South Gloucestershire’s first permanent Orienteering course opens in Bradley Stoke this weekend with a free launch event on Saturday, 13 September 2008.

Members of the Bristol Orienteering Klub will be on hand to help people interested in the course which is in the Three Brooks Nature Reserve.

The course features a special nature trail, which is ideal for groups such as schools and families.

The trail itself is marked with oak posts with a steel rubbing plaque illustrating an animal or plant that can be found in the reserve.

The course was created through a partnership between Bristol Orienteering Klub, British Orienteering, The Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group, BTCV and Castlebeck.

Funding came from the BBC’s Breathing Places and South Gloucestershire Council’s Wild Roots project with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The launch event run from 11am until 3pm behind Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre.

• Apologies for the lack of updates over the past week on The Bradley Stoke Examiner.