FORESTS OF FUN TO KEEP CHILDREN ACTIVE DURING SUMMER HOLIDAY
 ‘I’m bored!’ It’s a familiar cry from children during the long summer break – but the Forestry Commission’s Active Woods campaign aims to put a stop to humdrum holidays.
Keeping the children physically active can be a challenge when it is so easy to be distracted by the television and computer games – but once they experience the acres of excellent activities on offer in the forests, they won’t want to spend another day indoors.
The Active Woods campaign makes it easy for families all over the UK by encouraging people to get out and active in the woods. You can chill out among the trees, or get up a sweat at any of the forest facilities and activity centres across England. And the Commission is putting on activities throughout the summer ranging from mountain bike sessions and nature walks, to fun days with everything from pond-dipping to den building and survival skills - little and big kids invited!
Chief Ranger, Paddy Harrop, said:
“Woodlands are great areas for kids and families to enjoy - full of things to do, adventures to have, and all while being outdoors in the fresh air. Throughout the summer we have got some great activities going on across the country, but on any day of the week, we have cycle routes, scenic walks and all sorts of activities for people to enjoy."
So why not get out and active, on some of our spectacular scenic trails - whether you have two legs, four legs, or want to wheel away the time, we have ramblers’ trails, cycle routes and bridleways for all abilities. Here's just a flavour of what your kids could be telling teacher about when they get back to school:
BIKING
- Take on the challenging North Face Mountain Bike Trail at Grizedale Forest in the Lake District. This ten-mile track consists of nine sections of sinuous singletrack trail on the west side of the forest. It offers thrilling sections of descent with leg-burning uphills, contouring through oak woodlands and conifer forest. It also gives the mountain biker tricky board-walk sections through meadows and rewards them with outstanding views
- If you prefer skills to speed, the Follow the Dog trail at Cannock Forest in Staffordshire might be more up your street. The group of volunteers who built it worked alongside Forestry Commission engineers, building bridges, clearing trees and surfacing the route with local materials like sand and gravel. Even one of the volunteer’s dogs lent a hand. At one stage, when faced with a host of possible routes for the trail to go, they opted to forge ahead in the pooch’s paw marks, hence the name Follow the Dog!
HORSE RIDING
- Gallop away on horse riding trails at Harcombe Horse Box Park at Haldon Forest near Exeter in Devon. No bikes, no joggers - just horses, and a quarter mile stretch for galloping. Devon is a haven for riders, and Haldon Forest Park is an excellent place for both you and your horse to enjoy, whatever your ability. This is a lovely, natural environment where you can enjoy horse riding to the full. Riders are welcome to bring their dogs if they keep to designated trails.
- Go for a decent ride out along the Brown Route at Hamsterley Forest near Bishop Auckland, County Durham. This quiet route on the western side of the forest follows lush green routes that are the softest in the woods. Take in the cracking views as the route reaches the highest point at the crest of two valleys before dipping down again along the rippling beck.
WALKING
- Relax and recharge at Westonbirt Arboretum near Tetbury in Wiltshire. Power walk around the 17 miles of paths or simply have some ‘me time’ wandering among the 600 acres filled with one of the best tree collections in the world.
- Tackle the ten-mile trail of The Birthday Walk at The National Forest in Leicestershire. It takes in 12 National Forest sites, starting at the Forestry Commission's Sence Valley Forest Park. With a choice of a number of short loops off the main route, links to other footpaths and a number of nearby shops and pubs, The Birthday Walk is also an ideal outdoor activity for family outings, birthdays and celebrations.
PLAY TIME
Encourage the kids to clamber over some of the country's most innovative play equipment in the heart of the forest.
- At Bedgebury in Kent, visit the specially-designed play area reflecting some of the challenges faced by intrepid plant-hunters through the ages. Discover a shipwreck, a native village, a mighty tree house, and encounter butterflies, giant spiders and dragonflies!
- Try out the play trail at Rosliston in Derbyshire in The National Forest. The woodland boasts a visitor centre, indoor play area and craft centre. It has an outdoor play area including crazy golf and a basketball court, sensory garden, fishing and cycle hire, woodland laser games and archery.
- Older children can Go Ape! on high-wire courses at seven sites around the UK, including Sherwood Pines in Nottinghamshire and Thetford Forest in East Anglia.
THREE WHEELS AND MORE
If you want something a little less challenging, roll and stroll along the specially-designed access trails for wheelchair users, prams and buggies.
- You can take buggies up to the Tree Top walk at Salcey, near Northamptonshire. Take your little ones up to have a bird's eye view of the forest.
- Powered buggies are available to scoot you around Callow Hill in the Wyre Forest. Centuries ago, a wild wood stretched along the Severn Valley from Worcester to Bridgenorth. Wyre’s 6,500 acres is all that survives of that historic forest. It is one of the largest remaining ancient woodlands in Britain. Much of it is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its high conservation value. Foresters carefully manage the woods to protect its special plants and animals including rare butterflies and orchids.
- Bedgebury now has new all-ability scenic walking routes. For wheelchair users, our new surfaces and gentle gradients allow access to new parts of the Pinetum and forest
ART ATTACK
- Soak up the culture at one of our ground-breaking sculpture trails at the Forest of Dean. Follow a path around the forest, looking out for innovative and challenging sculptures. Last autumn two artists started working in the forest creating temporary installations and events on the trail. Small scale, short lived and unexpected interventions are occurring as the artists explore the forest, inviting both visitors and local people to think about the forest in new ways.
- Or take shelter from the heat of summer in the amazing Skyspace sculpture at Kielder Forest in Northumberland. This stone chamber allows visitors to observe peaceful sunrises or dramatic sunsets through a 3m circular opening in the roof. What appears to be a simple, clean circle of sky is an intricate and precise design of interior and exterior space, in James Turrell's mathematical, aeronautical, architectural and philosophical sculpture.
Whatever your choice – the Forestry Commission’s Active Woods campaign has the answer. See www.forestry.gov.uk/activewoods to find out more, or go to www.forestry.gov.uk/england-summer to find out what is going on in your area.
Notes to editors:
Active Woods is a national drive being led by the Forestry Commission, to promote the vast range of health and fitness opportunities offered by Britain’s woodlands. Hundreds of events are being organised across the UK, including welly-wanging, den-building and meditation in the woods, reflecting the campaign’s three themes of naturally active, naturally stimulating and naturally relaxing. Many of these activities are free to access and use. Research has shown that exercising in natural environments reduces stress levels and can speed recovery from illness. It also offers new and different ways of building a sustainable health programme – walking the dog, or cycling instead is far more attractive than a couple of hours down the gym, but may do you just as much good! For further information on Active Woods go to www.forestry.gov.uk/activewoods
Pictures of some of the activities and sites are available from the Commission on 01223 346 034. Information on events in local woodlands are available from www.forestry.gov.uk/whatson.
For more information on this press release please contact Jo Fowler on 01223 346 034.
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