Why not send them to Cobnor Activities Centre for some outdoor activities fun…

As our Summer Camps and Multi-Activity Weeks were a huge success once again this summer we thought we’d offer all of you outdoor activity fans something to get your teeth into this October Half Term. Not only are we introducing Daily Activities Week but we’re also offering a special Seal Watching Trip and Cream Tea. Are you hungry for it?

Daily Activities Week

We’re introducing a Daily Activities Week and this comprises different activities as taster sessions, from sailing to mountain biking, every weekday throughout Half Term. These new Daily Activities will run from Monday 24^th October until Friday 28^th October, 9.30-16.00. The programme is open to 10-16 year olds and each Activity Day is just £38 per person. You can book just one day or all five, the choice is yours.

The programme for the week is as follows:

Monday
AM: Climbing and Archery
PM: Mountain Biking

Tuesday

AM: Low Ropes and Raft Build
PM: Canoeing to Bosham

Wednesday

AM: Mountain biking and Archery
PM: Bosun Sailing

Thursday

AM: Climbing and Raft Building
PM: Sea Kayaking

Friday

AM: Orienteering and Archery
PM: Mountain Biking

Please not that appropriate safety equipment is provided for all activities but you will need to bring sensible footwear and clothing appropriate to conditions.

Seal Watching Trip

Age Range: 8 onwards

Times: Monday 24^th October, 13:00 to 16:00 (approximate return)

Come and join us for the afternoon starting with a delicious cream tea in the surroundings of Chichester Harbour at 13.00 before boarding the Cobnor Chairboat at 14:00 to set sail, in search of our Harbour Seals.  There are currently 23-25 seals living in the Solent and they regularly visit Chichester Harbour, with 18 being the most recorded at any one time. We will visit the areas where they are sighted most and hopefully enjoy some fantastic views of these wonderful creatures. The boat will return to Cobnor at around 16:00.

Please note that spray top and bottoms are available, if required and lifejackets will be provided.

To book a place during our Daily Activities Week or for on the Seal Watching Trip please call: 01243 572791 or email: Sail@Cobnor.com.

Why don’t you join the Cobnor Activities Centre team for family entertainment, from face painting to zumba dancing, in Chichester Harbour? We’ll be at Bosham Sailing Club to celebrate the launch of The Southern Co-operative’s Community Support Card Scheme on Sunday 9^th October and we’d love to see you there!

As reported in our blog Don’t Forget Cobnor When Popping to the Shops, Cobnor Activities Centre Trust and the Monday Bus are set to benefit from the newly re-launched green Community Support Card scheme running at the Co-operative stores in Delling Lane and Station Road, Bosham. These two worthy causes were chosen by a representative panel of local people prior to the start of the fundraising period.

The Community Support Card scheme works by The Southern Co-operative donating money to the fund every time customers have their special green community cards swiped as they shop, and proves very successful in raising money for local groups. The total target for fundraising over the coming year is £10,000 and the total funds will be split evenly between both groups.

Fundraising has already begun but the official ‘launch’ will be celebrated at a family fun event taking place at Bosham Sailing Club on Sunday 9^th October, from 12 noon until 4pm. This event is open to the local community and will include activities and entertainment for all the family, such as: a hog roast, bouncy castle, zumba dancing and face painting. Entertainment throughout the afternoon is free of charge, with the exception of the food and drink. A fancy-dress competition will also take place, with the theme of ‘King Harold’ and the Anglo-Saxons – given their strong historical links to Bosham. Why don’t you come along in fancy dress and complete your costume at the craft workshop, ready for the parade later on in the afternoon?

On entry, all visitors will receive a free raffle ticket for the prize draw. This will take place at the end of afternoon and you could even win a hamper of delicious Co-operative goodies, worth not less than £50.

With the support of Co-operative customers, it’s hoped that The Southern Co-operative will raise the maximum amount possible to benefit the Cobnor Activities Centre Trust and the Monday Club through the Community Support Card scheme.

Photography courtesy of Matt Simmons Photography, via: www.conservancy.co.uk

Come and join us for a thoroughly pleasant afternoon of sumptuous afternoon tea followed by a spot of seal watching in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty this autumn.

On Monday 24^th October join us at Cobnor Activities Centre, where we’ll start with a delicious cream tea at 13.00 in the surroundings of Chichester Harbour. After tea, at 14.00, we’ll board the Cobnor Chairboat to set sail, in search of our Harbour Seals. 

There are currently 23-25 seals living in the Solent and they regularly visit Chichester Harbour, with 18 being the most recorded at any one time. We’ll visit the areas where they are sighted most and hopefully enjoy some fantastic views of these wonderful creatures. We’ll endeavour to send a waterproof memo to the seals asking them to be in the harbour that day; we just hope that they get it!

The Cobnor Chairboat offers a comfortable ride, no matter what your age or ability. It’s ideal for those interested in nature and photography. The boat is wide and stable as well as being closer to the water than traditional tour boats, allowing passengers to make the most of the wildlife and scenery. The Chairboat will return to Cobnor at around 16:00.

This seal watching trip is suitable for those aged 8 years and over and costs £20 per person, including a cream tea. Please note that spray tops and bottoms are available, if required, and lifejackets will be provided. To book a place on the Seal Watching Trip, please call: 01243 572791 or email: Sail@Cobnor.com.  Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Twenty three pupils visited Cobnor Monday to Wednesday. On their first day they did some problem solving, Pico sailing and canoeing. Day two involved a day sail around Chichester Harbour, where the children gained more of an opportunity to focus on their sailing skills.

On the third day 23 more pupils arrived and joined their school mates. All the children enjoyed a fun-packed day of mountain biking skills, climbing, archery and low ropes. At the end of Wednesday the first group of pupils returned home and the second group to arrive stayed at Cobnor for the rest of the week, receiving the same outdoor education as the group that attended Monday and Tuesday.

It seems that the children from Swiss Gardens Primary had a wonderful time at Cobnor Activities Centre this year and they sent us lots of lovely letters to show their appreciation. Here is a small selection for you to see:

Dear Amy, Mike, Paul, Andy, Adam, Ollie, Bryn, Brian, Nick, Jackie, Roy, Beverly and Toby,

Thank you for giving me a fantastic time. It was hilarious when we were on the low ropes and the mountain biking. It was fun at Cobnor; I’ll come again with my family.

Yours Sincerely,

Robbie William Hatcher

Dear Cobnor Instructors,

I’m from Swiss Gardens Primary School and I loved my three enjoyable days at Cobnor. At first I was a bit worried of capsizing and some of the sailing but once I jumped in the water it was actually the best bit. I just wanted to say thank you to Amy, Mike, Paul, Andy, Ollie, Nick and Toby.

Love Claudia

Dear Paul,

Thanks you for our spiffing three days. Thanks for guiding us on the big sail. We sailed through some fierce waves and we almost went vertical! The way back was a little bit calmer at least; we got back quicker. Cobnor has helped me improve my maturity and it’s helped me have fun!

Love from Will xxx

Dear Mike,

Thank you for doing the big sail with me, and thank you for doing some big waves on the normal sail. And thank you for everything else like the low ropes and every other thing. Thank you very much Mike.

Yours Sincerely,

Reece Way-Hooker

Dear Cobnor Instructors,

Thank you very much for making our trip worthwhile.  After the first night we got up at 5.00 am in the morning in my room, we were so excited. If we stuck all of you together you would be a superhero! Saving the world from boredom! I think Cobnor man would look like this (See image below).

Thanks again,

Rosie xxx

P.S. please thank Jackie for the food, it was yum.

Dear Cobnor instructors,

Thank you for showing us how to do things like archery, mountain biking, low ropes, the spider web, human knot, sailing and much more. Thanks for feeding us Jackie.

I would also like to give a special thanks to Nick because our coach was late so he entertained us and played games with us for a whole hour.

Love from Molly

Dear Instructors,

Thank you for inviting us to Cobnor and Jackie I really love the food and I love cottage pie that was lovely. I love doing sailing and you teaching us how to do sailing.

Thank you for the lovely room. The bed was comfy. Thank you for all the activities and I want to stay there forever.

My favourite bit was sailing and rock climbing, low ropes, archery and canoeing.

Yours sincerely

Seran

Dear Andy,

You may not remember me. I was only there for the day. Wednesday was amazing. I’m writing to you because you helped me get to the top of the rock climbing wall. I’ve never got to the top of a rock climbing wall before. I can’t put it in to words how I felt when I looked down from the top.

THANK YOU

From Charlotte

Here’s the eighth and final part in the serialisation of Geoffrey Goad’s time at Cobnor Activities Centre, 1966-1985. These memoirs have been edited by Katy Lassetter of

Part 8

Recognition by the “powers that be” came about when we were all honoured and delighted to hear that HRH The Duke of Gloucester would pay us a visit. Days of preparation and security checks followed the announcement of the great day. The royal helicopter arrived bang on time and the Duke and staff stepped out to be correctly greeted, then followed introductions by Martin Beale. I was presented and, in turn, I introduced Mark Murray-Brown, my assistant. The Duke insisted that I show him around the workshop (which we had well covered with drape bosun sales) but oh dear, he was really interested to see the boats under repair! He took great interest in meeting Ted Amos and Bob Pickard and the disabled crews gathered around the bosuns, which were ready for a demonstration sale. After lunch he planted a tree (it should do very well as beneath it are the old elsan pits!) before departing in great style in his helicopter with its flash of crimson in the evening sun.

I realise reading through this that I’ve just been chatting about my experience of the growth and development during my 19 years at Cobnor. I’ve left out so much more than I’ve put in, especially about the most essential ingredient, people. I’ve covered the very early days when Martin Beale gave permission for school and youth groups to use a shore-side campsite under Harry Cross, Ted Amos and Dennis Ashton up to the days of 1985 with its royal approval. The disabled courses, day courses, evening courses and residential courses could never have happened without the vital element of unpaid enthusiasts who loved coming to Cobnor, certainly not forgetting the support of wives and girlfriends, unseen perhaps but nevertheless always there. Everyone, whatever their talents, from course organisers and sailing instructors to cooks and transport drivers, once involved would always want to stay involved and to return again. Over the years the process from school boy to adult instructors, and in turn their own children, occurs again and again to create the Cobnor family.

Martin Beale, in his wisdom and foresight, and indeed his generosity in partnership with the trustees, staff at County Hall and The Friends of Cobnor extended the leases which enabled the Centre with its water at all states of the tide, almost unique in Chichester Harbour, to develop and eventually become what it is to the day, Cobnor Activities Centre. Finally, I do apologise for not mentioning names. There were so many marvellous people all of whom I consider my friends so to mention a few but to leave out the many would be unkind to everyone; we all know who they are, so it’s best left at that.

Geoff Goad, January 2001.

Seeing as Katy Lassetter of Chichester Copywriter was so inspired to write her first novel by Cobnor’s coastal and countryside landscapes she decided that Cobnor would be the ideal place to hold the Writers’ Retreat. The peace and quiet, the new log cabins, the excellent classroom and full IT facilities all offered by Cobnor Activities Centre, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, provide the complete package to inspire any creative.

The Writers’ Retreat weekend will kick off with an event on the Friday evening including: networking, writing and publishing talks, book signings and art an exhibition of coastal art. Tickets are £15 each for the Friday evening and include a glass of Pimm’s; any local creatives are welcome to come along and enjoy a bit of culture by the water. On the Saturday and Sunday there will be a range of workshops and talks with professional writers based in the Chichester area, including Isabel Ashdown, Gabrielle Kimm and Melanie Penycate. There will also be plenty of free writing time to help guests brush up on their penmanship and get those chapters finished. Weekend places start from £200 and include accommodation, food, workshops, activities and more.

What’s more, this is a writers’ retreat with a difference so wordsmiths will have the opportunity to experience Cobnor Activities Centre’s other facilities and equipment when they take a powerboat trip to either historical Bosham or naturally beautiful East Head; both locations will make excellent creative writing inspirations! There will also be the chance for them to try their delicate writers’ hands at kayaking and even indulge in an aromatherapy massage or a rekei treatment, provided by Cobnor’s own Quintin Macmorland, to help boost their creativity.

Does a Writers’ Retreat at Cobnor sound right up your street?

Contact Katy@ChichesterCopywriter.co.uk or call: 01243 533421 to book a place on the weekend or to purchase a ticket for the Friday evening. Find the full schedule for the weekend here.

This annual event is organised to raise money for Cobnor Activities Centre, Christian Youth Enterprises and the Racecourse Sanctuary. Combining live music with outdoor activities, Cobstock has taken place at Cobnor for the past three years and has proved a great fundraising success as well as a huge hit with guests.

The action began on Friday afternoon as campers arrived and set up ready for the weekend ahead. After booking places on the activities they most wanted to experience, from both land-based and water-based, Friday evening offered a range of music from local bands and a fantastic festival vibe. Guests had the choice of staying on the campsite, staying in Cobnor Activities Centre’s log cabins or staying on CYE’s T.S Resolute.

Saturday Cobstockers rose early to make the most of the day’s activities. This year guests of all ages and abilities could choose from the following:

• Bosun sailing
• Wayfarer sailing
• Archery
• Rock climbing and abseiling
• Kayaking
• Open canoeing
• Chichester Harbour tour on the Cobnor Chairboat

Outdoor activities ran throughout Saturday, despite the somewhat blustery conditions. The wind meant that the sailing instructors, kayaking instructors and safety boat team had to work harder than usual and they sought out sheltered parts of the harbour to make it easier on guests where possible. The conditions certainly made things that little bit more interesting out on the water and even lead to an exciting capsize rescue mission – don’t fear, no one was harmed, it was all taken in the stride of our brave adventurers!

The live music began at 13.00 and played until midnight and the bar was open this whole time, offering adults such delights as Chucklehead Cider. The kids didn’t miss out though as they could indulge in locally made organic ice cream from Caroline’s Dairy, offering delicious flavours such as lemon meringue, mint choc chip and rhubarb – yum!

Here’s what just one happy Cobstocker had to say: “Fantastic activities, so well planned and executed can’t wait for next year.” Nicola Gouldstone, St Margaret’s, Twickenham.  

Have you got anything you’d like to say about the live music and outdoor activities at this year’s Cobstock 3? Please leave a comment below, we love to hear your feedback.

Cobnor Activities Centre would like to say a big thank you to all involved in organising Cobstock 3, to all those volunteers that made sure the weekend ran smoothly and to all of you that bought tickets! 

The Cobnor Activities Centre team thought that all you sailing enthusiasts might want to know about an exciting creative Boat Project that’s occurring close by at Thornham Marina…

The Boat Project is a 30ft seafaring vessel that’s being lovingly crafted from wooden items donated by locals. It will become a living archive of people’s stories and memories and a really fascinating piece of West Sussex history.

Since February 2011, artists Gregg Whelan and Gary Winters of Lone Twin (one of Europe’s leading performance companies) have accepted wooden offerings of all shapes, sizes and varieties from people all over the South East.

Lone Twin have set up base at Thornham Marina in Chichester Harbour and, with the help of designer Simon Rogers and a team of keen volunteers, they have been using the latest yacht building methods to turn these wooden objects into a seaworthy archive that will set sail on a maiden voyage in May 2012.

Despite not knowing exactly what the boat will look like, the organisers tell us that it will resemble a 30ft day sailer, of contemporary design with a sleek and elegant shape. The boat will provide the crew of sailors, some novice some experienced, taking the boat around the South Coast with an excellent sailing experience.

The Boat Project is part of Artists Taking the Lead, a series of 12 public art commissions across the UK to celebrate the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. The Boat Project is the winning commission for the South East region and is funded by Arts Council England. Following its maiden voyage, the boat will be gifted back to the region as a permanent resource for the public.

There are various ways to you can get involved with The Boat Project: you can donate wood, become a boatyard volunteer, or become a member of the crew. From 15^th April – 2^nd May members of the public are welcome to bring donations to the build shed, Unit 2, Thornham Marina, on Fridays and Saturdays 13.00-19.00, Sundays and bank holiday Mondays 10.00-17.00. There are also some dedicated Donation Day events close to Cobnor Activities Centre:

•Portsmouth Donation Day Event: 22^nd May 2011, 10.00 – 16.30. Southsea Castle, Clarence Esplanade, Southsea, PO5 3PA.

•Havant Donation Day Event: 28^th May 2011, 10.00 – 17.00. The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre, 56 East Street, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 1BS.

• Chichester Donation Day Event: 4^th June 2011, 10.00 – 16.30. Marquee in Oakland’s Park at Chichester Festival Theatre, PO19 6AP.

Find out more about The Boat Project at: http://www.theboatproject.com/.

This beautiful and constantly evolving sand and shingle spit, one of only two sand dune systems in West Sussex, is home to wide range of wildlife and has been a National Trust property since the 1960s. One of the National Trust’s current projects is to protect the rare Silver Spiny Digger Wasp.  At the moment, a piece of the beach is condoned off to keep visitors from disturbing the wasps’ habitats and signs are in place to describe the creatures’ behaviour. Each wasp has a burrow in the sand and for two summer months the adult wasp emerges to feed on sand flies. At the end of this period it paralyses 10 sand flies, dragging them into the burrow and laying eggs on the first. When the eggs hatch the larvae feeds on one sand fly a month emerging as Digger Wasps the following summer – isn’t nature an incredible thing?

While walking among the dunes in the glow of early spring the bird song is magical as sky larks and sand martins pay heed to the sunshine. It’s popular with walkers and last weekend there were a lot of families and dog-walkers making their way through the different landscapes on offer. The different landscapes really are fascinating – there are marshy mud flats, grassy sand dunes and flat, seaweed and shell strewn shingle beaches. The dunes are created when wind-blown sand is trapped by marram grass, driftwood and seaweed. But as fast as new dunes grow in one place, the sea claims old dunes back, meaning East Head is always changing.

East Head is located around a 30 minute powerboat ride away from Cobnor Activities Centre and the water shelf is so steep just off the shore that it’s rarely a problem to land boats close to the beach, giving easy access regardless of the tide. In fact, East Head’s somewhat easier to get to by boat during the summer months as it’s such a popular holiday destination that the roads on their way to the Witterings and the beaches’ car parks can get jam-packed.

We urge those that haven’t experienced the delights of East Head to make a visit soon. Even if you’re not taking part in any of our outdoor activities that include a trip to East Head groups can talk to us about hiring the Chairboat and driver, or a powerboat and driver, and the driver could take you on a pre-organised trip, just contact sail@cobnor.com for details and availability.

Last weekend, while the sun was high in the sky, two of the Cobnor Activities Centre team took a walk out to Cobnor Point to admire the wildlife that’s abundant in Chichester Harbour right now and take in the views. Their walk began on the public footpath leading down behind our residential centre and a stroll past bushes brimming with fruit and trees fragrant with apples was the perfect start to an autumnal walk.

Soon they were at the coastal path where to the right they could see rabbits bounding through the fields, a heron posing in the sun, a sparrow hopping between branches of prickly gorse and a bird of prey hovering above the long grass. Meanwhile, plenty of wildfowl – curlew, red shank, an oyster catcher, little egrets, sandpipers and grey plovers – were spotted digging around in the nutrient-rich mudflats. Overhead a squadron of Brent geese preparing for migration flew in neat formation out towards the Solent. Down on the shore our walkers discovered a treasure trove of shells, bracken, fallen leaves and seaweed of many colours – deep red kelp, chocolate brown popping weed and vibrant green blankets.

While sitting on the bench dedicated to Cobnor Activities Centre’s founder Martin Beale, the eye could see as far as the television transmitters on the Isle of Wight. In between, boats at East Head, the RNLI Station on Hayling Island, the old Air Traffic Control Tower on Thorney Island and The Spinnaker Tower at Gunwharf Quays were all clearly visible too.

There’s something for everyone at Cobnor Activities Centre, whether you enjoy sailing, kayaking or mountain biking, check out our Scheduled Courses list for details of courses coming up. Alternatively, feel free to walk along Cobnor’s public coastal footpath path, enjoy the birds and the view of the harbour, whatever the time of year.