Accessibility at New Forest Activities
Our Commitment to Inclusion
At New Forest Activities, we believe the outdoors is for everyone. Guided by the principle of Challenge by Choice, we aim to help people of different ages and abilities enjoy outdoor adventure in a safe, supportive and welcoming environment.
We regularly welcome individuals, families and groups with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and our instructors are experienced in adapting sessions around individual needs wherever reasonably possible.
You are always encouraged to participate at a level that feels comfortable and appropriate for you.
Talk to Us Before You Book
Many of our activities take place in natural woodland and riverside environments, so accessibility can vary depending on the activity, venue, weather and individual requirements.
If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, additional support requirements or would benefit from adapted equipment, we strongly recommend contacting us before booking.
With advance notice, we can discuss the activity with you, prepare appropriate equipment where available, consider additional staffing or access arrangements, and give you up-to-date information about terrain and site conditions.
We would much rather have a conversation beforehand and help you find the right activity than make assumptions about what you can or cannot take part in.
Site Access & Facilities
Our activities operate from several outdoor locations around Beaulieu. These are working countryside, woodland and riverside sites rather than purpose-built indoor activity centres, so surfaces and access routes vary.
Parking
Car parking at our activity locations is generally on natural or gravel surfaces.
Gravel may require additional effort for some manual wheelchair users and can be more challenging for people with limited mobility or an unsteady footing.
Please contact us in advance if being positioned close to an activity area or access point would make your visit easier.
Outdoor Terrain & Woodland
Our woodland and riverside locations include natural, unpaved surfaces. Depending on the site, you may encounter uneven ground, tree roots, slopes, gravel, woodchip, mud and softer ground.
Conditions can change considerably with the weather. During dry periods some woodland areas can be navigated using suitable wheelchairs or mobility aids, while prolonged wet weather can make the same routes considerably more difficult.
Parking: Add a photograph showing the parking surface and route towards the activity site.
Arrival: Add a photograph showing the entrance and arrival point.
Access route: Add a photograph showing the typical surface and width of the route.
Terrain: Add a photograph showing typical woodland ground conditions.
Toilets & Changing Facilities
Toilet facilities differ between our activity locations. The information below should help you plan your visit, but please contact us if you need specific measurements or access information.
Hazel Copse Farm
Toilets are situated on natural ground at our Hazel Copse Farm base.
Please contact us before your visit if wheelchair access, cubicle dimensions or other facilities are important to you and we can confirm the current arrangements.
Bailey’s Hard
Accessible toilets are available at Bailey’s Hard, along with changing facilities for participants taking part in watersports.
If you require particular changing space or facilities, please contact our team in advance so that we can confirm suitability.
Hartford Woods
The current toilet facilities at our Hartford woodland site are reached by steps and the cubicles are compact.
These toilets are therefore not currently suitable for wheelchair access and may also be difficult for some guests with limited mobility.
Bailey’s Hard: Accessible toilet and surrounding approach.
Changing facilities: Add a photograph showing the room and entrance.
Hazel Copse Farm: Add a photograph showing the toilet and route to it.
Hartford: Add a photograph clearly showing the steps and entrance.
Activities & Adapted Provision
Different activities present different accessibility considerations. Our instructors can often adapt how an activity is delivered, the equipment being used or the level of participation.
The information below explains some of the options currently available.
Archery
Adapted equipment: We have a range of bows in different sizes and draw weights, allowing our instructors to select equipment appropriate to individual participants.
We can also provide mechanical release aids for participants who find gripping or releasing the bowstring difficult.
Specialist bow stands are available which support the weight of the bow while still allowing the participant to aim and shoot.
Range access: Our archery range is surfaced with woodchip. This creates a softer natural surface but can require additional effort for wheelchair users or participants with walking difficulties.
Range access: Show the woodchip surface and route onto the range.
Bow stand: Show the equipment used to support the weight of the bow.
Release aid: Show an example of the adapted release equipment available.
Canoeing
Supportive seating: We currently have one specialised supportive canoe seat available. It provides additional upper-body and postural support and uses a safety harness to help participants with limited core stability sit securely in the canoe.
As we currently have one adaptive seat, please contact us before booking if you think it may be required.
Transfers: We do not currently have a mechanical hoist at our launch point. Where appropriate, transfers into and out of canoes can be supported manually by our trained instructors working with the participant and their carers or support team.
Water access: Access to the river is via natural ground and includes slopes and uneven surfaces. Conditions can also change following wet weather.
Water access: Show the route and slope leading to the launch point.
Launch point: Show the ground and water's edge where participants enter the canoe.
Supportive seat: Show the adaptive seat and support system fitted inside a canoe.
Equipment: Add any further photographs that will help guests understand the setup.
BattleZone
BattleZone takes place in a genuine woodland environment with natural slopes, loose soil, roots and uneven ground.
In dry conditions, approximately half of the game area can usually be accessed using suitable all-terrain or sturdy manual wheelchairs. Other parts of the woodland are more difficult to reach because of slopes and natural obstacles.
Our instructors can adapt games and playing areas where practical so that participants can remain involved without needing to access every part of the woodland.
Wet weather can significantly change the condition of the site, so please contact us if terrain accessibility is an important part of your visit.
Entrance: Show the main route into the BattleZone site.
More accessible terrain: Show one of the flatter areas used during games.
More difficult terrain: Show an example of slopes or obstacles guests may encounter.
Everyone’s Requirements Are Different
An accessibility guide can only give general information. Two people with the same disability or mobility limitation may have very different requirements, confidence levels and ways of taking part.
If you are unsure whether an activity will work for you or somebody you support, please speak to our team.
We can discuss the activity, terrain, equipment and level of support available and help you decide which experience is most appropriate.