Thank you so much for following our progress. We’ve been involved in so many fantastic projects for young people this year and are delighted to see what a huge impact these events are having.
The official opening of Cameron's Cottage organised by the RSPB, has definitely been a highlight for us this summer. |
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Cameron's Cottage
RSPB reserve Franchises Lodge, New Forest
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| Opening events at Cameron's Cottage |
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| Ready for the presentation |
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Cameron's Cottage has already been welcoming a steady stream of groups for the past eighteen months. It was wonderful, however, to celebrate the official opening with a week of activities, talks and events organised and run by the RSPB. Thank you to everyone who joined and thank you to the RSPB for hosting so many events during the week. It was obvious to see the huge amount of work that has gone on at Cameron’s Cottage from conception through to opening. To date, approximately 2,000 young people have come, enjoyed, learnt, relaxed, laughed and got immersed and inspired in nature.
What activities can you expect to participate in when visiting?
There's a whole range to choose from: bio blitz, fungi identifying, bat detection, bird watching, shelter building, outdoor cooking, escaping from wildlife rooms, outdoor team building activities…. the list is endless. And the RSPB staff and volunteers run all of these activities for groups of young people who have come from schools, universities, nature organisations, scouts, Prince’s Trust, Young Carer Organisations and other. |
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Many of these groups visit on a weekly basis and participate in ongoing activities and develop skills such as habitat management and collecting data research.
Photo: Signs kindly made by Ed and Tilda Key and Minstead Trust |
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| Young Ambassadors Kabir, Samuel, Mya and Ellie sharing their wildlife experiences at Cameron’s Cottage opening celebrations |
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| Outdoor cooking |
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Thank you to BBC South today, BBC Radio Solent, BBC Radio Wiltshire and BBC News for sharing our story. You can listen to interviews here
Photo: With reporter Jo Palmer, BBC Radio Solent and BBC South Today |
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| And what is our aim now that Cameron’s Cottage is built and open? Our partnership with RSPB enables us to work together and to continue to reach and identify groups of young people from all backgrounds. And we will continue to sponsor groups and give them new opportunities to spend time in nature at Cameron's Cottage. They will be able to take part in outdoor activities best suited to their age and experience. |
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| Wild New Forest Camp |
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| Amongst the many groups who visit, below are some of the groups that we have sponsored this year: |
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- Winchester Youth Council
- Romsey Young Carers
- New Forest Young Carers
- Winnall Primary School
- Sparsholt Primary School
- Stanmore Primary School
- BTO Young Leaders Course
- New Forest Wildlife Camp
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“When I visited Cameron's Cottage, I liked everything but I especially liked the rare things like the Heather Crab Spider and Silky Rosegill.”
Samuel
“Wildlife camp has helped me connect with other wildlife enthusiasts from across the UK.”
Colin |
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Any group in need of funding, please email Corinne: info@cameronbespolka.com
Or to make a booking, please email RSPB direct: cameronscottage@rspb.org.uk
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Homeless Children’s Foundation
Indian River County, Florida
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It’s always such a privilege to help the Homeless Children’s Foundation who do such an incredible job providing nature programmes for homeless young people (sadly a fact in USA). We have again been fortunate to support their winter and spring holiday camps so that parents are able to work and know that their children are being looked after and fed.
The camp leaders are sensitive to the trauma these young people face on a daily basis and they commented on the true resilience and talents that they showed during the camps.
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“ I believe that your support has made a difference in the lives of many many children (actually mostly teens, I guess.) We appreciate your support through thick and thin! ”
Carla Meyer, President Homeless Children's Foundation |
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BTO Summer Camps
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
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We are delighted to sponsor the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Youth summer camps. There were so many new young naturalists join the camps and learn new conservation skills, meet like-minded friends and listen to experts. In total there were 4 camps held in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
These camps are run by BTO Youth to reach young people throughout UK. The camps are a 3 day residential, held in natural settings, with local experts, to give young people access to nature and develop their birdwatching skills as well as many other outdoor activities. |
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Zeiss and Cameron Bespolka Scholarship
to Cornell Young Birders weekend in New York
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| Rosie Johnson’s winning entry about Peregrine Falcons (left) and other Zeiss age category winners at Global Birdfair 2023. |
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We were thrilled to once again receive some incredible entries for the above scholarship. The award was presented to Rosie Johnson who will travel to Cornell Lab of Ornithology in New York next July and participate with other young ornithologists from US on field trips, presentations and workshops on field notes and sound recording as well as exploring the famous Macauley Library which is the world's largest archive of animal media. Huge congratulations to her and to the other finalist Izzy Fry.
And thank you to Zeiss for hosting the awards at Global Birdfair and the other sponsors British Bird Rarities Committee, British Birds and Cornell. |
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| Cameron and Pod at school. Below - Pod running to victory! |
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| Thank you to everyone who continues to fundraise and support us, we are so incredibly grateful. A special thank you to Pod Thackeray, Cameron’s school friend, for taking on an Ironman for Cameron and completing his first Ironman in Bolton in July. Pod finished 27th in his age group which is phenomenal! Huge congratulations and thank you for raising an amazing £4731! We are all so proud of you for undertaking this huge physical challenge as well as raising such a huge amount for us. Cameron was cheering you all the way. |
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| Please have a look at our on-line shop which has so many wonderful gifts and is a great way to support us. 100% of every purchase goes directly to our work. |
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Hedgehog Card
Who doesn’t love hedgehogs? Hedgehog cards designed by artist Joachim McDonald |
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Swift Tea Towel
Back by popular demand! Swift tea towels with beautiful design by wildlife artist Richard Allen
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Save the Date
Flower Pots, Cheriton, SO24 0QQ
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9.30 - 12.00
3rd November at the Flower Pots pub in Cheriton.
Come and have a coffee, meet up with friends, buy some early Christmas presents (or treat yourself!). We are thrilled to be joined by the Award Winning honey, Manuka Direct as well as our favourite local speciality coffee roastery, Moon Roast. Don’t forget to mark your calendars and see you there! |
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| With huge support form Isabel Boissier, Nicky Bryant and Sarah Wigley |
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Enjoy the rest of your summer.
Thank you so much for all the continued support. We couldn't do any of this without you.
Thank you for reading
Corinne xx |
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| A magical surprise moment |
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"The future of humanity and indeed all life on earth depends on us."
David Attenborough
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Registered Charity No: 1156567
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