The Orienteering Foundation has produced their report on the Explore Gleadless Valley project. With support from the Orienteering Foundation, we undertook two family orienteering sessions in August 2025. It was a great method of introducing local families to orienteering in Gleadless Valley.
What is Orienteering?
Orienteering is an outdoor activity where you walk or run a course via a series of checkpoints, using a map for guidance. It is suitable for ages 2-92, and can be done anywhere!
Why Gleadless Valley?
The Gleadless Valley has a high percentage of forest and ancient woodlands. When you run through it, it is easy to think you might be in Sweden but it feels very different for local people who don’t feel safe exploring the local woodlands. Local families were invited through our partners (schools, Family Hub, Gleadless Valley Partnership, Wildlife Trusts, HAF, GP practices, Newfield Green Library) to explore their local woodlands, hopefully gain confidence in map-reading skills, and share with us what more activities they would like to see in the woods.