SUMMER 2026 UPDATE

We've been very busy as usual with lots of schools and courses over the Spring and now into the Summer.

Time again to enjoy outside lunches on the Garden Rm Deck or our new 'Railway Garden' that we continue to develop.

We have now added a large BBQ to this area so that groups can use it in the evenings
 

Last week we were very pleased to welcome 7 new additions to the Centre in the form of baby Moorhens! We knew Mum & Dad had taken up residence on our pond but didn't know they had a nest somewhere. The little chicks are busy exploring the pond and distracting our students from what they were originally doing.

And with Summer temperatures increasing we've already made use of the new aircon unit in the lounge. We have also installed one in the main kitchen with more planned for the bedrooms. Unfortunately climate change isn't going away and although we have metre thick stone walls that help to keep the main building cool in Summer, eventually with a prolonged heat wave temperatures can build up.

We have now trialled our new 'Escape Tunnels' with several schools and it is proving a great challenge for them to attempt. It is based on the 'Escape Room' idea but instead of breaking out you have to break in.

There are 7 doors and 16 different locks that you have to get through to complete the challenge!

Each lock requires either a code or a physical skill to open 

The group attempting the challenge have to split into two and start from opposite ends and try to meet in the middle. They communicate clues and solutions to each other via voice tubes to try to gain the codes to open different locks.

We love coming up with new activities that get teams working together, problem solving, communicating effectively and all whilst having a fun and rewarding time

WINTER 2026 UPDATE

 Can't believe we're hopefully already half way through this Winter already. 

At the end of 2025 we said "Bye for now" to Jane our Head Cook who had worked at the Centre for 24 years! We wish her a very happy retirement! We gave her a leaving gift - a wood carving of Paddington Bear.

Jane had been a central part of our Centre, feeding tens of thousands of children and staff over the years, always with a smile and a 'it's never too much trouble' attitude. She will be sorely missed by all but will hopefully pop round every so often for tea and hugs! 

Karen is now our Head Cook/Catering Manager, who has worked for us for over two decades and is also well known for her lovely cheerful personality and hardworking professionalism. All those who visit know just how fantastic our catering team are!

Oh yes, and a new cooker and dishwasher are now in our self-catering kitchen for the weekend self-catering groups who unfortunately don't get to experience our fantastic catering themselves.

Once again we have been awarded the AHOEC Gold Standard Quality Assurance Accreditation. This time we have put up a new cast iron plaque by the front door to celebrate the achievement

January we had all hands on deck to paint many areas of the Centre including all the third floor bedrooms. It is difficult during peak times to have time for the paint to dry as we are so busy, including weekends. 

Our new Axe Throwing activity has proved very popular over the last 6 months and so we decided to buy some different style axes to use with adult groups who have also taken a liking to it. We now have a collection of competition throwing axes as well as a double handed Viking battle axe!

Winter is also the time for more staff training and we had a very productive Instructor Training Day looking at aspects of Axe Throwing coaching, safeguarding and other aspects of activity instruction and safety management.

We also did another fire extinguisher training for staff