Girlguiding Cornwall to celebrate history of County's 'Dear Little Campsite' in centenary year
The award of £8,500 will enable a group of young people to research the history of their county campsite which has been in use since 1939.
The site, situated near Truro, was originally an old apple orchard, and in the early camping days was very simple without flush toilets or mains water. The grass was kept short by the resident donkey, much loved by the Guides.
During the war years the Guides were granted a special permit to obtain sugar to make jam with the apples grown in the former orchard. This was on the understanding that the jam would be sold and shared with the wider public. Lady Baden Powell, then the World Chief Guide, visited the site in 1961 and congratulated Cornwall Guides on their ‘dear little campsite’.
Now the site enjoys flush toilets, showers, a cabin and amenity building. Many happy camps have been held there over the past 70 years and the Guides look forward to celebrating the history and development of the site.
The grant will enable a history booklet to be professionally produced, a heritage display board to be housed in the cabin and an audio archive celebrating the memories of many Guide leaders of earlier days. The young people participating in the project will receive training in gathering stories and looking after archival material, and will be able to use the experiences and skills learnt during the project towards gaining their Girlguiding 'Certificates of Achievement.'
Jane Bennett, Chairman of the current Management Committee, said: "In this special Centenary year we are thrilled to be able to celebrate the history of our well loved campsite. So many people have happy memories of time spent there and we also want to celebrate the hard work of all those Guide leaders whose commitment has enabled us to keep the site for so many years."
Commenting on the importance of the award, the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Head of Region, Nerys Watts, said: "From the moment one hundred years ago when the founder of the Scouting movement Lord Baden-Powell was asked to provide ‘something for the girls’, Girlguiding has had a remarkable influence on the lives of thousands of young people. This project, one of many across the UK, will help to celebrate this important anniversary by enabling girls and women of all ages to record the heritage and share experiences of a well loved local guiding centre."
Notes to editors
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation’s heritage for everyone to enjoy. Since 1994 it has supported more than 26,000 projects, allocating over £4 billion across the UK.
The site, situated near Truro, was originally an old apple orchard, and in the early camping days was very simple without flush toilets or mains water. The grass was kept short by the resident donkey, much loved by the Guides.
During the war years the Guides were granted a special permit to obtain sugar to make jam with the apples grown in the former orchard. This was on the understanding that the jam would be sold and shared with the wider public. Lady Baden Powell, then the World Chief Guide, visited the site in 1961 and congratulated Cornwall Guides on their ‘dear little campsite’.
Now the site enjoys flush toilets, showers, a cabin and amenity building. Many happy camps have been held there over the past 70 years and the Guides look forward to celebrating the history and development of the site.
The grant will enable a history booklet to be professionally produced, a heritage display board to be housed in the cabin and an audio archive celebrating the memories of many Guide leaders of earlier days. The young people participating in the project will receive training in gathering stories and looking after archival material, and will be able to use the experiences and skills learnt during the project towards gaining their Girlguiding 'Certificates of Achievement.'
Jane Bennett, Chairman of the current Management Committee, said: "In this special Centenary year we are thrilled to be able to celebrate the history of our well loved campsite. So many people have happy memories of time spent there and we also want to celebrate the hard work of all those Guide leaders whose commitment has enabled us to keep the site for so many years."
Commenting on the importance of the award, the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Head of Region, Nerys Watts, said: "From the moment one hundred years ago when the founder of the Scouting movement Lord Baden-Powell was asked to provide ‘something for the girls’, Girlguiding has had a remarkable influence on the lives of thousands of young people. This project, one of many across the UK, will help to celebrate this important anniversary by enabling girls and women of all ages to record the heritage and share experiences of a well loved local guiding centre."
Notes to editors
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation’s heritage for everyone to enjoy. Since 1994 it has supported more than 26,000 projects, allocating over £4 billion across the UK.