Pokemon trails to launch at National Trust sites

New Pokemon-inspired trails are to be launched at several National Trust sites for the May half term.

The family trails at 14 sites across England and Wales including Speke Hall, Merseyside, and Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire, are running from 23 May.

National Trust said the exclusive partnership with Pokémon brings its world of play, creativity and imagination to its gardens and parklands to encourage more families to explore the great outdoors together.

The conservation charity said the trails were "just the beginning of a summer of Pokémon fun" at its properties.

Exclusively designed for the National Trust, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails, invite families to search for ten Mega Evolution Pokémon across ten trail points.

Each trail point features a simple physical or creative challenge inspired by different Mega Evolution Pokémon.

From showing courage and curiosity with Darkness-type Mega Gengar ex, to unleashing energy and imagination inspired by the powerful Fire type Mega Charizard Y ex, the trails blend imaginative play with gentle activity.

A trail sheet will help young trainers keep track of their discoveries and at the end of the trail, explorers can celebrate their achievement together with a photo opportunity at a Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trail backdrop.

The trails will be running at:

• Attingham Park, Shropshire
• Belton House, Lincolnshire
• Blickling Estate, Norfolk
• Dyrham Park, South Gloucestershire
• Hughenden, Buckinghamshire
• Kingston Lacy, Dorset
• Lanhydrock, Cornwall
• Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire
• Saltram, Devon
• Sizergh, Cumbria
• Speke Hall, Merseyside
• Tredegar House, Newport
• Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire
• Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey

Rowallane Garden in County Down will have a trail, too, from 13 June.

Pokémania took the world by storm in the 1990s, and more than three decades later, the fanbase, and the Pokémon Trading Card market, is booming.

It all began with video games for the Nintendo Game Boy but it has evolved into a media behemoth of films, merchandise and collectible trading cards.

The Pokémon Trading Card game is also thriving, with serious money being spent to "catch 'em all".

However, the soaring value of the cards has led to a series of smash-and-grab robberies which includes Celestial Collectables in Warrington, Cheshire.

A recent auction by specialist auction house Stanley Gibbons Baldwins saw over £1.5m in "Pokémon assets" change hands.

While most cards are not worth thousands of pounds, high-profile sales of the rarest items have driven both collector and investor interest.

Earlier this year, the YouTuber, wrestler and boxer Logan Paul auctioned an ultra-rare, high-quality Pikachu card for a $16.5m (£12m).

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