We are delighted to announce that after a huge amount of work to make the site COVID secure by our Activity Centre Active Support Unit and Site Managers Emily and Matt Morris; Queen Charlotte’s Wood is open again to Groups and Units from Mersey Weaver for evening and daytime visits during the Amber readiness level. And the best thing yet? Mersey Weaver are delighted to offer the space free of charge to sections returning back to face to face scouting.

Thought has been given to ensuring that facilities and measures are put into place in order to keep everyone safe including designated activity zones, staggered arrival times, one way systems, signage and hand sanitising stations dotted around the site.

We are hugely excited to be able offer a safe and controllable space to groups especially those who do not have the luxury of a suitably sized outdoor space of their own or even able to return to their normal meeting place. We are hopeful that sections will make the most of the space either for their weekly meetings, day activities, virtual camps or however they feel comfortable with returning to face to face activities.

To make a booking groups/units must book using the Mersey Weaver Bookings site.

Having closed in March, a huge amount of work has happened on site over the last six months to enhance the Activity Centre. Here’s just some of the improvements we hope you’ll notice on your next visit:

  • Ground works and landscaping around the site as well as preparation for a new campfire circle and bushcraft area with pizza ovens to honour April Nicholas
  • Steel cables to hang parachutes above the two campfire circle areas
  • New car park and road surface
  • Cordless landline phone in the hideaway
  • Additional outdoor power on the main field
  • Hand sanitising stations
  • Covid signage 
  • Additional safety signage around the site
  • A new speed limit on site of 5mph
  • New noticeboards in the car park and under the veranda by the outdoor toilets
  • A new meeting place sign to make the site easier to find
  • 4G internet Access and indoor/outdoor WiFi
  • CCTV
  • New smart locks
  • New electrics and and phone charging points in the Bothy
  • Repainted the Laavu
  • A new LED flood light outside the Bothy to light the field
  • PAT testing 
  • Bracken and Rhododendron removal 
  • Major Tree works (including removal of invasive species, dangerous trees and opening up of sites)
  • Hedge cutting
  • Klargester Service 
  • Work started to tag and log every Tree on site
  • Drainage ditch improvements
  • The installation of an AED on the outside of the Bothy
  • Plans to renovate the Archery range
  • And of course the marvellous new Campfire Circle with wheel chair access!!

A huge thanks to everyone from the Activity Centre and Technology ASU as well as anyone else who’s chipped in to make these things happen.