What's New For Visitors?

Face-Lift for the Manor House
Recently refurbished Donington Le Heath Manor House now offers a new audio guide, virtual tour and interactive exhibits. This well preserved, 700 year old medieval manor house was fashionably ‘modernised’ around 1618 by the Digby family and previously owned by Everard Digby – one of the infamous Gunpowder plotters! Visitors can see the 17th century gardens being recreated and take the opportunity to talk to garden staff about historic gardens and plants.

Improved access for visitors at Calke Abbey
As most of Calke Abbey’s notable rooms are situated on the first floor and only accessible by stairs, The National Trust has created a new virtual tour for 2006. The new tour, based on the ground floor, covers the entire house and its most important contents. Visitors will be able to ‘enter’ each room and turn 360 degrees to see every aspect of the whole room. The tour also enables visitors to zoom into items of interest and will be audible. There will also be a new buggy service at Calke to take visitors in their wheelchairs – or those who are less able – along with their companions, to the house or gardens. The lovely Calke Abbey Gardens will be open seven days a week in July & August.

Dinosaurs coming to the National Forest maize maze
The National Forest Maize Maze will have a distinctly ‘Jurassic’ feel to it this year, with the theme being DINOSAURS!! Visitors will step back millions of years to a land that time forgot. The opening date is planned for 15 July with new features and facilities at the maze. The ‘Fun Field’ children’s play area will be further improved with new attractions and upgrading favourites like the ‘Splash Zone’.

Great new facilities at Rosliston Forestry Centre
Visitors to The National Forest should take a trip to Rosliston Forestry Centre, which has had a major expansion of its facilities and activities. A diverse activity programme is now hosted on the site offering groups and individuals the chance to take part in activities such as archery, woodland laser combat, orienteering, laser clay pigeon shooting, tai chi, walking, cycling and much more. The Get Active in The Forest Programme, although based at the centre, promotes active recreation throughout the district and runs regular events. New surfaced trails have been added to the centre’s existing network to encourage visitors of all abilities to explore its 154 acres of woodland, ponds, gardens, meadows and lakes.

A new innovative ‘natural play area’, located by Fox Covert and designed following consultation with local children, will encourage both children and adults alike to use their imagination in play and use natural resources such as water, sand, stepping stones and wood to create their own games. Visitors to the centre can stay for a holiday or short-break in one of the four luxury ‘4 star’ timber lodges. These are available all year round, sleep 8 - 10 people and are ideal for groups and families. And, as the centre recently acquired the necessary licence, lovebirds can now even get married there.

Even the centre’s buildings have had a major makeover with the addition of a brand new entrance, reception area, toilet block and multi-purpose activity rooms. The restaurant, now under new management and renamed Millijah’s, offers a wide range of meals and snacks at competitive prices and ABC Crafts, with its huge range of dolls houses and accessories, was recently awarded the coveted Guild of Master Craftsmen Award.

Further details of events and activities can be obtained by contacting 01283 563483, emailing or logging on to www.roslistonforestrycentre.co.uk