DFSC

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

Thursday, 11 July 2024

SUMMER 2024 UPDATE

 It's been a busy Summer season so far. Mostly giving our school groups a fantastic time, but we've also, as always, been developing new things:


We've built a new shelter for spectators for our Leap of Faith activity. This always makes good spectator viewing and is actually a really good team activity where instructors cultivate a positive vibe amongst spectators to be cheering on other group members. They can now do this in the dry if it happens to rain but as it's a really high shelter they can see all that is going on up above.


Our Low Ropes Course has a new landing surface below it. This is now astro turf with fall impact matting below. The land was also levelled by excavator, then sanded and membraned before the matting went down. The hedge is growing nicely now as well, having been planted 3 years ago.


We have a new Canoe Trailer! Just need some new canoes now!


Our 'Staff Room' gets used for all sorts of things - an extra dining area for up to 23 people, a bedroom, a meeting room and sometimes a staff room. We've added new wall artwork that reflects our forest location.


We have a new table tennis table in our Games Room!


We've re-sited a living roof behind the kitchen in preparation for a big new Autumn project


This is a strip of land behind the Games Room that is ready for a big make-over in the Autumn. Watch this space!


Thursday, 28 March 2024

SPRING 2024 UPDATE

Well, it's been a busy Winter! We have had some major work done already this year.

One project we are particularly excited to announce is the total refurbishment of our second floor bathrooms. This also incorporated a new en-suite bathroom to Staff Rm 21, featuring large over head shower, heated mirror and towel rail and waterfall basin tap etc. We do try to look after our visiting adult leaders!


We have also bought some very nice new oak bedroom furniture for visiting staff in Rms 21 & 31.


We have also been busy in the kitchen. We loved our new cooker so much that we have bought a second one to go with it! This now makes cooking our famous roast dinners even easier in these special digitally controlled combi ovens where heat and humidity etc. are all programmable. We regularly cater for up to 86 people at a time. 


The biggest project of all has been the renewal of our heating system as part of a decarbonisation project. Our old oil boiler has been replaced by a new wood pellet boiler that we source local wood pellet for. It is digitally controlled on an app so can easily having heating times adjusted remotely if needed.


In terms of course programmes we have been busy with schools again this year and giving them a great outdoor learning course whatever the weather. This week we had two wheelchair users and were able to do a big Swing on our High Ropes Course and Zip Wire with them as part of their activities.

Since our last blog post we have once again been awarded the high level 'Gold Standard' accreditation along with the widely recognised LOTC Quality Badge.