When Alice played croquet with flamingoes for mallets and hedgehogs for balls, it did not strike me (as she might have said) as so very out-of-the-way. Since I had no idea what went on in croquet the whole thing was just as inexplicable as everything else in the book. Luckily children are used to not understanding things.

I expect they still don't understand but perhaps those living near Brighton will enjoy the Alice in Wonderland Croquet in Preston Manor each day between 1st and 30th August. You can get two hour slots between 10 and 5 each day by calling 03000 290902. I presume they don't have live flamingoes.