Group Enviromental Award

Aim

It is hoped to get Scout Groups and Units in Blackpool working together. It gives the chance for Scouters to meet fellow Scouters whom they may not normally meet, in a natural environment. Overall this means that all Groups and Unit members in Blackpool will wear the same badge for something that they have all pulled together to achieve. A first for a while!

A few years ago Mowbreck it was quite the epicentre for a lot of quality Scouting from Blackpool. However the site has seen better days, and is more than slightly neglected in its current state. It is imagined that the site can be restored to a better standard than it was before.

How it will hopefully work

The structure for the outline plan has come directly from the badge requirements, these being

• Promote environmental awareness in young people
• Promote activities between the sections
• Support the environmental focus within the Balanced Programme
• Make sure there is a positive influence on everyone taking part
• Have a long-term benefit on sustainable development globally or locally

To help start the project off a working day will be held on the 6th - 7th November aimed at adult Scouters in Blackpool to come along and have a look at the jobs that need doing and which ones they would like to commit their Group, colony, pack, troop or unit to complete. As well as this they are invited to stay so that a one-day hit can be done on the site in. The day will be open to all Scouters in all sections; it is hoped from the initial sprinkling of manpower a larger working day can be done in December.

During the period of sorting the site out this request to join in will go out to all groups to sign up to the award. The jobs will be geared towards the different sections that have applied. Examples of these tasks are as follows

• Beavers Planting of daffodil bulbs around the site
• Cubs Building and fixing of bird boxes in the forest
• Scouts Forestry work in the forest (not the same time Cubs are up the trees)
• Explorer Scouts & Network - The rebuilding of a prayer area

These tasks can be on going as there will always be a requirement for site work, which allows the environment award to continue.

Tasks

The first set of tasks for the adult day will be in the nature of

• Cutting back and removal of Nettles / Brambles / Ivy / Grass – this is a huge job
• Collection and burning of excessive dead woodpiles around the site
• Pruning of overgrown trees
• Removal of “fly tipped” material

More long-term projects could be

• Painting of
  • toilet block area
  • Camp Gates
• Rebuilding of the main camp fire circle (the star)
• Tree identification programme
• Wood Pile Area
• Car parking area – fully marked up i.e. train sleepers around the area, big rocks painted white
• Signs
  • Camp map
  • Toilets marked up
  • Site entrance
• Animal rejuvenation project in the forest – this could be with the help of the RSPCA and RSPB

The possibility for programme ideas is never ending.

Future Work

Site Service Team

The service team will be made up of an adult team (primarily Service Team) and a secondary junior service team who works in conjunction with the adult team. This is mainly due to the tasks which will need to be completed will need adult guidance i.e. ladders, grass cutting etc.

Site Working days

The working days for all the tasks will be co-ordinated so that work is carried out on site with more than one group / unit present, this aids to promote the working together element

Site Tasks

So what do you say, fancy joining in?

To take part is easy, simply email the Booking Secretary, we will let you know what is going on all the time.

Booking the Campsite via Email

To assist bookings please use the following email address mowbreckbookings@hotmail.co.uk

Website Problems

Email the Website Quartermaster for all problems or issues relating to the site. Click on the Webmaster QM link where the fault can be reported.

If you have any thoughts on the website please contact the Website Quartermaster good or bad we welcome your comments.

Yours in Scouting

Website QM

© 2007 Blackpool Scout District. Page last updated 6th November 2007