PERMANENT ORIENTEERING COURSES ON CANNOCK CHASE

Tackeroo and Pepperslade Permanent Orienteering Courses

The Permanent Courses are both set up on Forestry Commission Land near Birches Valley Forest Centre. The courses and maps were revised by Walton Chasers working with the Forestry Commission during 2004 and 2006. The club is very grateful to them for setting out the permanent control posts and maintaining the courses as necessary.

A permanent course is a good way to try orienteering as a leisure activity or to develop orienteering skills with no time pressure. Maps for each course can be purchased from the Forest Centre shop at Birches Valley Forest Centre (open daily).  The cost is £1.00. A leaflet is given out with the maps. This contains information and instructions, control descriptions, and a control card which shows suggested yellow, orange and light green courses and which can be used to record which controls have been visited. Spare control cards are available. Photocopying of maps is not allowed and is an infringement of copyright.

USING THE PERMANENT COURSES
Individual Use
Once a map has been purchased individuals can use the courses in their own time and at their own risk, as many times as they like. There is no need to pre book but any notices about forestry work should be read and acted upon.

School and Group Use
SCHOOLS and GROUPS who wish to use the Permanent Courses MUST PRE BOOK with the Forestry Commission and pay an access fee on each and every occasion even if they already have some maps. Maps can be re used but booking must be done each time a visit is planned and a fee paid. Please contact the Recreation Ranger at Birches Valley Forest Centre either by telephone 01889 586593 or by visiting the office to see if new maps need to be purchased and how the course will be used with your group. If a school group becomes a partner with Walton Chasers Orienteering Club through the school liaison officer, the maps can be purchased and the access fee set at very preferential rates. The Permanent Courses have been set up in such a way that it can be used as a teaching resource to help groups with the development of orienteering skills.

How to start orienteering on the Permanent Courses at Tackeroo and Pepperslade
There are two starts on the Tackeroo Course and one on the Pepperslade Course.  Purchase the map, look at the information sheet and decide which start to use and which course to try. Whichever start is used, the finish will be at the same place.  From each start three colour coded courses are planned and recommended. These courses are planned to yellow, orange and light green standard . Beginners should start with a yellow course, then try the orange and finally a light green course which is the most difficult of the suggested courses. It is then possible to make your own courses using all the controls.

What do you need?

Suitable clothing.  A plastic bag for the map and a pen to copy the codes.  A compass can be helpful but is not necessary.

We hope that many club members and those new to orienteering will enjoy using both the Tackeroo and Pepperslade Permanent Courses.

Further Information
For more information about becoming a school partner, orienteering events or how to join Walton Chasers please contact the Secretary: Tel: 01785 662915; E mail: secretary@walton-chasers.co.uk or see the information on this website. We hold regular orienteering events at which there is always help available for those new to orienteering.  Just come along.