imagine that civil engineering is all mud and hard hats. I do a bit of that, but I also spend a lot of time in a business environment, coming up with solutions. It’s a very varied and enjoyable profession.” 

And Michelle is keen to advise young girls who may be thinking of joining it. 

“Don’t let any preconceptions that it’s a male-dominated industry hold you back.  If civil engineering interests you, go ahead. Once you get involved, you will find there is nothing stopping you. For me, it is a case of being confident and earning respect so that people know you are in the job because you’re good at it.”

Michelle, for one, has certainly landed on her feet, her enthusiasm plain to see. 

“Here at Chessington we’re all passionate about what we do, and together we can make some amazing projects happen. Nothing beats the feeling of a new attraction opening and everyone running towards it. Seeing all those smiling faces on the rides, that’s the best reward for me.”

And her ultimate professional ambition? 

“To deliver a big rollercoaster!” she beams. 

chessington.com

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