Cameron Cottage
Cameron's Cottage will be a new field centre in the depths of a “Secret Forest” built to inspire young people to save nature.
We are thrilled to be partnering with RSPB to renovate a derelict cottage deep in the middle of RSPB’s new reserve in the New Forest, Hampshire, Franchises Lodge, to create a unique residential educational facility. This centre will provide a base from which small groups of young people will be able to have exceptional, immersive experiences in nature, and will be called ‘Cameron’s Cottage’.
News Update: December 2019
Planning Permission Granted
We are delighted to announce that planning permission has been granted for the redevelopment work on Cameron's Cottage. It's full steam ahead for brand-new children’s education centre in the heart of the New Forest
RSPB spokesperson, Beth Markey, said: “It has never been more critical to engage young people in nature. Absolutely everyone has a connection to the environment, whether it’s simply strolling in the forest or taking an active interest in the welfare of animals. Unfortunately, many don’t realise it because they haven’t had the opportunity to engross themselves in nature, particularly if they’ve grown up in a city.
“Cameron’s Cottage is a truly wonderful venture that provides an unparalleled opportunity for people to completely absorb themselves in trees, plants and wildlife, free from electricity and the bonds of daily life. We are delighted to be working with the Cameron Bespolka Trust, which has an important vision to educate, inspire and open up the leaders of tomorrow to the wonders of nature.”
This proposed new centre will renovate a derelict cottage within the woodlands of the new reserve, and will be a high quality, low impact building renovation. It is intended to provide research facilities and residential accommodation for use by small groups from schools, colleges, universities and organisations, enabling young people to experience and study nature. We have pledged £425,000 towards the costs of creating and running ‘Cameron’s Cottage’.
Peter Exley, Public Affairs Manager for the RSPB, said: “It is vital that we provide ways for young people these days to connect with nature, if we are to save nature now and in the future. Cameron’s Cottage is a wonderful opportunity to do just that. Our vision together is to create a unique, special facility immersed in this wonderful location, a place that will inspire the next generation of naturalists and conservationists. We are delighted to be working with the Cameron Bespolka Trust, and grateful to them and their supporters for putting forward the funding.”
Our vision together is to create a unique, special facility immersed in this wonderful location, a place that will inspire the next generation of naturalists and conservationists.
Corinne Cruickshank from the Cameron Bespolka Trust said: “When Cameron was 15, he spent 3 nights in a cottage in a Florida nature reserve. He listened to the screeching of an owl, he gazed at the stars and he saw an armadillo crawling along the path. Night and day, dawn and dusk, he was surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature. His stay in that cottage helped to fire his passion for wildlife observation - it was an experience he spoke of frequently, and was central to the naturalist that he became.
We set up The Cameron Bespolka Trust as a charity in Cameron's memory to inspire young people to love and appreciate nature. We’ve been looking for somewhere where young people can experience and connect with nature as he did - and we think this is just the right place!”
The RSPB will now be drawing up plans for the new centre, working with Universities, colleges, schools and organisations to understand their needs, and talking to the local communities within the New Forest National Park.
We’ve been looking for somewhere where young people can experience and connect with nature as Cameron did - and we think this is just the right place!
We are extremely grateful to all our supporters for helping us make this possible. We look forward to sharing information as we renovate Cameron’s Cottage.