History of Moors Valley

The 82-acre Kings Farm was purchased by Wimborne Town and District Council in 1984. Work began to develop a 9-hole pay-and-play golf course, the narrow-gauge steam railway, play area, lake and Visitor Centre. This first phase of Moors Valley was officially opened in 1988.

The park was much more popular than had originally been envisaged and was bursting at the seams with half a million visitors by 1990. An additional 170 acres were purchased to allow for expansion of the golf course and a second lake to be built, the Visitor Centre was extended to make way for a Country Shop and new toilets. At the same time, the Tree Top Trail and Play Trail were constructed in the forest. Over the following ten years, the park’s popularity grew further with approximately 750,000 visitors each year, making it one of the most popular parks in the south of England.

Moving into the 21st century the rangers have overseen the introduction of a high ropes course, a new toddlers sand play area, Adventure Valley, alongside the expansion of the facilities offered, including further food and drink options, an educational ‘Ranger Den’ suite and an enhanced digital provisions, including social media channels such as Facebook, X and Instagram. As of 2023, the site averages nearly a million visitors each year

Forestry England and Dorset Council are continually looking for ways to improve Moors Valley to ensure it stays as one of the best countryside recreation facilities in the country. 

Moors Valley timeline

  • 2023

    • April – building works commence on Adventure Valley, a new mini electric land rover experience for children and an 18-hole miniature golf course.
    • April – the Bee Hive accessible play structure launched by Forestry England.
    • August – Adventure Valley fully launches on 18 August.
  • 2022
    • January – A new Information Point design IS installed, moving counter to the opposite side and a digital TV area installed.
    • February to April – Moors Valley awarded the large visitor attraction of the year in Dorset Tourism Awards and subsequently Silver in South West Awards. The Moors Valley cleaner awarded Unsung Hero Award at both Dorset and South West Awards.
  • 2021
    • January – The country enters its third national lockdown. The park remains open for exercise, but all facilities, except the toilets and play parks shut.
    • March – A new Dog Wash is installed by cycle hire.
    • April – The country eases out of lockdown and more of the park re-opens.
    • August – The park has its best summer on record in terms of visitor numbers, with approximately 250,000 enjoying adventures during the 6 week school holidays.
  • 2020
    • January – Seasons Tables and chairs are replaced in the restaurant after 20+ years use. All old tables and chairs are sold for suitable donations to raise money for local charity Hope for Food.
    • March – Covid-19 sees the park close on 23 March.
    • May 26th – The park tentatively re-opens with numerous Covid-19 specific procedures in place. Initially play parks, trail, railway, Go Ape, shop and all group activities remain closed.
    • November 5th – Concessionaires and most facilities shut for Lockdown number 2 – wider park and car park stayed open – facilities re-opened 2nd December.
  • 2019
    • April – Moors Valley falls under the new Dorset Council, after Christchurch and East Dorset separate and 9 authorities across Dorset become 2.
    • May – New play equipment; Bewildernest is launched on the Play Trail.
    • September – World War II Decoy bunker opened to the public for the first time.
  • 2018
    • January – Retail area increased in size with slat wall replacing free standing units.
    • January – Ranger Den created in Stables. Huge overhaul of building. Wildlife slowly introduced.
    • May – First dedicated Retail Development Ranger appointed to grow the in-house provision of the Moors Valley Gift Shop.
    • September – Direct Debits for parking launched, offering monthly all hours parking.
  • 2017
    • January – Glass wall in the Visitor Centre installed to split the restaurant and retail area.
    • March – The Gruffalo spotters app, with an augmented reality trail is launched.
    • June – A drinking water fountain is installed by the Visitor Centre.
  • 2016
    • May – The Audio trail around Moors Lake launched.
    • June – Wi-Fi available in the Visitors Centre for the first time.
    • November – first junior parkrun event held.
    • November – Moors Valley wins Gold at the Dorset Tourism Awards in accessibility and sustainability.
  • 2015
    • April – the Moors Valley website is re-launched with a mobile version and Moors Valleys’ first promotional video.
    • May – New ANPR car parking system installed, giving the site its first completely ticketless system.
    • November – Moors Valley comes 1st in Large Visitor Attraction at the Dorset Tourism Awards and 2nd in South West tourism awards.
    • November – First parkrun event held.
  • 2014
    • A new counter and serving area is built for the restaurant (January).
    • Moors Valley comes 2nd in Large Visitor Attraction at the Dorset Tourism Awards (November).
  • 2013
    • Moors Valley celebrates its 25th Birthday.
    • ‘Towers and Tunnels’ on the Play Trail is replaced by ‘House of Baba Yaga’ (March).
    • A Moors Valley conservation volunteer group is founded (April).
    • ‘Gladstone’, an electronic booking system, is installed for use in the Visitor Centre (July).

  • 2012
    • A Biomass boiler is installed, providing heat for the Visitor Centre (February).
    • Moors Valley Railway’s frontage is refurbished. The Model Railway at the front of Visitor Centre is rebuilt.

  • 2011
    • Moors Valley is awarded Green Flag status (April).
    • Fitness Trail is opened in the forest (May).
    • Moors Valley Railway celebrates it’s 25th Anniversary weekend (July).
    • Go Ape launch guided Segway tours (August).
    • Water Voles released in Moors River as part of a re-introduction programme (August).
  • 2010
    • A new section of footpath is built, connecting Bingham Drive (Verwood) through Potterne Wood to Potterne Park bridge (January to March).
    • A 7km single track cycle route is officially opened (October).
  • 2009
    • ‘WEBS’, a new feature on the Play Trail is opened by Wave 105 and Rhys Jones (April).
    • Activate 1000 project ranger is appointed, launching Sport England funded health initiatives (June).
    • A new footpath is built at Potterne Park to create an all weather circular route which flows around Potterne Wood and Park (September).
    • A new and improved Moors Valley website is launched (December).
  • 2008
    • The toilets at the Visitor Centre are extended and fully refurbished (January to March).
    • A lottery funded ‘Play Ranger’ project is launched.

  • 2007
    • A new dragonfly entrance sign installed is installed (April).
    • Works on the new carriage shed at Railway Station is completed (May).
    • ‘The Rock’ – a new play feature is installed in the Adventure Play Area (May).

  • 2006
    • The foundations are laid on a carriage shed extension at Moors Valley Railway (January).
    • 5 permanent fishing bays are built on the west bank of Moors Lake (November).
  • 2005
    • The new car parking system is officially operational. The ANPR system now allows for payment based on stay length rather than pay and display.
    • A takeaway food and drink sales point is opened at the Visitor Centre (October).
    • ‘Dragons Teeth’ bollards installed on main driveway (November).
  • 2004
    • Work to alter the car parking system begins to allow for a ticketed ANPR system.
  • 2003
    • ‘Go Ape’ high ropes course with ‘Tarzan’ swings, rope bridges and zip slides is opened (July).

  • 2002
    • The fort in the Adventure Play Area is replaced with two giant wigwam towers (November).
  • 2001
    • The park is closed for 6 weeks, due to a Country wide outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease (February to March).
    • The Forest Picnic Area is opened.
    • Walking for Health initiative is launched at Moors Valley.
  • 2000

    • The first Moors Valley newsletter is produced.
    • The rangers run over 150 events throughout the year.
    • A stretch of Moors River is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest by English Nature.

  • 1999
    • A new cycling for health initiative for older people is launched at Moors Valley.
    • Waymarked cycle trails are added to the existing walking routes.
  • 1998
    • Moors Valley celebrates its 10th Birthday.
    • The Ant’s Nest play structure on the Play Trail is opened.

  • 1997
    • A secondary toilet block is built at Moors Valley Railway station.

  • 1996
    • A footpath with a boardwalk is installed, allowing people to safely walk from the play areas and picnic area to the Railway Station.
    • 4 way-marked walking routes around the site are added.

  • 1995
    • A new kitchen is built for the Tea Room.
    • The toilets are extended to incorporate baby changing facilities and family cubicles.
    • A third wing of the Visitor Centre is built to house the growing Country Shop.
    • The Information Point is opened in the Visitor Centre.
    • The Cycle Hire Centre is opened next to the Visitor Centre.
  • 1994
    • The ‘Castle and Sand Works’ play area (now known as the Junior Play Area) is built, specifically for toddlers.
    • The Adventure Play Area is refurbished.

  • 1993
    • The car park is extended to cater for the increasing visitor numbers, which was approximately ¾ of a million in this year.
    • The Golf Club House is built.

  • 1992
    • The second nine holes of the Golf Course are opened, making it a full 18-hole course. 
    • The Lookout is built.

  • 1991
    • The Play Trail and Tree Top Trail are opened in the forest.

  • 1990
    • The Visitor Centre is extended by adding the second half of the original barn from Easton Royal. This allows the tea room to expand and for the Country Shop to open.
    • New footpaths are laid around the northern area of the park.
  • 1989
    • The ‘East Dorset Countryside Management Service’ is founded to manage Moors Valley Country Park and other countryside sites owned by East Dorset District Council.
    • Crane Lake is constructed.
  • 1988
    • A second farm is purchased by East Dorset District Council, making the total area of the park managed by the council 250 acres.
    • The park is officially opened with a charity golf match on the 19th July 1988.
    • The first schools take part in ‘warden’ led environmental activities.

  • 1987
    • The Visitor Centre and Tea Room is opened to the public.
    • Moors Valley’s first events programme is published.
  • 1986
    • First ‘warden’ (now known as rangers) is appointed at Moors Valley in May.
    • The first visitors are introduced to the site in July.
    • A car park is constructed by Forestry Commission.
    • An 18th century timber barn is purchased from a farm at Eastern Royal near Marlborough. Work begins to re-construct it at Moors Valley to create the Visitor Centre.

  • 1984-85
    • Wimborne Town Council purchases Kings Farm, an eighty-two acre dairy farm adjacent to Ringwood Forest.
    • Construction of Moors Lake and the first nine holes of the Golf Course are completed.
    • First section of railway track is laid, by Narrowgauge Ltd.