Are your nature events suitable for everyone? Our wildlife activities are enjoyed by all ages and events are suitable for most people over 5 years old. It is helpful for us to know if you have any mobility or medical conditions or other additional needs so we can plan accordingly – please let us know in the booking form. There is uneven ground.
What should I wear and bring with me? Download this document ‘What to bring and expect for day visits’ or ‘What to bring and expect for overnight stays’ if you’re coming for a residential event. Please share with others coming to the wood too.
Do you allow dogs? No sorry, as a nature reserve we do not allow dogs, with the exception of assistance dogs.
Can I hire the wood to run my own event? Yes, the wood and the buildings are available to hire throughout the year. Please see the Day hire and Residential hire web pages for more information.
How many people can the Group Room hold? The Group Room is an indoor communal space measuring 6.7m x 6.5m. Its capacity depends on the activity, for example, it can hold approximately 12 yoga mats spaced out comfortably or 20 chairs in a circle.
Are there soft chairs or sofas in the Oak House? There are only wooden and metal chairs in the Oak House. If you would prefer more comfortable seating we advise you bring camping chairs with you.
Do you offer catering? We don’t offer catering ourselves but we have a list of recommended caterers which can be found in the group leader information pack.
Are any flip charts available to use? Yes, we have a couple of flip charts and a small whiteboard you’re welcome to use. They are kept under the stairs in the Oak House. Please bring your own flip chart paper.
What is meant by max occupancy? This includes all the bedrooms and beds being slept in at full capacity, including couples sharing double beds.
What’s the maximum number of people that can stay overnight? The maximum is 50 people, in both indoor accommodation and tents or camper vans.
Can we have exclusive use of the wood? Exclusive use of the whole site is available when all three buildings (Oak House, Hideaway and Forest Ark) are all booked together.
Can we arrive on any day for residential hire? No sorry, arrival days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays only.
Can we book 1 night at the weekend? Weekends are 2 nights minimum. You can book 1 night mid-week from Tuesdays.
What time do we arrive for residential bookings? Group leaders and site crew must arrive before their participants – 10am on Tuesdays (participants to arrive from 12pm), and 2pm on Thursdays and Fridays (participants to arrive from 4pm). A member of the Hazel Hill Team will meet you for your induction on using the buildings, then you’ll have time to unload and prepare for your event before your participants arrive.
Who should attend the induction? Group leaders and site crew. We strongly recommend you have your site crew with you as there’s a lot to go through. Our induction aims to cover everything you need to know to run a successful event at Hazel Hill Wood. This will take 45-60 minutes, depending how many buildings you’ve hired and how many questions you have. Please ensure you have read through the Pre-arrival Information Pack and shared it with other leaders and site crew before you arrive.
Can I arrive early to set up? Due to the time needed to prep the buildings, the arrival times are unchangeable.
Can we depart later than 4pm? Due to the time needed to close down the building’s the departure time is unchangeable.
Can we stay in the wood for a while after we check out of the buildings? As a private site we need to lock the main gate so we need you to vacate the woodland too please, unless we have made a prior arrangement with you.
Why can’t you be more flexible to meet our needs? We are struggling to survive as a charity. We need to work more efficiently with a very small staff team with limited availability. The Hideaway needs to be heated 24 hours before a booking, among many other preparation tasks. Having arrivals on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at set times is what we can accommodate at the time being.
Can I book Sunday night too? On Bank Holiday weekends you can choose to extend weekend hire until Monday afternoon so you can enjoy an extra night at the wood. You may be able to book Sunday nights at other times of the year too, subject to availability.
Where can I camp? Tents are permitted in the Heartwood, the grassy lawns around the buildings and the Heart Circle – the small grassy glade situated on the path between the Hideaway and the outdoor compost toilets. We advise against setting up camp directly under trees due to the risk of a tree or branch falling on you. If you do decide to camp under trees, you should look up and look for any obvious hazards, e.g. dead branches hung up.
Can we use the buildings one night and camp the next? Yes, but you’ll have to pay for the buildings both nights.
How do I book? Please contact lauren@hazelhill.org.uk to check availability and to make a booking. Please note, we require all facilitators to complete a site visit prior to making a booking, and to evidence how their event is in line with our charitable aims. We have monthly open days on Thursdays, see our Events page for dates and contact Lauren to book in.
Do we pay extra for firewood? No, firewood is included.
Do you offer concessions? Hazel Hill Trust is a charity and our rates for hiring the woodland and buildings for residential events are set at a level to cover delivery costs. We are aware that some organisations with aims and values very aligned with our own may not be able to meet the standard rates, and so we allocate a limited number of concessionary bookings per year to those with the greatest need. If you feel you may be eligible for a concession please submit this Application Form and we will be in touch to let you know the outcome.
Do you offer discounts? We are not currently able to offer discounts.