The Forestry Commission is launching an augmented reality (AR) app based around the popular children’s picture book, The Gruffalo.

The Gruffalo Spotter free app incorporates different characters from Julia Donaldson’s 1999 story into an interactive trail. A series of clues guides visitors to special “footprint markers” – one each for Mouse, Snake, Fox, Owl and Gruffalo himself. On finding a footprint, the visitor uses the app to activate and augmented version of the character, brought to life as a short animation.

The Forestry Commission worked with Nexus Studios and Magic Light Pictures to develop the app and woodland trail. It’s a non-guided activity so families can do the trail at their own pace. The app offers users the chance to take photos with the characters and share them on social media. There is also educational content written into the story, including facts about woodland creatures and the environment.

“This is such an exciting development and will deliver a completely different forest experience for our visitors,” said Bridgette Hall, recreation manager for Forestry Commission England. “The Gruffalo is a world renowned story and to be able to bring the characters to life in their natural setting is fantastic. It’s great we’ve had the opportunity to join the two worlds of technology and nature together in a sensitive way.”

According to Sam Southward, director at Nexus Studios, the app is breaking ground in its use of “life-sized” creatures.

“One of the exciting things about The Gruffalo Spotter is the way in which we have scaled up the AR technology to create close to life-sized characters in a real world location,” he said. “Up until this point, the majority of AR has been a smaller and more controlled experience, but for this project we really wanted to see how much we could push it.”

The Gruffalo Spotter will function in 26 different forests around England, including Beechenhurst, Cannock Chase Forest, Delamere Forest, Guisborough Forest, Moors Valley Country Park, Sherwood Pines Forest Park and Wendover Woods.

The app launches today and can be downloaded for free for Android and Apple devices. The Gruffalo has sold more 13 million copies worldwide with 58 different editions across the globe.