A giant tree of fun and a mushroom-shaped activity centre were just some of the ideas put forward by young people for boosting tourism in the region.
The ideas were suggested at a Young Enterprise Day organised to test the business skills of year 10 and 11 pupils at Staffordshire University Academy in Hednesford.
The students were challenged to create a business idea that would create jobs and benefit the community, while also supporting and protecting the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Cannock Chase.
The year 10 winners designed a Giant Tree of Fun, and the year 11 winners created a Wood to Goods plan which involved hiring out camping, sport and nature equipment for use on the Chase.
Other ideas included wild camping and treetop lodges, an environmentally-friendly monorail giving a view of the Chase and a giant mushroom-shaped activity centre.
There were 60 groups working on ideas throughout the day, and all the plans were judged by a panel comprising of Cannock Chase councillor Gordon Alcott, Claire Potter of Go Ape, Ruth Hytch and Emma Beaman Green from the AONB management team and Melanie Hall of Pertemps.
Cllr Alcott said: “Young Enterprise aims to raise aspirations in local students and to introduce them to the skills required to become successful businesspeople in the future. We’re delighted to work with them on the masterclass and other projects and I would encourage all schools in the district to get involved.”
Janis Wilcox of Young Enterprise said: “In the future we hope to offer more schools the opportunities to take part in this exciting programme. We hope to be able to raise more pupils’ awareness of the Chase AONB and how important it is to us all.”