Meetings are meant to be about blue-sky thinking, but in the city it can be hard to hear yourself think. Tom Otley goes deep into the forest to see the wood for the trees.
Somewhere along the two-mile drive from the small village of Cropton to the entrance to the forest, telephone coverage is lost. Trees close around the road, creating a thick canopy overhead, and you leave behind the stone cottages. Five minutes later, the tunnel opens and log cabins line the edge of a clearing.
You’ve arrived at Forest Holidays’ Keldy Castle base, but you won’t be phoning the family to let them know. Recent figures estimate mobile-phone coverage in the UK at over 90 per cent, so choosing one of the few remaining “dark” spots as a corporate venue might seem perverse. But if you’ve ever tried to hold a meeting where people have wifi-enabled laptops in front of them, you’ll appreciate the advantages of radio silence – the only useful blackberries here are in the hedgerow.
Built on the site of the former castle, of which only the outbuildings remain, Keldy’s log cabins are a world away from the stresses of city living. The nearest town of any size is Pickering, famous for the medieval wall paintings in its Norman church, five miles to the south-east, but even that is well off the beaten track.
On arrival, you can take the pace off by wandering around the site, reading about some of the planned activities, or making a meal in your cabin (there is no restaurant). It doesn’t matter if you can’t cook or haven’t brought any ingredients – the on-site shop has delicious ready-made meals.
Although a conference centre with plasma screen, wifi access and projectors is opening in October, there is a conscious effort to provide the basics without forgetting what the forest is all about.
“We certainly aren’t marketing ourselves as a Hilton or Marriott conferencing facility,” says Adam Truelove, who rejoices in the title of Forest Experience Manager. “We are far more rustic, but we offer a unique experience idea that most corporates won’t have encountered before.”
Cropton Forest was established by the Forestry Commission as long ago as 1926 and is 3,800 hectares of woodland within a total land area of 4,500 hectares. Scots pine, larch and Douglas fir predominate, although there are managed broad-leafed trees such as beech, ash, oak and birch, many of which are more than 200 years old.
In general, the trees are grown on a rotation of 50 years, so much of the forest is well into a second rotation, producing about 5,000 tonnes of timber each year. Spend any time walking through it and it’s fascinating to see the different stages various areas are at, from recently felled to new growth (popular with nightjars, which fly in from South Africa to breed).
A sister site two miles away offers camping, but these cabins are for those used to creature comforts. In one corner, a wood-burning stove is the centre of attention in winter, and there’s a fully equipped kitchen, luxurious bathrooms and, in some cabins, outdoor hot tubs. The 40-odd cabins sleep two to ten and are being modernised and upgraded, although all are very comfortable, with good showers and some with spa baths.
You see the forest at its best first thing in the morning – rabbits on the grass in front of the cabin, undisturbed by a hedgehog making for cover, or the squirrels on the terrace sniffing around for leftover crumbs from your al fresco dinner the night before. It’s the opposite of the adrenaline-fuelled teambuilding activities other centres promise.
The site is gathered around a central area, with the milking sheds converted into a games room, and the granary full of comfy seats and local information. You can hire bikes, and if there’s any urgent washing, use the laundrette (no 24-hour room service here, although it’s guaranteed next day if you do it yourself).
Activities such as laser games and quad biking can be organised, but the regular activities are far more sedate: “See some of the great bird life in the forest on this ranger-guided walk”; or “Deer stalking – learn how to spot the clues these magnificent creatures leave behind and find out a bit more about their lives”. The descriptions convey both the enthusiasm and informality with which these walks and talks are conducted.
On the two walks we took, our guide was full of fascinating information on trees and how to recognise them. We learned about moles, badgers, deer and the damage they do to trees, and the need to control their population while providing them with a safe habitat. This was all leavened with practical advice, particularly on eating the forest fruits. (Never touch anything below knee height or, close to a campsite, below a man’s waist…)
My only real regret was missing “Bushcraft: could you survive a night in the wood?”.
The pace of the countryside takes some getting used to after the normal 50-hour-plus week in a major city. We are used to constant travel and to spending any spare time frantically replying to emails on a portable device, trying to catch up and moving faster each year to stay in the same place. Then, suddenly, all that is removed, if only for a few days.
Walking up the nearest hill in search of cell-phone coverage, the sound of the breeze in the trees providing a soothing chorus, the hill crested and the narrow woodland path ended in a stile, with the forest edged by a huge line of mature beech trees. Beyond, on the hill opposite, the open moors are visible, purple gorse edging the bare summit. It’s the sort of memory that lasts longer than any Powerpoint presentation.
Visit forestholidays.co.uk.
Back to nature
Wild Connections
The Cotswolds, Gloucestershire
Wild Connections offers tailormade courses to learn about nature on your doorstep. A range of activities are available, including fire-lighting, plant identification, navigation and stalking. Or try woodcraft and make your own bowl and cup. Recommended group size: 30 maximum.
Dryad Bushcraft
Gower Peninsula, Wales
Don’t know your laverbread from your sliced white? Then the Wilderness Gourmet course is for you, where you can learn about the edible treats in nature’s larder – anything from seaweed to razor clams and samphire. You’ll discover loads of different in-season delicacies, then spend a few hours cooking up a storm. Recommended group size: 15 maximum.
Wilderness Discovery
Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
Wilderness Discovery runs nature-awareness courses, with the aim of encouraging people to see themselves and the natural world in an entirely new way. The courses are very flexible and can include anything from teepee-building to survival skills. Recommended group size: Can cater for most sizes.
The National Trust
Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey
Path-building, conservation work, tree-planting, ragwort-pulling, bramble-bashing – there’s plenty to do, even in the winter. Plant a tree, then come back and watch it grow over the years. Recomended group size: 15 maximum (larger groups are possible depending on the time of year).
Wildwise
Dartmoor, Devon
Learn how to move silently, track animals and make your own rope, then gather around a camp fire to hear a professional storyteller entertain you with ancient myths and legends about the natural world. Alternatively, experience the Wildwise “Corporate Castaways” 24-hour survival adventure. Recommended group size: Can cater for most sizes.
