Development fund
The Deer Park development fund was set up in 2023 after we successfully purchased the lease of the Deer Park main site, plus the small site and wood, now known as the Bradshaw Field and Wood. We knew that purchasing this additional land was going to come with initial costs to make it safe for use, plus added costs for annual maintenance, and then ongoing costs in developing the site. We have a dedicated group of volunteers leading the way with this project.
The development group have lots of plans and ideas thanks to the responses from our membership, so now we need to raise the money to make this happen and make Deer Park an even more attractive place for groups to visit all week long, all year round - not just for our members, but also the wider community.
The development group have lots of plans and ideas thanks to the responses from our membership, so now we need to raise the money to make this happen and make Deer Park an even more attractive place for groups to visit all week long, all year round - not just for our members, but also the wider community.
adding to the funding pot
Funding for the development is coming from a range of places:
- Grant funding - see below
- Sale of our development badge - buy yours here
- Girlguiding group fundraising - find out more
- One off or regular donations from individuals - donate online now
- Fundraising events at Deer Park
- Legacies
Grants received so far (to March 2024):
- Gloucestershire County Council's Build back better funding - £1,100
Development progress
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Nissan hut - our forest shelter
The Nissan hut has been made watertight and the rotten window frames replaced. It will be painted in dark green. We have plans to line the walls inside. We have applied to the National Grid for a supply of electricity on site, initially for lighting and a fridge in the Nissan hut, but also for the proposed toilet/shower block.
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Bradshaw Field
A large part of the field has been cleared of the debris left by the previous owners. Logs have been moved and the trees along the edge of the field have been trimmed back.
We have received a donation of 100 trees from a local company and we are planting some of these to create a hedgerow between the field and the cricket pitch and some will be planted to replace the felled trees in the wood.
We have been successful in applying for a further 250 trees from the Woodland Trust to be delivered in the Autumn. These trees will also help replace the trees that have been felled, and some will be used to plant on the boundary with the manor on the Deer Park site, on the low ropes slope and along the roadside hedge next to the Bradshaw Wood. When we have a firm date for delivery, we will organise some more service days.
The site is available to book this year as a greenfield camping pitch with access to outside toilets and showers on the Deer Park site. Portaloos can be added to the Bradshaw Field at an additional cost by groups if they wish.
We have received a donation of 100 trees from a local company and we are planting some of these to create a hedgerow between the field and the cricket pitch and some will be planted to replace the felled trees in the wood.
We have been successful in applying for a further 250 trees from the Woodland Trust to be delivered in the Autumn. These trees will also help replace the trees that have been felled, and some will be used to plant on the boundary with the manor on the Deer Park site, on the low ropes slope and along the roadside hedge next to the Bradshaw Wood. When we have a firm date for delivery, we will organise some more service days.
The site is available to book this year as a greenfield camping pitch with access to outside toilets and showers on the Deer Park site. Portaloos can be added to the Bradshaw Field at an additional cost by groups if they wish.
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Bradshaw Wood
The tree surgeons completed two weeks of tree felling in January and March and have made the wood safe to use. They chipped brash directly on to the paths and winched eight tree trunks to create a new campfire area and a new bushcraft area. We plan to fit some sort of shelter similar to the parachute on the Deer Park site.
With help from service volunteers there is now a new path laid out through the wood with a wood chippings cover. |
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The stream
A small bridge has been built over the stream and steps built to link the wood to the low ropes field and Bubbs Hill, providing a safer route between our sites instead of walking up the road.
The stream has been cleared so it now flows freely, and the stream edge has also been cleared. |
A new birthday party offer
One of our development team has been working hard to put together an offer for birthday parties at Deer Park. This includes woodland parties, adventurous parties and hall parties. This offer is now available to view in more detail on the birthday parties page, and bookings can be made via email to [email protected]. Birthday parties are open to anyone, not just our members, so do help us spread the word about them.
Future plans
Our future plans are based on the ideas and priorities our members told us about in a survey in 2023.
New activities
Axe throwing
We have secured a grant for equipment for axe throwing which we are about to purchase. We hope to launch axe throwing this summer, possibly sited at the end of the low ropes field where the former traverse wall was.
We have secured a grant for equipment for axe throwing which we are about to purchase. We hope to launch axe throwing this summer, possibly sited at the end of the low ropes field where the former traverse wall was.
Jacob's ladder and crate stacking
We also have funding for crate stacking equipment. We have had four of the very large beech trees in the wood surveyed and certified as safe to use for these activities. We are now seeking quotes for the installation. We will need to train instructors with the same zip wire basic training supplemented with extra training for Jacob’s ladder and crate stacking.
We also have funding for crate stacking equipment. We have had four of the very large beech trees in the wood surveyed and certified as safe to use for these activities. We are now seeking quotes for the installation. We will need to train instructors with the same zip wire basic training supplemented with extra training for Jacob’s ladder and crate stacking.
New facilities
Toilet and shower block
Our longer term aim is to install a new toilet and shower block with a kitchenette on the Bradshaw Field. It will have three toilets and one shower, plus one accessible toilet and shower. However, we will need to raise funding and obtain grants and planning permission. We plan to position the new block in line with the Nissan hut, and in line with the old toilets. Positioning here would allow us to have two camp pitches sharing the facilities.
Our longer term aim is to install a new toilet and shower block with a kitchenette on the Bradshaw Field. It will have three toilets and one shower, plus one accessible toilet and shower. However, we will need to raise funding and obtain grants and planning permission. We plan to position the new block in line with the Nissan hut, and in line with the old toilets. Positioning here would allow us to have two camp pitches sharing the facilities.
