I'm sitting in the Moors Valley Country Park near Ringwood watching Griffin, his friend Isaac and Isaac's mum leap onto zip wires, walk across tree-high tightropes and land in crash nets. They're on a Go-Ape range, three hours of a very safe and very high rope course. I'm filled with pride at their tenacity, courage and technique. I wish I was up there with them but I'm not as sad as I might be because I've done it before: I did the same course in the Lake District seven years ago.
It's a fabulous park. I've borrowed a cross-country electric wheelchair so I can follow Griffin and friends from beneath. I'm surrounded by pines and greenery and soft earth. And as an added bonus I have a cappuccino by my feet with my book to read if I get bored. Luxury. I'm impressed by the facilities here. My £4,500 wheelchair is free to hire (take note, WOMAD). Children and adults can hire bikes and bike trailers. There's a handcycle available at times. You can fish. Access is great, with flat surfaces and gentle ramps. Food is delicious ("Cornish line caught sardines on crostini with home made salsa"). Arden is too small to do the Go Ape course but we'll definitely be back to cycle around the park for the day.
