As work is underway on one of the many projects on the campsite the Site Manager takes time out to explain what the future holds for the site.
The plans for this year, says Matt are to refurbish three of the bunk rooms in the main indoor accommodation block on the site, affectionately known as Uncle Tom's Cabin. The bunk rooms will be brought up to modern day standard with a fresh new look and modern day insulation. Central heating system will be built in ready for a boiler to be installed hopefully at the end of the year. You can follow the progress of this project on our new live page or taking a look at the gallery.
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Around the site in general we will replace water pipes to bring up to modern day standards and reduce the amount of water leaks the site has to make us more water efficient as a site.
Bring a site of triple SSI standard, forestry continues to be a key part of the job list ! This year we hope to have Capel Manor start with us as a five year partner. They will do a bulk of the forestry over the winter months. We plan to coppice a large area of the site next to the chapel this winter. Wood will be for sale over the winter months. Please contact us if you would like to buy and wood as all money goes back to the campsite.
Looking further ahead, if funding is received then the next three bunk rooms will be refurbished and a boiler put in place, if not installed in year 1 and an extra room will be added on the side of the three bunk rooms which will eventually become a fully functioning disabled toilet. We hope to have our first event up and running, so please keep an eye on the website and a survival camp which will be hosted by our partners Bush Scouts.
So reflecting on what has been achieved so far,
"As we approach our second year since the site was been put under new management it has felt like an up hill struggle with barrier after barrier having to be over come. However, when I look at what a team of solely volunteers have accomplished I could not ask for any more. Danemead has gone from a campsite under threat of being sold to a campsite which is now making enough money to start modernising the current infrastructure. In the next year or two the team hope to have two to three major events running every year and a beautifully refurbished cabin. None of this would be possible if it wasn’t for our loyal customers and I thank them personally for sticking with us. We haven’t always got it right but when we do make mistakes we learn from it. My dream of one day having a full time paid Site Manager on site is still what we are aiming and I feel we are much closer than we was two years ago.”
So how can I get involved ?
There are many opportunities to get involved around the site, and many jobs that need doing ! So if you have a few hours to spare or even the odd weekend why not contact Matt and see how you can be a part of this very special site.
Alternatively the site would be very grateful of support from local companies, maybe a volunteer day or some spare materials that can put to good use.
