Cameron's Cottage
In partnership with the RSPB in the New Forest
Cameron's Cottage is a non-profit venture in memory of Cameron to make nature more accessible to young people.
Cameron’s Cottage is nestled in the heart of RSPB Franchises Lodge nature reserve in the New Forest and sleeps 19. It has been renovated to create a sustainable place where groups of young people can experience and learn about the natural world.
Latest news:
The Kilner Path
07 September 2023
At Cameron’s Cottage there is a path dedicated to the memory of Jim Kilner who died recently at the age of 83. Jim spent much of his later years quietly raising money for the RSPB and the Kilner Path has been named in his honour to celebrate his tireless efforts.
Jim was a very proud engineer by profession and still kept the tools he made when he was an apprentice in his extensive engineering workshop. From this workshop he made bird nest boxes out of felled trees to his own very specific design. The proceeds from the sale of these lovingly-crafted boxes went to the RSPB and that money was used to purchase tools for the Lodge Garden and the benches under the shelter.
Jim was invited down to Franchises Lodge by the RSPB to see what had been bought with his money. On the visit he spotted a neglected tricycle chassis and asked if he could buy it from the RSPB. Within two months he had renovated the chassis and turned it into a cargo carrying bike. It was sold to a young fisherman to carry his gear to fishing spots. The £400 of profit went to buying the trees at Cameroons Cottage and the residual used towards the costs of the Kilner Path.
Three months before died he travelled down to the cottage and took a ride in his off road tramper around the path. Jim spoke of how wonderful it was to have been a small part of the Cameron’s Cottage story and how proud he was that the RSPB had named the path after him.
Jim Kilner was tireless in his fundraising efforts
Winnall Primary School's Day Out
28 July 2023
Sponsorship from the Trust enabled a group of children from Winnall Primary School in Winchester to travel down to Cameron’s Cottage and enjoy a jam-packed day of activities.
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BBC Radio Solent
20 July 2023
Thank you BBC Radio Solent and BBC News for sharing our story.
Inspired by Cameron, Cameron’s Cottage in a RSPB reserve is a place for groups of young people to be immersed in nature. Run and operated by RSPB, this place connects young people and nature where all activities are led by RSPB wildlife experts.
Cameron had a passion for birds and wildlife
BBC South Today Features Cameron's Cottage
06 July 2023
Thank you BBC South Today for the coverage on Cameron’s Cottage and for telling our story.
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New Forest National Park Authority and the Cottage
26 June 2023
Thank you so much to New Forest National Park Authority for supporting the collaboration between ourselves and RSPB to create Cameron’s Cottage in the heart of the RSPB reserve Franchises Lodge.
Alison Barnes, CEO of the New Forest NPA was there to celebrate the opening of the cottage
"Celebrating the opening of Cameron's Cottage with the RSPB and the Cameron Bespolka Trust at their residential retreat based within Franchises Lodge nature reserve. It's a dramatic and ‘secret forest’ in the north of the New Forest now saved by the RSPB and the Trust with our help "
Guests and Staff at the grand opening
Open Days
We would love you to come and visit Cameron’s Cottage and see for yourself. If you are a school, college, university or an organisation who is thinking of taking a group of young people for a day or overnight stay, please email date you can join us to: cameronscottage@rspb.org.uk
Weds 7 September 2023
11.00 am - 12.30 pm
Thurs 6 October 2023
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Cameron's Legacy
To celebrate the official opening week at Cameron’s Cottage, we are very proud to share this video which shows the result of many years of collaboration between the Trust and the RSPB.
2 Minute Introduction to Cameron's Cottage:
solar powered and low-impact
Cameron’s Cottage offers an immersive outdoor experience for 15 – 25 year olds in a stunning woodland packed full of wildlife, including many rarities.
Whether it’s getting creative through outdoor cooking and wild art, tackling the grittier side of nature with survival skills and conducting research or learning conservation skills, those coming to stay at Cameron’s Cottage will have the experience of a lifetime.
Franchises Lodge is a haven for wildlife, from birds of prey to unusual fungi, orchids and loads more. In this idyllic setting, young people can come together to take part in activities ranging from shelter building to conservation skills, plus much, much more.
The newly refurhbished Cameron's Cottage will be a wonderful base fromm which to be immersed in nature
The fully-equipped kitchen
The living area where many stories will be shared
Bunk room with a view - nature is right on your doorsteps
Outdoor Classroom
Next to Cameron’s Cottage there is an open-sided wooden outdoor classroom which can be booked for day visits from schools. These day trips will include nature activities provided and led by RSPB.
The outdoor classroom will bring the guests closer to nature
"Cameron’s Cottage is completely off-grid with heating and electricity provided by solar power, so it really is the ultimate nature experience"
Sustainability
We are proud of the fact that Cameron’s Cottage is off-grid, relies on solar power and is wildlife friendly. All the timber used to renovate the Cottage has come from the site. The douglas fir trees needed to be thinned by a third to allow light to reach the ground and to increase biodiversity. Solar panels are located on the study centre and extension roof producing 10KW power per hour with battery storage.Groups can monitor their power use and adapt according to the amount being generated or stored. This is a fantastic learning resource for how we need to think carefully and consider the impacts of how we use resources. A firepit and equipment has been provided to encourage outdoor living.
The water is heated by solar heating in the warmer months but switches to solar power for the winter. Inside, all appliances have been planned to have a low energy use. There are wood burners inside the kitchen and study centre to provide additional heat but can also be used to cook indoors and has an additional hob. A heat source pump supports the low carbon heating arrangement by drawing heat from the outside air and transferring to the underfloor heating system to warm the building.
Outside, wildlife friendly features have been built into the design including swift bricks, house martin cups, greater horseshoe bat entrance and bat entrances included in the roof slates. There is an old well which supplies water to outside taps to wash boots, whilst inside the water does come from a mains supply. The property has its own sewage treatment plant to treat sewage safely and with no negative impact on the environment. This is fenced in the garden and will eventually be hidden by a native hedge that will provide a nectar source for butterflies, moths and bees to support the ecosystem.
To find out more about how sustainable and environmentally friendly this Cottage is, please have a listen to Joe Moorhouse, the Architect who worked on the whole renovation project. He explains the care and attention taken to make sure this off-grid Cottage is low-impact as well as being a home for lots of wildlife all around.
The video from Moorhouse Architecture shows the work that went into transforming the derelict cottage
Booking Cameron's Cottage
For more information about booking Cameron's Cottage please visit the the RSPB website.
Rates are £15 pppn with a minimum booking of 8 young people. The Cottage can accommodate up to 19 people, including leaders in 5 bedrooms. Additional discounts are available for groups who meet certain financial requirements.
Activities include:
- nature: bioblitz, bat detecting moth trapping, wildlife walk
- team building: slacklining, blind fold trail, team all maze, wild art
- survival skills: outdoor cooking, kelly kettles, shelter building, pioneering, navigation
The outdoor classroom in use at the recent Wildlife Camp
Generous Support
Thank you to Garfield Weston and the National Lottery Heritage fund for their generous support.
Cameron's Cottage
Read all about how we came to be partnering with the RSPB to create this wonderful retreat and learning centre deep in the New Forest.
Cameron's Cottage Video
Young Ambassador Amy Hall has produced a great video of Cameron’s Cottage before the work begins. Take a look at this magical place, immersed in nature and nestled in the woodlands of RSPB Franchises Lodge in the New Forest.
Birds Eye View
Take an aerial tour around Cameron's Cottage and the surrounding forest:
