We are delighted to announce our partnership with the RSPB to create a new field centre in their latest reserve, Franchises Lodge in New Forest, Hampshire.

This unique residential educational facility is situated in the depths of a “Secret Forest” and will provide a base from which small groups of young people will be able to have exceptional, immersive experiences in nature. It will be called 'Cameron’s Cottage’ - a place embedded in nature that is accessible yet feels remote.

The existing derelict cottage 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 £350,000 towards the costs of creating and running ‘Cameron’s Cottage’. We could not have done this without your help!

RSPB

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.”

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 will keep you up-to-date with the work as it progresses. Please keep checking the website for up-dates as we discover the many hidden secrets of this beautiful place: The Cameron Bespolka Trust

We are extremely grateful to all our supporters for enabling us to build this dream. By creating this unique place where young people can actually stay in the heart of a reserve, we hope that the time spent here will create many long lasting connections and memories for many generations to come. With huge thanks and gratitude,

Corinne and Kevin and all the Bespolkas
and the Trustees:
Keith Betton
Nicky Bryant
Sarah Neish