The first permanent Orienteering course in South Gloucestershire opened in September 2008. This course is located in the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve in Bradley Stoke and is open to anyone to use. The trail features a special nature trail, which is ideal for schools, groups and families. The nature trail takes in a number of different habitats within the reserve, including woodland, wetland, grassland, an orchard and hedgerows.
The trail is waymarked using oak posts that incorporate a number and a steel rubbing plaque illustrating an animal or plant that can be found within the reserve.
The Orienteering map and information about the various courses you can use is available to download from this site (see the read more section on the right). You can also download five different rubbing sheets to collect rubbings from engraved
wildlife pictures at each marker post. The rubbing sheets have been designed to add to your Orienteering experience and provide a great way to learn more about the wildlife on the reserve. There is also information for teachers and group leaders who may wish to bring groups out to use the course.
Packs for individuals and families cost £1 and include:
- Orienteering map x1
- Nature Trail rubbing sheets x 5
- Crayon x 1
Group packs cost £10 and include:
- Orienteering maps x 25
- Nature trail rubbing sheets (five habitats to explore x 24 sheets)
- Information for teachers and group leaders
- Crayons x 24
Both packs are available from Bradley Stoke Library (closed Wednesdays), close to the starting point of the course.
The Three Brooks Orienteering and Nature Trail was developed in partnership with the Bristol Orienteering Klub, British Orienteering, The Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group, BTCV and Castlebeck. The course was funded by the BBC's Breathing Places grant and South Gloucestershire Council's Wild Roots project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.