DFSC

DFSC
Bristol CC Outdoor Education Centre situated in the village of Parkend in The Forest of Dean

Tuesday 2 May 2017

Spring 2017 Update


 We've been very busy over the last few weeks with building work at the Centre. It's all now finished and ready for our residential groups to enjoy.



We have 3 very able caretakers / maintenance workers who can turn their hand to many jobs including building work. We now have two very well appointed showers in an area of the Centre known as the Flat. Pete's 'block-work style' tiling is second to non as users will appreciate in these modern and functional showers rooms. They even have a heated towel rail, a folding seat and a sink to brush your teeth! Mirror also installed since photo.


The other big project completed by our in-house maintenance team is a refurbishment of the visiting staff kitchen off the lounge. It now features a water boiler for making hot chocolate drinks for groups before bedtime along with a dishwasher to put the mugs in afterwards.



Cupboards are well stocked with drinks and biscuits and there are also ample spare cupboards to store personal items in. Notice boards provide easy reference for information about the centre and there are plenty of power sockets to charge up electrical equipment.



In the Winter Blog post we included a cryptic photo of a £100k refurbishment project underway. We can now reveal the completed project. Our ground floor shower room has been completely gutted (new walls, ceiling and floor) and fitted out with toilets & 10 shower and changing cubicles. Photo's do not really do it justice as they can't show it's entirety.


We now have 10 new showers and integral changing cubicles plus two toilets. With two entrance doors and a lockable partition door these can be used by mixed genders and different schools at the same time on appropriate occasions.

Now that the shower room is finished and the cubicles are all up it's difficult to photograph this and appreciate what a dramatic change it makes to our showering facilities.




Meanwhile we have of course been running some excellent outdoor learning courses as usual!
The group above enjoyed following the new Gruffalo Trail at Beechenhurst and getting their augmented reality photos taken with the Gruffalo & friends.


A group of 6th Form students enjoyed a journey of a more adventurous kind down the River Wye from Kerne Bridge to Bibblins, including the famous Symmond Yat rapids, in fairly high water. Just one boat capsized. Unfortunately it was not caught in the video above as we were too busy rescuing them and getting them into dry clothing before getting them back in their boat to finish the trip!

 



 Do you remember "Cracker" from the Winter Update? well Mike's Bengal Eagle Owl is now full grown and also has some companions. Talking of birds we should also mention that we have bluetits once again nesting in one of our nestboxes with the live camera feed. Presently 8 eggs being sat on.