Community Sports Foundation

Down’s Syndrome football team try out the Challenge Woods

P.J. Spillings LTD announced as Woods sponsors

Members of the Foundation’s Down’s Syndrome Football Team got a real treat last week as they got to use the new Challenge Woods at The Nest to mark its opening.

The team were getting together for training for the first time since the easing of lockdown and were excited to see each other.

They completed a session on one of The Nest’s grass pitches with coaches Darren and Clive, before making their way over to the woods in high spirits.

The Challenge Woods is an exciting flexible wooden play space built around the trees in the woods and has been kindly sponsored by construction company P. J. Spillings LTD.

The design has a series of raised walkways, play equipment, slides, ladders, ropes, cargo nets, a zip line, treehouse and a climbing wall.

Sensory activities enable learning and participation for those with physical and mental difficulties.

Darren Hunter, who looks after the team and the Foundation’s disability projects said:

What a day this was for everyone to be back outside and enjoy the activities at The Nest.

We’ve kept up the connection with them virtually but there’s no substitute for getting on a football pitch and then enjoying the amazing new challenge woods.

Even in this first go, you could see how the woods helped the players to overcome some initial trepidation and having access to the facility will do wonders for their confidence. It was a lot of fun.

The Challenge Woods is available to use by the public for individual and group sessions and makes an ideal venue for outdoor family play or birthday parties.