It's springtime at Cameron's Cottage

It's Spring!

Photo competition winner: Felix Walker-Nix, aged 12

Spring is here and nature is in full flow. The sights and sounds this time of year are incredible with so much beauty right here on our doorsteps. And we too, have been busy.

Cameron's Cottage

Throughout lockdown, renovation work has continued at Cameron’s Cottage in the RSPB Franchises Lodge nature reserve in the New Forest. This accessible, idyllic, residential outreach centre is a safe place where young people can immerse themselves in nature. Young people visiting the Cottage will engage in activities to boost their confidence and well-being. Practical skills about wildlife and habitat management as well as creative activities will be on offer that will help them connect with their surroundings.

Cameron’s Cottage and the Nature Outreach Centre with solar panels

In partnership with RSPB, we are working hard to create packages of activities that will be available for groups of up to 18 when staying at Cameron’s Cottage. Packages, booking systems as well as the hiring of a Project Officer are just some of the behind the scenes work that is going on. We are very excited to be holding trial day activities over the summer and fully opening in the autumn.

Wood clad extension

A huge thank you to the builders, AV Development, who are doing a phenomenal job keeping the project on track, to SA Energy for expertly installing the Solar panels and sustainable energy and to Moorhouse Architecture who have drawn up plans that sympathetically compliment this beautiful old brick Cottage. And to the RSPB, who are doing a brilliant job working around the clock to make this place come alive as a nature destination for young people.

We will keep you posted as work progresses.

Inside the Nature Outreach Centre, with an enclosed laboratory at the end for research projects carried out by young volunteers and university students

Nestled in this ancient woodland in the RSPB nature reserve Franchises Lodge

Other News

Hampshire Ornithological Society

For the third year, we are offering free membership to young people in full time education with the Hampshire Ornithological Society to help increase their young members. We are thrilled that they now have over 50 young members who will benefit from everything the Club has to offer.

Read more

Lockdown Photography competition

Our Lockdown Photography competition run by our Young Ambassadors had an overwhelming response of 85 entries that included observations of the pure and simple beauty of nature around us. It was impressive to see how many photos captured some elements of nature that are easy to miss. Thank you everyone who took part.

See all winning entries

CBT Young Ambassadors

The Young Ambassadors are active on many fronts

Our Young Ambassadors have been very active and reaching large audiences by numerous on-line talks about all things wildlife as well as numerous articles and blogs in press and social media. They have become hugely skilled at conversing on Zoom, creating nature videos, vlogs and writing blogs. Have a look at Amy Hall’s award-winning 60 second educational Zoology videos covering all sorts of subjects.

It’s great to work with these talented environmentalists and help them reach their full potential. Have a look at some of the things they do…..

Thank you to Young Ambassador Megan who has been selling her handmade masks to raise funds

Support and Fundraising

Our gifts on sale at The Yard

Thank you so much to so many of you for all your continued fundraising. We are so fortunate to have your support and have been so grateful for the amazing ways you have raised money for us: making masks, selling wildlife calendars celebrating birthdays by observing wildlife, running crazy races, supporting our online shop and making donations.

A huge thank you to Virtual Runner UK for choosing us as their charity and donating an incredible £3250.00. And, although it seems ages ago, we loved being at The Yard at Chilton Candover, Hampshire, a café which serves the most delicious coffee and food who supported and raised a huge amount for us. Thank you so much for donating 100% of all the proceeds made selling our gifts.

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Water for drinking and bathing is crucial for garden birds and wildlife

Our online shop is always open. Please have a look at some of our great new gifts: beautiful cards drawn by talented wildlife artists, recycled glass bud vases and lovely new bird baths. And Megan's wonderfully creative masks are still on sale if you need an extra environmentally-friendly face mask.

Shop now

And finally...

Swift boxes being installed

I just wanted to highlight the threat that Swifts are under. These beautiful birds have declined more than 50% over the last 23 years and much of this is due to loss of habitat. I am therefore so grateful that all my neighbours agreed to have Swift boxes put up on our houses and our small road now has a total of 15 Swift boxes!

A huge thanks to Tim Norriss and Roger from Hampshire Swifts for climbing up high to install the new homes. They do an amazing job helping Swifts. Have a look at their website to read more about how we can all help: www.hampshireswifts.co.uk

"The future of humanity and indeed all life on earth depends on us."
David Attenborough

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Registered Charity No: 1156567