With little more than one month until the new managers of Aldenham Country Park are announced, Chris Hewett profiles the three bidders left in the running for the role.

Tim Harris, Entrepreneur from Enfield

Retired Mr Harris, 45, made a career in the visitors' attraction industry for most of his working life.

He set up the East Lodge Antiques Village, a visitors' centre with a children's area and animal farm, in Botany Bay, Enfield.

Mr Harris says he has been looking for something to get involved in since he retired and, after a visit to Aldenham Country Park last year, "fell in love with the place".

He said: "I need a pleasure, something I can get involved in. I have got my income, I have achieved what I wanted to achieve, and what a project this would be to have in my later years."

Outline of plans: - Aim to reduce parking charges to eliminate compulsory payments and instead gain revenue through attractions in the park.

- Introduce seasonal activities to encourage out of season visitors e.g. an ice rink or a Nordic cross-country skiing course.

- Encourage use of the park and farm for educational purposes by schools and colleges.

- Increase awareness of the Rare Breeds Farm.

- Organise park events to encourage visitors - ideas include Halloween 'Fright Nights'.

- Increase the opening hours during the 362 days a year that the park is open.

Keith Stone, owner of Meslop Farm Park, in Norwich

Mr Stone has run the Melsop Farm Park attraction in a rural area of Norwich for the past ten years.

The 50-year-old has entered a joint bid with his 17-year-old son, Jordan, who has recently graduated from agricultural college.

The Meslop Farm Park contains a number of free-roaming animals, as well as a number of rare breeds, experience Mr Stone believes he could bring to Aldenham.

He said: "With the potential the park has, it could be a lot bigger. It is a fantastic place in a lovely setting and we understand people's feelings about it - we want to keep public access the same and put on more events. It is something that I hope, one day, my son can take over."

Outline of plans: - Expand the Rare Breeds Farm, introducing more animals and encouraging more visitors.

- Improve public access - Encourage use of the Rare Breeds Farm by schools and colleges to increase the educational provision at the park.

- Introduce more events into the park e.g. reindeer in the park in winter.

Tim Waygood, owner of farming company Agrarian Renaissance

Mr Waygood runs the eco-friendly and self-sustaining visitors attraction Church Farm, in Ardley, near Stevenage.

The 45-year-old hopes to introduce a similar set-up at Aldenham Country Park, and create a fully-functioning farm, which produces food that can be sold on site.

Under the plans, visitors would be charged a small fee to enter the farm, but car parking charges would be greatly reduced.

He said: "The whole idea of Renaissance is to reconnect people with land and wildlife and I think that is important at Aldenham. We do not want to build an amusement park, we want to promote and encourage the ethos of local trading, and provide a platform for local producers to sell their wares."

Outline of plans: - Expand the Rare Breeds Farm to run alongside new farm and butchery.

- Encourage local trade with markets and on-site stores

- Reduce car parking charges

- Encourage visitors to the farm, including schools and colleges to build a programme of education.

- Introduce regular programme of events including camping, farmers markets, and promote an events field.