How can I organise an event of my own at Haldon Forest Park?
Haldon Forest Park is an increasingly popular venue for all kinds of events.
Step 1 – Think about your event. This might sound obvious, but you need to take a few things into account, such as:
- Will you be using our existing tracks and trails? Do you have a route in mind?
- How many people do you expect to participate? Will the facilities (car park, toilets, etc) be sufficient for these numbers?
- Is your event hazardous at all? Will you need to arrange emergency vehicle access or medical support?
We encourage all event organisers to carry out a risk assessment. If you haven’t done one before don’t worry! You can see examples of Risk Assessments on the Health & Safety Executive website. You will also need to ensure you have adequate insurance cover.
Much of our woodland is dedicated as open access under the Countryside Rights of Way Act (CRoW). If a large event requires us to close areas of the wood, we need to seek permission, which is also subject to a fee.
If you would like some advice, or just an informal chat about your idea for an event, please contact a Ranger.
Step 2 – Fill out an application form.
If you would like to organise a group visit download our education & learning visit application form [PDF 194KB]. We classify a group visit as an event for members of a group or club that is non-competitive. This could be a school visit, a day out with your community group.
If you would like to organise an event download an application form [PDF 44.9KB]and guidelines. [PDF 47KB]. We also find it helpful if you include a route map – you can download a map to illustrate your route. We classify an 'event' is anything where participation is open, such as a festival or fair, or where participants will be registering to compete, such as a horse ride, cycle race or orienteering event.
If you are unsure which category your event falls into please call our Permissions desk on 01392 834231.
Step 3 - Return the form to us six weeks in advance of your event, and we will contact you if we have any questions or concerns.
Step 4 - You will then receive a formal permission document in the post, to sign and return, confirming your event.
Can I book a ranger-led walk or visit for my group?
Unfortunately, due to the growing popularity of the site we are no longer able to provide ranger-led educational visits for schools. However, you can find a number of education and learning resources online, so that you may lead your own visit.
