Frequently asked questions

Sturdy trainers, shoes or boots all year 

Sturdy boots or wellies are strongly recommended.

No sandals allowed for axe throwing or campfire cooking   

Waterproof jacket

Always a good idea - this is the UK after all!

Wrap up warm in the winter

It is always better to take layers off than it is to be cold. In the winter we suggest leggings under trousers and two pairs of socks and at least three top layers. Don't forget gloves and hats.    

Sun hats in the summer

Axe throwing takes place in open fields - so it's wise to have a sun hat. Even in the woods you can get too much sun.  

Covered legs even in the summer

Keeping legs covered all year round protects from scratches, bites and stings.

A cushion for a campfire session 

We have rustic scaffold benches so you might like to bring a cushion or outdoor seat pad for extra comfort. 

A blanket 

For evening and winter sessions we have some blankets, but you might also like to bring your own to snuggle under.  

Torch 

A torch is a good idea if your session is in the evening.  

Water bottle 

We do not provide drinks for axe throwing - you may wish to bring water 

Please do not bring your own food and drink

Rain 

We do not cancel or close for rain unless there has been an amber or red warning for severe weather. We have shelter at all sites, rain does not dampen the experience but please come prepared for the outdoors. 

Windy 

It isn't safe to be under trees in high winds and we may need to cancel events when the wind is strong (above 40mph). If we need to cancel an event you will be offered an alternative date, we do not offer refunds, please check full terms and conditions before booking.   

Snow

For light snow it is likely that events will go ahead - please dress appropriately for being outdoors in the snow. If we need to cancel due to heavy snow you will be offered an alternative date.   

Dogs are welcome at Notgrove and Westwell, but not at Asthall Manor due to the sensitive nature of the plant work happening in the walled garden. 

Note that there are resident deer and other animals in the woodland sites, so dogs must remain on a lead at all times. 

Please pick up after your dog too and take waste home - we do not have poo bins. 

Our minimum booking is 4 for axe throwing and 6 for other experiences. 

You can book for up to 24 people online, for larger groups please email us.     

We endeavour to run Fat Squirrel Outdoor as sustainably as possible. 

We keep lighting to the bear minimum to give an authentic outdoor experience and use solar power to charge our lanterns. 

Food is as locally sourced as possible.

We order food for each booking to keep waste to a minimum. 

We avoid disposable cutlery as much as possible and we serve food in mess tins and use stainless steel mugs that get washed up and used over and over again. 

Our fire wood is sourced on site where possible using trees that have fallen naturally or have to be felled for safety. 

We don't have a bar but we can provide alcohol for booked events, please order when booking. 

Our locations do not have secure barriers and are in rural locations, so you must keep an eye on children at all times. 

Please note that any dens already standing are built by children, so they are not particularly sturdy. 

Keep young children well away from our axe throwing area.  

Please make sure that your children behave safely around the fires, we are happy to give fire safety talks. Fires must be kept in the pits and we ask that people don't move burning sticks around. If we see dangerous behaviour we will ask that it stops and we reserve the right to ask people who don't keep their children or everyone else in the woodland safe to leave.     

No power, gas or electricty
Please note that we are an 'off-grid' location, so that does mean that sometimes things go a little slower than you might expect.    

No footpaths 

We are trying to keep the wood as natural as possible to retain its charm. The ground is relatively flat but it is uneven and there are some trunks from felled trees to watch out for

Toilets 

We do have either a compost toilet or camping toilet at each location with hand washing facilities. We don't have a baby changing unit but we are happy for babies to be in the wood and for alfresco nappy changing. 

No phone charging 

We cannot offer phone charging facilities. 

First aid

Fat Squirrel Outdoor staff are first aiders and we have first aid facilities 

If you can't attend your booked event because of Covid-19 or any other Government restrictions - please let us know and we will offer you an alternative date.

In the event of an amber weather warning and we need to cancel we will offer you an alternative date within 6 months. We do not offer refunds for bad weather.  

If you need to cancel up to 48 hours before your event, we will refund the fee you paid minus a 20% administration charge. We cannot accept cancellations within 48 hours of your booking. Please check our full terms and conditions before booking.