QECP Park Pages Winter 2012 Layout 1 30/08/2012 10:22 Page 1
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
QECP Park Pages_winter 2012_Layout 1 30/08/2012 10:22 Page 1 3 1 0 /2 2 1 20 r te in - W n tum Au Welcome to Project wins Government backing to save precious Country Park South Downs chalk downland As part of a £3 million plan to safeguard endangered Pages chalk downland, the South Downs National Park has been awarded £608,000 by the Secretary of State for the Environment. The Butser Cutting Cycle Route The Butser Cutting Cycle Route The South Downs Way Ahead project, consisting of Queen Elizabeth Country Park of fers excellent off Produced twice a year, 28 organisations led by the South Downs National road cycling and is also a popular stopping place for Park Authority, will trail blaze the Government’s new Country Park Pages aims to road cyclists. Unfortunately there is no easy access Nature Improvement Area scheme to protect habitats from the north, so a cycle link along the Old A3 and the economic and social benefits they bring. The keep our visitors in touch with entering the Park from the north would resolve this announcement comes just one month before the problem. Most of the link would be away from traffic news and events within the National Park celebrates its first anniversary. and provide a comparatively easy cycle crossing of the South Downs. With approximately 80,000 people Country Park. Through the South Downs W ay Ahead partnership living within 10km of QE Park, the link should be well farmers, conservationists, NGOs, community groups, used. In April 2012 the Highways Agency agreed to government bodies, research organisations, water undertake a £15K feasibility study that Hampshire companies and the National Park Authority will work In this issue........ County Council have agreed to fund. This work will together to join up vital areas of chalk downland take place during the 2012/13 financial year . The along the famous South Downs Way National Trail. project cost could be high, requiring community • Chalk downland like Butser Hill is recognised pressure to obtain approval. A petition has been • Children’s Activities, Events internationally as an important and endangered raised to demonstrate the high level of support. It can habitat. Currently only about four per cent of the and Guided Walks be accessed at National Park remains as pristine chalk downland. www.gopetition.com/petitions/cycle-route- • Chalk downland is vital for the survival of species through-a3-butser-cutting.html such as the rare Duke of Burgundy butterfly, and is • Caterpillar Crafts a national stronghold for endangered farmland Lots of work will be needed but there is optimism that birds such as corn bunting, grey partridge and this long-standing problem can now be resolved, and stone curlew. the Park is working with colleagues in Rights of Way • 1.2 million people depend on water filtered through • Exhibitions and local members of the Cyclists Touring Club and stored in South Downs chalk downland. (CTC) to progress. • Regular visitors will see activity within the Country Park and around neighbouring farms this autumn • Christmas in the Park and winter including scrub management and stock fencing to enable the traditional management needed to sustain and enhance this rich habitat. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Two Beech trees were planted at the entrance to Queen Elizabeth Forest to commemorate the Coronation back in 1953.They can still be seen just past the pay and display machine on the Forest Drive.The Queen then officially opened the Country Park in 1976. And we have played our part during her Jubilee year by planting another tree, this time a Purple W eeping Beech. The tree was donated and planted by local ‘badged groups’ on the 17th March. On the 4th June there was a Jubilee Beacon, a part of the National chain of 2012 different locations, and a firework display, both held on the top of Butser Hill and attended by over 1,000 people. And this Autumn we will be planting a Jubilee Orchard containing fruit trees with royal connections. For more information about the Jubilee go to the official web-site at www.thediamondjubilee.org www.hants.gov.uk/qecp www.hants.gov.uk QECP Park Pages_winter 2012_Layout 1 30/08/2012 11:16 Page 2 Parks events ... Conservation, Guided Walks, Children’s Activities, Demonstrations, P Nordic Walking Laser Games Looking for a new way to get fit and healthy in Battlefront Games laser action combat is a 2012? Enjoy the great outdoors and meeting great way to have fun with your family and new people? Then Nordic Walking could be friends as you run around the beautiful for you. woodlands of the Park. The games have This popular fitness technique incorporates none of the restrictions of old laser quest specially designed walking poles to work the and give you all the thrill of paintball, but with upper part of the body as well as the legs, no paint, no pain and no bruises! making it a full body work out. It was first Using the latest high-tech military style guns, developed in Finland in the 1950s to help cross you have fantastic accuracy and range. So country skiers maintain their fitness. Suitable if you’re looking for a great day out where for people of all abilities, it is recommended by you can enjoy the open air and get your fitness experts and health professionals heart pumping, then look no further . It’s because it is simple yet highly effective. perfect for birthdays, stag and hen parties, “Why use poles?” team building and corporate events. - Tones the upper and lower body at the same time For more information, visit - Uses 90% of the skeletal muscles www.battlefrontgames.co.uk. - Burns up to 46% more calories than ordinary walking - Reduces the pressure on knees and Cycling in the Park joints Over the last year the QECP Trail Collective - Great for the Heart and Lungs have been busy improving the mountain bike - Ideal for neck, shoulder and back trails within the park. The group of volunteers problems encompass a wide variety of ages and ability in a bid to improve the quality of the trails at the Qualified Nordic walking instructor Louise park and boost the amount of visitors. The Arthur will be of fering taster sessions, Collective have also worked with other users of beginner courses and guided walks at Queen the park to ensure the trails are as safe as Elizabeth Country Park.are included in the possible, especially whenever they cross any price of the instruction. Readers can paths used by walkers and horse riders. The take advantage of Louise’ s taster group have received national acclaim, with their offer…bring a friend for free or get a work featured in the National as well as £5 refund on a 4 week beginner mountain bike press, by upgrading the old orange “advanced” trail to a red trail course. which is more in line with the requirements of modern mountain biking. The group is now planning to improve the family trail, start work on a skills area Anyone interested can contact Louise as well as any pieces of maintenance required on the red trail. The group dig by email at [email protected] or every four weeks and anyone is welcome to join them. For more information by visiting visit www.qecptrailcollective.co.uk or the QECP trail building facebook and www.facebook.com/NordicWalkingPetersfield twitter page. Facilities Hire Need a perfect countryside setting for an event or function? Have a look at our facilities… Forest Annexe Located by the main car park, the Annexe is ideal for children’ s birthday parties, school groups, meetings of a more formal nature and training sessions that may require a clear floor space. Available 8.30am to 10pm daily. Theatre Events Field Located in the Visitor Centre, the Theatre is a large room set out in a lecture Located on the western side of the A3 at the base of Butser Hill, the events hall style with tiered seating for 42. It is ideal for school trips, meetings, field is perfect for large public events, shows and weddings. W e are very presentations and training sessions. Available 8.30am to 5pm (or 4.30pm flexible as to the nature of the events so please call 023 9259 5040 with November to February) daily. your ideas! Available from 8am to 11.30pm daily. Camping is also available for pre-booked groups at £3 per person. Bottom Field/ Head Down Located to the east of the forest, near the Meadow village of Buriton, Head Down is an area that Located close to the V isitor caters for clubs that require land with privacy Centre, these two small, flat for outdoor recreational activities, such as events fields suit family parties archery or of f-road vehicles. For more and club events. Available from information please call 023 9259 5040 with 8am to 8pm daily. your ideas! Available from 8am to 8pm daily. QECP Park Pages_winter 2012_Layout 1 30/08/2012 10:22 Page 3 Parks events ... Conservation, Guided Walks, Children’s Activities, Demonstrations ... Staff, volunteers and partners at Queen Elizabeth Country Park offer a wide variety of walks, events and activities throughout the year. During the Hampshire school holidays there will be various activities for children available in the Visitor Centre which do not have to be pre-booked. Just turn up and take part! All other activities and walks must be booked in advance and start at the Visitor Centre unless otherwise stated. Woodcarving Woodfuel Boiler Guided Re+action First Aid Demonstrations by the Crossway Carvings, a local Re+action will be running a series of first aid courses woodcarving club, in the Visitor Centre.