A VISITOR attraction set in 2,000 acres of historic estate has entered The Press Business Awards 2012 after attracting 100,000 visitors.

Stockeld Park, a family business owned by Peter and Susie Grant, has been developed from a 150-year-old family estate into a winter wonderland after the couple decided to diversify their 25-year-old Christmas trees business in 2007.

They built a café, shop and artificial cross country ski trail, running 1.2 kilometres through woodland, which attracted 25,000 visitors to Stockeld Park.

Then it created the Enchanted Forest, using artists and technicians to transform 16 acres of woodland with sculptures, illuminations and sound.

They created an illuminated yew tree maze acquired a large artificial skating rink, which was upgraded to real ice in 2011.

Last year, more than 100,000 people visited the Halloween and Christmas Adventure, resulting in a 21 per cent increase in revenue from 2010.

The attraction has subsequently increased permanent staff by half and is building new office space to accommodate our growing team. Between October and January it also employs nearly 100 young people on a seasonal basis.

Peter said: "We have continued to reinvest 100 per cent of the profits year on year, quite a feat in the economic climate. This dedication has allowed us to make some wonderful additions to the Enchanted Forest and provide something new for our visitors every year.

"This year's investment is based entirely on customer feedback and focuses on developing the site infrastructure. Whilst providing new sculptures and events, we are also investing quarter of a million pounds in re-designing and extending the shop, café and toilets. This will reduce queuing times, provide better facilities and ensure a better experience for all our customers.

"Much as we want whole families to get involved in the attraction, our whole family has been involved in its development. Our children have grown up with our Christmas tree business and have been instrumental in building Halloween and Christmas Adventures; from one son wiring the site for the illuminations to a daughter providing the voice for Rapunzel.

"Developing the business in this way has been an exciting and rewarding venture for us all and has made us closer. Its success and growth has been more rapidly realised than we could have imagined, testament to the whole family working together."

The business is entering Growth Business Of The Year and Family Business Of The Year.