5th Urmston ‘Aquilifer’ Scout Group, Eeasbrook, Urmston, M41 9JA

CAMPING FACILITIES: SITE RULES AND GENERAL INFORMATION

Introduction

We are located in Urmston, south west

of Greater Manchester, on the north bank

of the River Mersey. The Mersey Valley Authority

has created a 10 mile long environmental

park, stretching from Stockport to Carrington,

with footpaths throughout, pleasant for walking,

horse riding, water sports in Sale and Chorlton

water parks or even canoeing on the River Mersey.


Our campsite is situated in about 9 acres

of mixed woodland with a number of separate

camping and activity areas among the trees.

We are primarily an operational Scout Group and we

ask that evening arrivals be arranged to minimise

disruption to our Beaver, Cub, Scout and Explorer

meetings, particularly on Monday and Friday evenings

when Explorers and Scouts meet until 9.30pm.


The site is let out to other Scout Groups and organisations, usually only to one user at a time but smaller groups may be happy to share, by special arrangement. We have no resident warden on site, but our Duty Warden would provide a telephone contact number in case assistance is needed during the camp.

On site activities
Activities are the responsibility of the visiting party but should always be carried out in accordance with POR rules and authorisations (for scout parties) or other organisations own regulations and authorisations. In addition to archery/rifle shooting and the climbing wall (costs available on request) we can offer:

  Pioneering: We can supply pioneering poles, but the visiting party will need to bring ropes, pulleys, etc.

  Orienteering: We have a permanent orienteering course on the field, and can supply maps, rules, answer sheets, etc prior to the visit. As we do not have a copier, we would prefer that the visitors copy answer sheets before the visit.

  Activities area: the size of a normal football pitch and thus suitable for football, rounders, etc. Cricket can be expensive in lost balls if a big hitter plays.

Campsite Costs

Overnight camping / Scout & Guide groups
£2.50 per head per night / Non-members
£3.00 per head per night

Please note we have no formal indoor sleeping accommodation.

Day visitors: £1.25 per head, or for less than 4 hours, reduced rate of 75p per head.

Deposit - non refundable in advance: 20% of fee (min. £10 for camping, £20 for HQ)

Payments by cash or by cheque made payable to ‘5th Urmston Scout Group'

Rates on request for: Archery & shooting range - instruction and/or equipment hire

Mobile climbing tower – onsite use, or available for hire offsite

Hire of equipment (including 5-a-side football posts if available)

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Headquarters: Our new headquarters is now complete but is not yet centrally heated.

There are a number of small meeting rooms on the lower floor that may be used for sleepovers, but there is no formal sleeping accommodation in the building.

Security and Warnings

  The site is in an urban area. Although vandalism and incursions to the site are rare, it is recommended that the visiting party leave somebody on site when the party leaves for other activities. Valuables should not be left in unattended tents.

  A stream runs through the site. Although it runs cleanly, the bed consists of deep mud in which past pollution, mainly oil, is still present. The stream is not fit for playing or water activities. (Scouts do build rope/orienteering bridges over it, however).

  A shallow wildlife pond is situated behind the archery range. Please take care not to disturb the wildlife. The pond is not suitable for sailing boats or swimming.

  Barbed wire fences and hedges surround the site. To preserve these and avoid injury the site must be entered and left only by the main gate.

  The ground can become very soft after rain. Vehicles should not be taken onto the camping or activity areas and should be limited to the 'graveled' tracks.

Scout Association policy and principles

Every Scouter leading or organizing a camp must have a sound knowledge of the association’s policy and principles relating to camping and set out in the associations’ publication “Scout Camping” and must adopt a principle of reasonable care when using the site. Those leading camps for members under the age of 18 will be required to give details of their ‘Nights away Permit’.

Permission to Camp
All Scout Association Visitors should comply with the requirements of P.O.R. and the submission of a Nights Away Notification (form NAN) will be required for all parties that include members less than 18 years of Age. This should be forwarded before the date of commencement to the Urmston & District Commissioner – Jonathan Platt, 34 Barnfield, Urmston, Manchester, M41 9EN. Telephone 0161 613 8589 or 07810 677410.

Child Protection
All groups other than Scout Association members using the site should provide prior to arrival details of their Policy for Child Protection or alternatively agree to sign up to our own rules; copies can be obtained on request.

Duty Warden

On arrival you will be welcomed by the duty warden who will explain about the site and the various facilities that are available. Required activities should be pre arranged to ensure that these are available. The duty Warden will open up the toilet block and any other buildings that you will require and will hand over a set of keys for each of the buildings. The Duty warden will issue his/her telephone number in case of emergency or problem and will agree a time of departure for a final inspection of the site.

Emergency services

Nearest Hospital for A&E: Trafford General, Moorside Road, Davyhulme, Urmston. Telephone: 0161 748 4022. Postcode for Satnav: M41 5SL

If you are unsure whether you require the services of the A&E Department please call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 (24 hours) for medical advice and health information.

The local police station can be contacted on 0161 872 5050.

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SITE RULES and GUIDELINES

Cleaning the site

The party using the site has full responsibility for leaving the site clean and tidy. All wood should be cleared from the cut areas to allow the grass to be mowed. The toilets should be fully cleaned and the floor hosed down with the hose provided. All cleaning materials are held in a locked cupboard in the ladies toilet area, your keys for the site will include access to this cupboard.

Rubbish

A large wheelie bin is situated by the main gate where you can place bagged mixed waste. Please ensure bin lid is closed to avoid incursion by foxes etc. We currently have no recycling facility, but recycling bins are situated close by on Manor Avenue car park.

Toilet block

The toilet block has male, female and disabled toilets, together with two 'unisex' showers accessible from the entrance lobby.

Waste is drained to a septic tank: please avoid bleach based cleaning products and flush away nothing but toilet tissue. All sanitary waste, tampons etc. must be rolled in toilet tissue and placed in the bins provided.

The sinks should not be used for washing-up, nor (due to the limitations to the heating system) should hot water be taken from the block to the sites.

As there is no on-site warden, visiting parties should arrange to check the toilet block regularly and organise any cleaning that becomes necessary during and at the end of the camp. Please ensure the toilet block is locked up if the group leaves the site.


1st Aid
All Groups using the facilities are fully responsible for providing suitably qualified First Aiders along with the provision of sufficient 1st Aid kits for the activity/camp taking place

Wood fires
Use altar fires only - no cutting of turf to make fires. Each camping area has a brick altar fire, but in exceptional cases (e.g. camping competitions) additional altar fires (steel) can be supplied by arrangement.
The only exception to this rule is the Campfire Circle in which the fire is on the ground.
Wood and woodcutting: There is usually a good supply of wood lying under the trees. No wood to be cut from living (standing!) trees!
Axes and saws are not banned, but the visiting party is responsible for the security and proper use of these in accordance with the provisions of P.O.R.

Wet pits
Wet pits can be dug 1 metre outside the cut limits of camp sites, although we would prefer the 'grass filled bin bag' wet pit system with the bags being burnt after use.

Water
There are 3 water points on the field that can be set up as appropriate for the size of camp.

Car Parking

We have very limited space for vehicles on site and would ask that campers and kit be unloaded and cars then parked on the nearby (free) public car park on Manor Avenue.

Alcohol
Alcohol is not permitted on the site unless by prior arrangement for a Licenced event or an Adult Only group.

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Noise
All users of the site are asked to respect neighbours, particularly around the car park area where there are old person’s flats. Leaders should enforce a quiet time between 10.00pm and 7.00am.

Dogs

We prefer that you do not bring your dog onto the campsite. If there is no alternative, please phone to discuss. If we agree, for instance in the case of a guide dog, then the dog must be kept on a lead and under control at all times; dogs must be exercised off site (Mersey Valley footpaths just down the lane); and any accidental soiling bagged, binned and the area thoroughly doused to minimise Health Safety risks to our children.

Off site activities/ Places to Visit

We are close to the M60 (Manchester ring road) and have excellent transport links by bus and train into Manchester or to the Metrolink tram station in Stretford (3 miles). There are many places of interest or entertainment to visit, both locally and in the Manchester area. (Information sheet available to email or post on request).

To find out more about the Mersey Valley centres, visit:

http://www.merseyvalley.org.uk/site/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

CONTACT

For all initial enquiries and bookings information please contact:

Margaret Marshall, Bookings Secretary, email: