Groombridge Place hosts Wizard of Oz event until September 1

In the words of Dorothy - "Toto I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."

And you'd be forgiven for thinking you weren't in Kent either thanks to the magical production at one attraction this week.

Groombridge Place has brought the Wizard of Oz to its enchanted gardens and grounds for the first time.

From character meet and greets to sing-a-long classes and shows, this week's special event is a must for any fan of the original novel by Frank Baum or the 1939 MGM film.

We had a brilliant time meeting Dorothy and the Wicked Witch, singing along to some of the musical's infamous tracks as well as exploring everything that Groombridge and its Enchanted Forest had to offer.

For those families looking for one more enchanting adventure before it's time to take the yellow brick road back to school here are five things you might want to know about visiting Groombridge Place:

1 Watch the clock

From a 45-minute spectacle taking you through the land of Oz, to character meet and greets, games and singing and dancing Dorothy, The Tin Man, Lion and Scarecrow have lots to share with visitors.

But it's worth making a note of the times and locations of each show, performance and activity when you arrive as it's very easy to get swept up in something else - or lost in the forest - and miss something you'd been looking forward to.

2 Take a picnic

We're all coming to the end of an expensive few weeks between summer activities and back to school shopping.

There are some lovely places to eat at Groombridge so it's definitely worth packing up food from home and taking some pleasure in eating in the great outdoors.

3 Make time for The Treetops Walkway

As the highest and longest treetop walkway it's not for the faint hearted but it's such a brilliant experience for miniature daredevils. Just make sure all wannabe adventurers know the score as it's a one way system and there are few opportunities to get down should they change their minds.

There is a shorter version of the treetops walkway in the forest play area. It's worth testing their head for heights there before taking on the real thing!

4 Get an early start

There is so much to see and do at Groombridge and you can happily roam the forest and grounds for hours.

But the attraction does close at 4.30pm so be sure to make an early start if you can to get the most from your day.

5 They will get grubby!

Being a forest full of things to climb, clamber and swing from there is no point in dressing to impress. And if a few good smearings of dust and dirt are signs of a good day then these kids had a blast.

To learn more about Groombridge Place, or the Wizard of Oz event running until September 1, visit the website www.groombridgeplace.com