Country parks

Details for some of the events happening over the next few months are listed below. You can find out more about activities, projects and events in Medway's country parks from January to December 2008 by downloading Greenspaces: your guide to what's on 2008 (pdf 2,954KB). To use this file, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this on your computer, please use our advice page.

The guide is also available at council offices, the country parks and from libraries.

Find out more about leisure and tourism events in Medway.

For enquiries and bookings please use the contact details at the foot of this page.

Events include:

August

September

October

August

Fishing teaching (fully booked)
Thursday, 28 August at Capstone Farm Country Park
9am – 12noon

Learn the basics of coarse fishing at Capstone with our park rangers. Aimed at beginners and those wanting to improve. All equipment and bait will be supplied. This event is popular so please book early to avoid disappointment. Suitable for eight to 12 year-olds. Book in advance. £8 per child.

Mini beast safari (fully booked)
Saturday, 23 August  at Capstone Farm Country Park
Sunday, 24 August at Riverside Country Park
10am – 2pm

You’ll be surprised to see some of the weird and wonderful beasties that live in the different habitats around the park. Join us in pond dipping, bug hunting and art and craft activities. For accompanied five to 12 year-olds. Drop in anytime. There is no need to book in advance. £1 per child.

Mountain bike trail
Sunday, 24 August at Capstone Farm Country Park
9am – 10.30am

Come ride the trail around the park and see if you can better your lap times. For all abilities. This is a short trail with some big hills and ramps. Book in advance. £1 per person.

Teddy bears picnic
Tuesday, 26 August at Riverside Country Park
Wednesday, 27 August at Capstone Farm Country Park
10am-2pm

Bring your own picnic along and join in the fun. There will be storytelling, fun and games and a woodland to explore. Most importantly, don’t forget to bring your teddy bear. For accompanied three to seven year-olds. Book in advance. £2.50 per child.

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September

Beginner’s trees
Sunday, 7 September at South Wood
9am – 12noon

If you want to learn how to identify your local woodland trees, this is a fantastic opportunity. South Wood is one of Medway’s best-maintained ancient woodlands and Simon, the walk leader, looks after the site for Medway Council. Book in advance. £1 per person. Over 12-years old only.

Junior ranger club (after school)
Monday, 8 September at Capstone Farm Country Park
Monday, 15 September at Riverside Country Park
Monday, 22 September at Capstone Farm Country Park
Monday, 29 September at Riverside Country Park
4 – 4.45pm

This is a must for any budding David Bellamy. Become a ranger and study the nature that can be found in the park. The club meets weekly and activities can range from arts and crafts to walks, pond dipping and bird watching. For accompanied five to 12 year-olds. Book in advance. £1 per child.

Let's go batty (fully booked)
Thursday, 11 September at Capstone Farm Country Park

This is a wildlife walk with a difference. Starting at dusk, it’s an incredible opportunity to see the bats that live around the park – led by the Kent Bat Group. Book in advance. £2 per person.

Miniature gardens
Sunday, 14 September at Riverside Country Park
10am - 12noon

Take a walk around the park gathering seeds, berries and leaves then make your own miniature garden. For accompanied five to 12 year-olds. Book in advance. £2 per child.

Extreme Medway
Sunday, 14 September at Capstone Farm Country Park
11am - 4pm

Extreme Medway brings adrenaline-fuelled sporting challenges to Medway.

Activities available to try on the day are:

All activities are included in the entry cost. There is, however, a £5 fee for the paintballing, to cover the cost of the paintballs.

Demonstrations include:

• mountain biking (Team MAD);
• skiing and snowboarding;
• parkour.

There will also be live music, food and soft drink stalls, sports stalls. Tickets should be bought on the day and cost £5 for 13s and over; £3 for under-13s. There is no charge for spectators.

To book your place on the skiing and snowboarding workshops, please phone John Nike Leisure Sport Ltd, Chatham Ski and Snowboard Centre on 01634 827979. Tobogganing costs £1.50 per ride; Sno tubes are £4.95 per person per half hour; open practice sessions for skiing and boarding are £6.50 for adults and £5 for children. All slope activities participants must wear gloves, have arms and legs covered and wear closed-toe shoes. Demand may be very high and purchase of a wristband does not guarantee the opportunity to try every sport available.

Arrive early to give yourself plenty of time to try every activity.

If you are interested in having a stall at this event please phone Capstone Farm Country Park on the number below.

Bird walk
Saturday, 20 September at Riverside Country Park
8am start
A walk around the Riverside area may well turn up a few surprises as birds pass through on their migration south. Book in advance. £1 per person.

Survival challenge (fully booked)
Saturday, 20 to Sunday, 21 September at Capstone Farm Country Park
12noon – 12noon
Camp out in Capstone's woodlands with the rangers, sleeping in a shelter you have built from materials found in the park. You will cook your own food over the campfire, learn forest crafts and scare each other silly with ghost stories. Are you brave enough to take the Capstone survival challenge? For children aged seven and older with one accompanying adult per child unless pre-arranged. Book in advance. £8 per person includes breakfast.

Bird box and animal home-making
Saturday, 27 September at Capstone Farm Country Park
Sunday, 28 September at Riverside Country Park
10am – 2pm
For adults and children alike, this is an opportunity to enrich the wildlife found in your garden by creating new habitats. Drop in any time. There is no need to book in advance. £5 per home.

Mountain bike trail
Sunday, 28 September at Capstone Farm Country Park
9am – 10.30am
Come ride the trail around the park and see if you can better your lap times. For all abilities. This is a short trail with some big hills and ramps. Book in advance. £1 per person.

October

Junior ranger club
Monday, 6 October at Capstone Farm Country Farm
Monday, 13 October at Riverside Country Park
Monday, 20 October at Capstone Farm Country Farm
4 – 4.45pm
This is a must for any budding David Bellamy. Become a ranger and study the nature that can be found in the park. The club meets weekly and activities range from arts and crafts to walks, pond dipping and bird watching. For accompanied five to 12 year-olds. Book in advance. £1 per child.

Mountain bike trail
Sunday, 19 October at Capstone Farm Country park
9am – 10.30am
Come ride the trail around the park and see if you can better your lap times. For all abilities. This is a short trail with some big hills and ramps. Book in advance. £1 per person.

Fungal foray
Saturday, 25 October at Capstone Farm Country Park
Time will be announced.
Explore the woods at Capstone looking for fungi and then learn to identify your spoils. Many of the fungi at Capstone are edible. Book in advance. £3 per person.

Autumnal collages
Tuesday, 28 October at Riverside Country Park
Thursday, 30 October at Capstone Farm Country Park
10am - 2pm and 1 – 3pm
Celebrate the end of the summer and the start of the autumn with this children’s craft workshop making collages with the seeds, berries and autumn leaves which you will collect from around the park. For accompanied five to 12 year-olds. Drop in any time as there is no need to book in advance. £1 per child.

Halloween mask making
Thursday, 30 October at Riverside Country Park
Friday, 31 October at Capstone farm County Park
10am – 1pm
Scare your friends and family silly with handmade spooky Halloween crafts and masks and then enjoy some of the scariest ghost stories. Drop in any time as there is no need to book in advance. £1 per child.

Halloween walk
Thursday, 30 October at Riverside Country Park
Friday, 31 October at Capstone Farm Country Park
6 – 7.30pm
Prepare to be scared out of your skin on the annual spooky ghost walk; this is only for the very brave. For accompanied five to 12-year-olds. Book in advance. £3 per child.

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