We are opposing the go ape course and would like to express serious concerns regarding the proposal to install a Go Ape treetop adventure course in Danson Park.

This objection is not rooted in opposition to outdoor recreation or responsible business. It is based on the specific environmental, practical, and long-term risks associated with placing this type of commercial infrastructure in this particular historic park.

Ground Conditions and Tree Health

Danson Park sits predominantly on London Clay — a heavy, poorly draining soil that becomes waterlogged after rainfall. Clay soils are especially vulnerable to compaction. Once compacted by repeated footfall, they lose vital air spaces, retain excess water, and place significant stress on tree root systems. Recovery is slow and in some cases incomplete.

We already have evidence within the park of root sensitivity. The Charter Oak and trees near the play area have required protective fencing due to compaction from normal park usage. This clearly demonstrates the vulnerability of the soil and root systems even without the concentrated footfall a commercial attraction would bring.

A Go Ape course would focus daily visitor pressure around the base of mature trees and within the canopy. That level of repeated stress presents a long-term risk to some of the park’s most valuable natural assets.

Storm Risk and Climate Reality

Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of storms. Outdoor treetop courses are inherently vulnerable to extreme weather.

Following severe storms in the Lake District, significant damage was reported at a Go Ape site in Grizedale Forest, where trees were snapped and uprooted and sections of the elevated course were torn from fixtures. The damage extended beyond the infrastructure, affecting canopy cover and woodland floor stability.

Danson Park’s clay-based soil, when saturated, increases the risk of tree instability in high winds. Introducing additional structural loads to mature trees raises legitimate questions about long-term resilience and safety.

It is reasonable to ask whether installing a weather-dependent commercial attraction in a storm-sensitive, clay-soil environment represents sound long-term planning.

Wildlife and Biodiversity

Danson Park supports birds, bats, insects, and other wildlife. We are facing a national biodiversity crisis. Increased canopy disturbance, drilling into trees, amplified noise, and concentrated footfall inevitably impact habitat.

Mitigation measures such as bird or bat boxes do not address soil compaction or structural stress on ageing trees.

While the woodland may not be formally classified as ancient, it forms part of a historic landscape linked to the Shooters Hill area. It survived historically because London Clay discouraged intensive agricultural clearance. What remains is part of that environmental legacy.

Practical Pressures on Residents

Parking congestion is already a significant issue during peak periods. Residential streets frequently experience gridlock during warm weekends. A Go Ape site can attract hundreds of additional visitors per day during peak season. That additional traffic will not disappear; it will impact local roads and residents directly.

Existing facilities, including toilets and waste management, are already under pressure. Increased footfall brings increased maintenance costs, cleaning demands, and wear on infrastructure. These pressures ultimately fall on the council and community.

There are also concerns regarding vandalism, trespass, and antisocial behaviour associated with elevated structures after operating hours. Security and repair costs must be considered realistically.

Public Access and Equity

Tickets for treetop courses typically range between £20 and £35 per person. For many families, this represents a significant expense. Installing a fenced, ticketed attraction within a public park effectively introduces a paywall into shared green space.

Public parks are meant to be inclusive, equal environments. Commercialising part of that space alters its character and purpose.

Heritage and Character

Danson Park surrounds a Grade I listed historic house and forms part of a designated heritage landscape. Its defining qualities are openness, tranquillity, and accessible green space.

Steel cables, elevated platforms, fencing, and corporate branding are not neutral additions. Once installed, infrastructure cannot simply be removed without consequence. Trees cannot be “undrilled.” Soil damage cannot simply be reversed.

Approving this proposal may also set a precedent for further commercial installations in the future.

Conclusion

This is not a question of whether Go Ape operates successfully elsewhere. It is a question of suitability for this specific site.

Good planning matches the right activity to the right ground conditions and community context.

Danson Park is a residential heritage park with sensitive clay soils, mature trees, existing infrastructure pressures, and increasing storm risk. These factors suggest that it may not be an appropriate location for a high-traffic commercial treetop course.

We are custodians of this park for future generations. Decisions taken now will have long-term environmental and community consequences.

We respectfully urge you to reconsider this proposal and prioritise the long-term protection of Danson Park’s landscape, wildlife, and public character.