New Assault Course for QE2 Activity Centre at Manor Farm Country Park

The assault course at the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Activities Centre in Manor Farm Country Park is having a makeover!

The ropes course is one of the facilities at the centre opened in 1978 and offering outdoor (and ‘active’ indoor) activities for people of all ages with learning or physical disabilities, autism and other specific needs.

The assault course was created 20 years ago and although it has been continually evolving and changing throughout the years the centre has decided now is the time to revamp the whole area.

Financing for the project includes funding through two Hampshire County Council discretionary grants, from Cllr Broadhurst and Cllr Thomas. Many of the materials have been donated by local companies, such as Williams Shipping and Itchen Towage who have generously contributed ropes.

Groundwork Solent, the environmental charity, has already provided a team of volunteers to help get the work started, and the new course is due to be finished by the end of March.

Phil Oates, centre manager, says, ‘At the centre we offer many types of activity, from canoeing and raft building to country park orienteering and bushcraft challenges. The ropes course has always been a great attraction at the centre. It’s fun as well as challenging and all our visitors can use it, even people with physical disabilities as there are low ropes’

A new zip-wire has already been installed. Phil Oates: ‘Very sadly the centre’s Honorary Secretary, Neil Smith, died last year. His family very kindly asked for donations to be used in his memory to buy a new zip-wire system.’

The QE2 Activity Centre’s indoor facilities include a climbing wall, which wheelchair users can access, archery, skittles and team games.

The centre offers individual and block bookings to schools and groups for day-time activity sessions, and also has residential accommodation for longer stays which families with a disabled member can book for holidays.  

Two special holiday activity weeks have been organised for the summer, 26-30 July and 16-20 August offering for a discounted price of £600 a four-night stay and full activity programme – presumably to include a try-out on the newly refurbished ropes course!

For more information about the facilities and activities on offer at the centre phone 023 8040 4844 or see their website.

Groundwork Solent works to support local communities in need and improve the quality of people’s lives. Groundwork Solent is part of Groundwork UK.