Have you ever wanted to know how rides work?

Or have you ever wondered why some animals have fur while others may have feathers or fins?

You could find out the answers and lots more by winning an exciting workshop for your whole class and enjoy a day out at Chessington World of Adventures (CWOA).

To celebrate the arrival of the Gruffalo at Chessington for the new Winter’s Tail event this Christmas, CWOA is calling on Kingston schoolchildren to create their own Gruffalo-themed Christmas story, to be in with a chance of winning a day of adventure for them and their classmates.

Write your own festive tale featuring the Julia Donaldson’s popular creation in no more than 300 words, and submit it to Chessington World of Adventures by Friday, January 9, 2015.

Any school can enter one story per class by Friday, January 9, and a team at Chessington will select the winning entry the following week.

The prize can be taken any time during the 2015 season.* With the prize your class could all be detectives for a day with Animal CSI, find out more about animals and the conservation of endangered species, or even learn how the rides at Chessington World of Adventures work.

Taking part in a workshop at Chessington means you will have the opportunity to learn lots and then head out for the rest of the day to explore the resort.

Surrey Comet:

You could meet the donkeys at Chessington World of Adventures as part of your prize 

The winning class workshop can be taken in 2015*, but why not head down to the Winter’s Tail event to get some inspiration for your own Christmas story?

There’s lots of fun for the whole family at Chessington World of Adventures Resort this Christmas with the Chessington Winter’s Tail open from 10am to 3pm at weekends throughout December and daily between December 18 and January 4, 2015 (excluding Christmas Day).

The Gruffalo joins the Chessington cast from the deep dark wood for a festive family show at the resort, with meet and greets and a themed quiz trail around the zoo, where children will come face to face with some familiar creatures.

Market stalls, reindeers and a giant Christmas tree will also set the scene in Market Square.

New for 2014 is Father Christmas’s Grotto – a great chance for children to meet Father Christmas up until December 24.

Surrey Comet:

Or say hello to Willow and Drizzle the reindeers

Please note this attraction needs to be pre-booked online before you arrive to avoid disappointment, as Father Christmas is bound to be busy this time of year.

A visit to the grotto costs £5 a child, which includes a gift, and accompanying adults enter for free.

So why not take a walk on the wild side this Christmas through the many areas of the Zoo, Sea Life centre and Wanyama Village and Reserve.

Enjoy animal talks and presentations, let your little monkeys run wild in the new Amazu Treetop Adventure and get up close and personal with over 1,000 animals from the exotic to the endangered to inspire your own Gruffalo Christmas Story.

l For more information and to book for the Chessington Winter’s Tail please visit chessington.com

* Terms and conditions: The winning school can bring up to 30 pupils for a workshop of their choice, subject to availability, at Chessington World of Adventures Resort between March 18 and November 2,  2015. 
Any further expense must be provided by the winning school. All workshops are subject to availability. 
Entries must be sent to: Schools Executive, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Leatherhead Road, Chessington, Surrey KT9 2NE by Friday, January 9, 2015. 
Please include your school’s contact details in your entry.