EVENTS 2012 
Please note - for family events booking is essential as numbers are limited. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-book your place to get a free parking voucher for the day. For details and booking contact the Bedgebury Information Office or call 01580 879820.
Come and explore our Winter Trail
Bedgebury Events 2012
Make a Bird Box - Tues 14th February
10am -12 noon
As part of National Nest Box Week, Bedgebury’s Education Team is running a Make a Bird Box event during Half Term. Children will have the chance to experience bird watching and build a nest box which they can take home. We’ll also give guidance on choosing a pair of binoculars, feeding birds, and what sort of feeder to use. The event is suitable for children aged 8 and over. £6 per young person.
Drop in Easter Egg Hunt - Tues 3rd, Weds 4th, Thurs 5th April
10.30am – 3pm. All ages.
Families can follow a self-guiding Easter Egg trail leading back to the classroom, where they can make an Easter card to take home and enjoy a sweet treat. Cost £3 per child. Booking is not required for this event. Children must be accompanied by an adult. during the whole event.
Rat Race Trailblazer Run - Saturday 12th May
CONCERT WEEKEND
Friday 22nd June - 1st concert - PLAN B
Saturday 23rd June - 2nd concert - WILL YOUNG
Tickets - 03000 680400 or www.forestry.gov.uk/music
Rat Race Green Belter Challenge - DTBA July
Hands on Nature - Tues 24th & Tues 31st July
10am – 12pm Age 5+ years
Fun and hands-on with nature with this touchy-feely day for young children. Race against the clock looking at colour, camouflage and texture. £6 per child. Booking essential. Children must be accompanied by an adult during the whole event. Pre-book your place for free parking for the rest of the day in the main car park. For details and booking contact Visitor Services Information Office or call 01580 879820. Free parking at the Walled Garden (green metal gates 200m north of main entrance) for duration of event. These events will start in the Walled Garden.
Family Map Challenge - Thurs 2nd & Thurs 9th August
10am start - 7 -9 year olds
1pm start for age 10+ years
Fancy a map-reading challenge? Pop in and try your hand for about an hour and a half. By popular demand we are repeating last year’s event, with adults having as much fun and challenge as the youngsters. There are no medals, but have fun seeing how quickly your family can complete the course. £2.00 per participant (children AND adults). Booking is not required for this event. Children must be accompanied by an adult during the whole event. These events will start from the classroom
TASTEFEST Food & Drink Fair - Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th August
Walled Garden
Wild Life Games - Tues 21st & Tues 28th August
10am – 12 noon Age 5+ years
The day starts off with a mini-beast hunt trying to see how many types of grasshopper we can find. We finish with some light-hearted environmental games, some against the clock. Adults are welcome to join in! £6 per child. Booking essential, numbers limited. Children must be accompanied by an adult during the whole event. Pre-book your place for free parking for the rest of the day in the main car park. For details and booking contact Visitor Services Information Office or call 01580 879820. Free parking at the Walled Garden (green metal gates 200m north of main entrance) for duration of event. These events will start in the Walled Garden.
Shelter Building - Thursday 23rd & 30th August
10am – 12 noon Age 9+ years
Join others in a collaborative effort designing and building survival dens. Using timber poles and natural materials in a forest setting this will be truly a hands-on session, so PLEASE WEAR APPROPRIATE CLOTHING AND BRING A PAIR OF GARDEN TYPE GLOVES. £4 for each participant (children AND adults). Booking is essential as numbers will be limited. Children must be accompanied by an adult during the whole event. . Pre-book your place for free parking for the day. For details and booking contact Visitor Services Information Office or call 01580 879820. These events will start from the classroom.
The Twits - Weds 29th August
Magical children's open-air theatre from the award-winning Illyria Theatre Company
Insomnia - DTBA September
Night cycle event in aid of British Heart Foundation
Forest Discovery Day - Sunday 30th September
Come and discover your forest in all its guises
The Electric Forest - 26 October - 4th November
The spectacular light show returns to the National Pinetum
The Big Draw - Tues 30thOctober
The Big Draw is the UK’s biggest art event with over a million people getting back to the drawing board.
Collect and Draw. 10am - 11.15am. Get in touch with natural art and come on a foraging walk collecting materials to make into an animal collage or a drawing back in the classroom.
Bedgebury’s Autumn Colours. 1pm – 2.15pm. How many autumn colours can you collect? Come on a short walk and see how colourful Bedgebury is in the autumn. Make a natural colour chart to take home. Pre-booking is advisable but not essential for these events. £2 child. Children must be accompanied by an adult during the whole event. These events will be held in the classroom.
Feed the Birds - Thurs 1st November
10am – 12 noon. Age 5+ years
As part of National Homes for Animals Week, this autumn bird event provides an opportunity for a short bird watching walk. You will find out how to look after birds in your garden throughout the winter and get your hands messy as you make your own bird feeder to take home. £6 per child. Booking essential, numbers limited. Children must be accompanied by an adult during the whole event. Pre-book your place for free parking for the day. For details and booking contact Visitor Services Information Office or call 01580 879820. This event will be held in the classroom.
Midwinter Fair - DTBA November
Christmas Trees - December
Father Christmas - December
Boxing Day Walk - 26th December
REGULAR EVENTS
NORDIC WALKING
Qualified instructor Louise Bastable is now offering Nordic Walking sessions at Bedgebury.
Nordic walking was first developed in the 1930s to keep cross country skiers fit in the Summer months. It has been developed into a highly effective and enjoyable activity which is suitable for all fitness levels, and burns up to 40% more calories than normal walking. Come and try it for yourself at a free 1 hour taster session - enjoy the outdoors, get fit, have fun and socialise.
Tuesday 10am -2pm
Friday 10am - 2pm
Sunday 8.30am - 11.00am
nb Look out also for Louise's new Pushy Mums sessions, which are due to start in the spring.
To book your session or find out more visit www.explorefitness.co.uk or call Louise on 07565 232248
GREEN GYM
BTCV's award-winning Green Gym scheme is now running every Friday morning at Bedgebury from 10.30am – 2.30pm. Volunteers can spend a satisfying session working in the National Pinetum helping to improve the world's best conifer collection. Sessions are free. New volunteers extremely welcome.
Contact Catherine Abbott on 07816 071212 by email catherineabbott@googlemail.com
Alternatively call 01580 879820 or visit www.btcv.org
HEALTH WALKS
Come along and join our friendly group and enjoy the sights, sounds and scents whilst getting fit. No experience required and you will be encouraged to walk at your own pace. Wheelchair and pushchair friendly. No booking required, please meet at the visitor centre. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear.
Beginners Health Walk - Last Friday of each month - 10am
This walk is designed for those people who are not used to walking and would like to start gradually. It is also for those people who would find the moderate walk difficult. Walks last approximately 30 mins to 1 hour and we will cover between 1 and 4 km (0.5 and 2.5miles).
Moderate Health Walks - Every Friday - 10am
This walk is designed for those people who want to walk a little further and at a quicker pace than the Beginners walk. All walkers are still encouraged to walk at their own pace but we do venture out further into the forest. Walks last approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 30 mins and we cover between 4 and 6 km (2.5 and 3.7 miles).
For more information please call the Bedgebury Visitor centre on 01580 879820 or email bedgebury@forestry.gsi.gov.uk.
Please Note - For health and safety reasons any large groups wishing to join the Health Walks will need to receive approval 6 weeks prior to the date they would like to attend. We cannot guarantee to be able to provide enough walk leaders to accomodate large groups as leaders give us their time on a voluntary basis.
GO APE
Take to the trees and experience an exhilarating course of rope bridges, Tarzan Swings and zip slides up to 35 feet above the forest floor. Share approximately three memorable hours of fun and adventure, which you’ll be talking about for days. Minimum age 10 yrs. Mininimum height 1.4m. Under 18s must be accompanied by a participating adult.
Get more information, watch people Go Ape and book online at www.goape.co.uk
CYCLE COACHING
With Ollie Ireland, the Bedgebury Cycle Coach
Ollie Ireland is the Cycle Development Coach at Bedgebury Forest. He's a British Cycling and CTC qualified coach and a former primary school teacher. He's running a cycling development programme at Bedgebury.
The project aims to increase the inclusive participation of cycling in the community. In partnership with Quench Cycles he runs mountain bike coaching and leading for all ages and abilities, using the Forestry Commission's fantastic cycle trails set in the beautiful Bedgebury Forest and other sites.
