Westonbirt Arboretum

The Forestry Commission has two permanent orienteering courses onsite, designed to act both as navigational challenges and as learning experiences for visitors. Visitors who go over the spectacular 250m STIHL Treetop Walkway into Silk Wood will be able to enjoy short and long 'Plant Hunter Orienteering' courses using the conventional orienteering map of the area. The control posts are enhanced by providing information about famous plant hunters and their work; so orienteering is mixed with a bit of history and botany.

A simpler 'Gruffalo Orienteering' map is available for the course in the Old Arboretum and Downs. This map is in a format also used in other FC forests around the country, and uses a simplified version of a conventional orienteering map in which all wooded areas are coloured green and open areas yellow, while only the most significant point features are shown on the map and contours are omitted. In score format, the control posts provide information about the woodland and its creatures.

Although the courses have been laid out with youngsters in mind, they will provide a challenge for orienteers of all ages and abilities.