So over the past months the team of six have spent every Tuesday and often many other days dealing with the list of suggested improvements. Obviously, apart from a Government grant, the campsite income was reduced, so most of the time was spent reusing or reworking existing materials.

Our present Mayor of Woking had been to the campsite before when we were considering changing our old activity room, the DRT Hall, but this had been a few years ago. Now was the time to invite her to see the changes.

So, Tuesday 29th September was a very special working day with the Mayor of Woking, Cllr. Beryl Hunwicks kindly giving up some time to visit the campsite to meet the team of six.

The Giant’s Chair at Birchmere Scout Campsite

The Mayor spent time catching up with the campsite’s improvements over the past years especially the two new activity rooms, Birch Lodge and The Retreat, the work being undertaken at the moment and the plans for the future. She was taken on a tour of the campsite, where she was particularly impressed with the campfire area with its “Giants Chair”. The Mayor then saw the recent changes which the team had achieved. She was very keen to hear about the planned new adult toilets and showers that would be in place by the spring of next year.

All too soon the visit was over and after a full hour and a half The Mayor departed for her next venue. The members of the campsite team were really heartened by Cllr Hunwicks’ enthusiasm and support for the campsite, and indeed for Scouting in Woking as a whole, and thanked her for spending time with us at Birchmere.

To create a space that can accommodate the expanded facility, the campsite maintenance group decided to move the existing warden’s hut and mower store. So with the campsite chairman on one end and the warden on the other, the two were hefted into their new positions.*

Our plans are for the new adult toilet block to be ready for spring 2021.

*Actually, a large lorry with a crane, but they could have moved them without it. Honest!

So, with no campsite bookings for the foreseeable future, all the previously budgeted site improvements were dusted down, tools were dusted off, dodgy back muscles stretched and work began.

Digging the trench for the new standpipe

Birchmere has always been a great location for small camps, but recently we have seen more and more bookings for larger and larger camps. This meant making some major improvements to our waterworks. So, we now have a vastly improved septic tank drainage system to help avoid any “unpleasant” little moments. We’ve also added a third standpipe on the north side of the campsite, so you shouldn’t have Cubs or Scouts grumbling about long walks with heavy Jerry cans!  Plus, there is a smart new outdoor washing-up station complete with hot water (the luxury!) to make dish and pan washing easier on field camps. Since this is slap next to the campsite gate it’s also a perfect anti-Covid hand washing point as well.

Our new activity rooms – The Retreat and Birch Lodge – have been spruced up with fresh coats of paint, thorough cleaning and shiny new tiles in the kitchen areas. The inside of both halls now looks really smart and we’ve improved the outside as well by widening the special needs ramp to The Retreat to create a larger wheelchair turning area.

The Throne at Birchmere Scout Campsite

The beloved camp fire circle has been hugely updated with a second row of seating sufficient for the biggest of camps. As a further extra, a campfire leaders “Throne” has been created to add to the atmosphere (and no doubt, noise) at campfires. This is now an amazing campfire area!

We still have work to do when finances permit. On our list are improved adult shower and toilet facilities, to eliminate the early morning / late evening queues of showercap wearing leaders, and we are hoping that a delayed grant assessment for a campsite defibrillator will be approved soon.

Birchmere is now an even smarter “Proper Little Campsite”.