Everything you need to visit Squirrel Wood
Get ready for your visit to Squirrel Wood with practical information to help your group arrive prepared. Find out about equipment hire, changes to your booking, campsite maps and risk assessments, all in one place.
Before you travel, check your confirmed accommodation, activities and arrival arrangements. Share the relevant information with your leaders and let our booking team know about any access requirements or additional support your group may need.
Whether you’re joining us for an evening, a day of activities or a woodland camp, a little preparation will help you make the most of your time at Squirrel Wood.
Extra additions?
Save space in your kit with tables, benches and altar fires available to hire. Include these in your initial booking enquiry so we can check availability.
Bench Hire
Hire benches for seating around camp and save space when transporting your equipment.
£1 per bench per night
Table Hire
Hire tables for meals, food preparation and activities, giving your group useful space without bringing extra equipment.
£2 per table per night
Alter Fire Hire
From campfire treats to a cooked meal, our altar fires are available free of charge. Request one in your initial booking enquiry so we can check availability.
Free of charge
Changes to your booking
Need to add an activity or equipment hire? Contact our booking team with your booking reference and the details of your request. Additions are subject to availability.
More than 4 weeks
Check the live availability calendar, then email our booking team with the activities or equipment you’d like to add and your preferred dates and times. We’ll check availability and confirm what we can arrange.
Less than 4 weeks
Please still email our booking team. Our instructors are volunteers, many of whom also support their own Scout Groups, so adding activities at short notice is unlikely. We’ll check what may be possible.
Campsite Map
Explore our interactive campsite map to find camping areas, buildings, activities and facilities before you arrive. You can also download a printable PDF to bring with you and share with your group.
Safety and site rules
Help us keep Squirrel Wood safe, welcoming and ready for everyone to enjoy. Read this guidance before your visit and share it with your leaders, helpers and young people.
Risk Assessments
Use the links alongside this section to read and download risk assessments for the general campsite, The Lodge, The Drey, the campfire circle and our activities.
Review the assessments relevant to your visit and use them to inform your group’s own risk assessments. Consider your programme, participants’ ages and abilities, additional support needs, supervision and any equipment you bring.
Share the relevant safety information with your team and give participants clear instructions. For leader led activities, review the activity guidance before running your session. For instructor led sessions, follow the instructor’s briefing and agree how your leaders will support the group.
Check conditions throughout your stay and adapt your plans when needed. Stop any activity that cannot continue safely and report hazards, damaged equipment or concerns to the duty warden.
Site rules
Help us keep Squirrel Wood safe, clean and welcoming. Group leaders must share these rules with their group and provide appropriate supervision throughout their visit.
Arrival
Check in at Reception in the Wardens’ Den and complete an attendance list for everyone staying on site. Tell the duty warden about any changes. For Friday arrivals, access is from 4pm unless an earlier arrival has been agreed.
Safety and emergencies
Read the relevant site and activity risk assessments and prepare your own assessments for your group and programme. Bring your own first aid kit and arrange suitable first aid cover.
Report accidents and emergencies to the duty warden promptly and complete an accident report before departure. In a life threatening emergency, call 999 immediately. The defibrillator is near the toilet block. Follow the displayed evacuation instructions and account for everyone in your group.
Vehicles
With the duty warden’s permission, vehicles may be taken to the edge of your pitch for loading or unloading. Do not drive onto camping pitches. Drive at no more than 5mph with hazard lights on and return your vehicle to the car park once finished.
Vehicles may remain at a campsite overnight only on sites 11 and 12, with prior permission from the duty warden and a maximum of one vehicle per site. Park in the position agreed with the duty warden. Keep tracks, gates and emergency access clear at all times.
Rubbish and toilets
Bag your rubbish and take it to the bins in the car park. Keep your pitch, toilets and shared areas tidy. Do not use the toilets to wash camping equipment, clothing or footwear.
Security
Keep valuables out of sight and lock your accommodation building when leaving it unattended. Site volunteers may ask visitors to identify themselves, so make sure your group members can say which group they are with.
Portable power station charging
Portable power station charging is available for £5 and must be supervised throughout by a responsible adult from your group. Ask at Reception to arrange this service. We do not offer phone charging.
Play area
The play area is for children under 10. A leader must supervise them at all times.
Activities
Follow activity instructions and provide adults to supervise your participants. For leader led activities, provide suitably qualified or competent leaders, your own risk assessments and any required approvals.
Site shop
Ask at Reception in the Wardens’ Den for shop opening times. Group tuck shops are permitted.
Restricted areas and other campsites
The maintenance compound is for authorised staff only. Keep out of areas marked as restricted and ensure your group understands these boundaries. Respect other groups’ campsites.
Drones
Drone flights require prior permission from the duty warden.
Dogs
Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times and are not allowed inside buildings, except for assistance dogs. Owners must clean up after their dogs.
Fires and woodland
Fires are permitted only in designated fire pits or altar fires. Supervise fires and follow your own risk assessment and any site fire restrictions. When using the campfire circle, also follow our campfire circle risk assessment.
You may collect fallen deadwood. Do not cut or damage trees, remove branches from standing trees or burn rubbish.
Fully extinguish fires, allow ash to cool and follow the duty warden’s disposal instructions. Clean altar fires and grills and return portable equipment after use.
Wet pits require the duty warden’s permission and must be filled in before departure. Dismantle temporary woodland shelters and leave the area as you found it.
Buildings and equipment
Leave buildings clean and tidy, return equipment to its designated storage area and report damage or faults to the duty warden. Bring your own bedding and mattress sheets. Do not leave equipment on site before or after your booking without prior agreement.
Noise
Keep noise to a minimum between 11pm and 7.30am. Generators must be switched off during these hours.
Alcohol and drugs
Follow the Scouts Green Card on alcohol. Adults responsible for young people must not drink and under 18s must not drink alcohol. Recreational drugs are prohibited.
Smoking and vaping
Smoking and vaping are not permitted in buildings, marquees, tents or vehicles. Please smoke or vape off site and away from children and young people.
Departure
Leave your building or pitch clean and tidy by the end of your booking: 9pm for evening visits, 4pm for day visits and 4pm on your departure day for overnight stays. Request your departure inspection or building handover at least 30 minutes before leaving.
Need help?
Speak to the duty warden about any problems during your visit. Serious or repeated breaches of the rules may result in an activity being stopped or visitors being asked to leave. A warning will be given where practical.
Please also read our Booking terms and conditions.
Pre-arrival guide
Our pre-arrival guide will bring together arrival arrangements, site rules, activity information and practical advice to help you prepare for your stay.
Coming soon. Until then, use the information on this page and share the relevant guidance with your leaders and helpers. If you have any questions before your visit, contact our booking team.
