LEIOC Photo Gallery

Leicestershire Orienteers announce star attraction!

Leicestershire Orienteering Club (LEI) announces the completion of negotiations for access to a brand new four-hundred acre area! digger at work

The new area, known as Grange Wood, borders on the village of Ibstock, in north-west Leicestershire. It is part of the National Forest program and as such is open to the public. Although the planting is immature, with a few existing woodlands, in a few years time we will have an area similar in size to Bradgate Park, but densely wooded. Roy Denney, our Access Development Officer, takes up the story:- Roy on digger

"This years (2002) National Forest Trophy will be contested at the Outwoods shortly and I am sure that LEI as the host club would welcome the timely return of the trophy."

"Next year's trophy competition will be held during the summer at Grange Wood. This is a new area of nearly four-hundred acres with good relief and trees maturing nicely. During July, in what I think is probably a first for the sport, the landowner hired a JCB for two days which he then spent with yours truly digging holes and building knolls to create spot features. Various members of LEI joined us during the exercise pushing barrows and building cairns and log piles. A custom made orienteering area in the making which I hope will become a favourite and will eventually sustain Badge events and possibly even a National with extra bits round the edges which may become available."

hard at work

"Grange Wood will first be used for the National Forest Trophy next summer. Last year's planting is now maturing nicely and by next summer will be very evident. Earlier plantings are now genuine woodland and the last few bits will be re-planted shortly where previous crops have not taken. The area is cut by two stream valleys giving more than enough up and down and there are good contour features."

Pete and Vernon

"At the end of July the landowner hired a JCB and spent two whole days working with myself and several other members creating spot features for orienteering purposes. My thanks go to Colin Drury, Pete Leake, Andy Portsmouth, Roger Kelly and Vernon and Geraldine Davis for their assistance."

"At the end of the exercise the count was I stream crossing, three gullies, three cairns, two log piles, sixteen knolls and twenty-three pits (not to mention sunburn and aching joints etc).'' Paula sitting down on the job

Some members of the "working" party are featured in the pictures on this page. Some appear to be sitting down on the job! You just can't get the staff!