Fairlands Valley Park

-The Heart of Stevenage

Please note that the sailing lake has been drained for essential maintenance work.

Contact Details:

Fairlands Valley Park, Six Hills Way, Stevenage, Herts. SG2 0BL

Telephone: 01438 353241

E mail: fairlands@stevenage-leisure.co.uk

One of the top 15 UK's best free visitor attractions

Voted as one of the UK's leading free visitor attractions alongside Tate Britain, Tate Modern, and the Science and Natural History Museums, Fairlands Valley Park consists of 120 acres of beautiful parkland situated within the heart of Stevenage. The park supports a varied selection of wildlife, and an assortment of wildfowl can be seen on the established reserve.

The 11 acre sailing lake is used for the centre’s dinghy, kayak, windsurfing and powerboat courses, and the waters used for angling are well stocked. For the jogging enthusiast, keeping fit is a pleasure on the Trim Track, which is situated within the park. Children can enjoy the play area with extensive play equipment . The popular sport of orienteering can also be experienced here, testing map-reading skills and physical fitness. Maps available from centre £2.00.

The park also plays host to a number of events including Circuses, Fairs, Shows and Motor Sport events. Please telephone for current details on (01438) 353241.

For those interested in nature

We can offer two reasonably priced new publications on birds and trees in the park.

What we provide

The Centre is recognised by the Royal Yachting Association and the British Canoe Union as a training centre. The fleet consists of Wanderers, Way farers, Comet Duos, Toppers, Oppies, Laser, Laser Picos, Topper Topaz, 420, windsurfers for training and hire. All our courses are staffed by our friendly, qualified instructors whose aim is to ensure that you enjoy the courses and learn in safety. Hot air balloon flights from Fairlands Valley Park can be arranged through contacting Adventure Balloons.

The Centre is open throughout the year and once you’ve attended a course to master the basics, you can hire craft anytime (subject to availability). It is also possible for you to use your own sailing dinghy, windsurfer or canoe, to a maximum length of 4.267m (14ft).

Adventure Activities Licensing Authority

At Fairlands Valley we comply with legislation laid down by AALA and have to undergo regular inspections from the licensing authority. AALA No. L4279-R0703.

Update on developments at Fairlands Valley Park and Sailing Centre

Having been established since 1972, Fairlands Valley is now in the midst of some major changes to both the Sailing Centre and Park.

The Environmental project (known to some as the Marshes) has undergone major changes with the work starting late in 2007. This project is nearing completion, with all lakes within this area having been re lined and the surrounding environment having benefited from new landscaping and re planting. There are still some final works to be carried out, with it being a while before the new planting is established. There is a new viewing platform, and the pathway beside the project has been widened and re surfaced. New seats will be installed, although we do not have a timescale for when this will be achieved.

The Sailing Centre and café areas are experiencing a major face lift which began in late March 2008, with the Sailing Centre likely to be completed by the end of May/early June and the café being completed somewhere around the end of July/early August. The overall result will be new, safer updated facilities for those using the sport and sailing amenity at the Centre which will comprise new changing rooms and toilets. There will no longer be public toilet availability at the Sailing Centre, as this will be controlled for the sport/sailing users only. The work will also greatly improve disabled access to the facility.

Costello’s café will also have a new look, and within it, there will refurbished toilets and a baby changing room for café users.

The main sailing lake water levels are due to be reduced from 27^th May, resulting in the area being safely fenced off from the public. During this time, restoration work to the lake mattress and surround will be in progress. The fish stock is being systematically removed to other sites whilst the work is taking place. Because the main lake is the only area where it is legal to fish, these works will mean that there will be no fishing allowed in Fairlands until the lake refills. Also, our ability to offer a full sailing programme in 2008 will be greatly reduced, although we are still offering multi activity and other watersports activities on the smaller Millennium Lake. In respect of when the project will be completed, this will depend on how quickly rainfall raises the water levels.