News & Pictures
from Phil Woolcock
News from 2022
July Update -
- Again this month will see a lot of maintenance and vegetation management activities, this is mainly due to the numbers using the site and rain and then sunshine.
- Its great to see Glenny Wood again very busy again this year and lots and lots of happy Young People, Parents and Leaders....
- Works undertaken this month so far -
- Repairs to the up n over on the confidence course
- Repairs the front gate
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Decking board replacement on Veranda
- Check and tighten Bouldering Wall Hand holds
- Standard Safety checks undertaken.
June Update -
- This month has been a key maintenance and vegetation management time with the following key activities undertaken
- Repairing the Wetlands decking structure
- Lots of weeding around the newly planted trees
- Mega amount of strimming
- Grass Cutting
- Wood collection
- Repairs to the confidence course
- Weekly and monthly checks undertaken
- Significant cleaning in the loos
- The Aerial Runway is back being used with two Groups enjoying the FUN of the runway
- Its been great to see the new bouldering wall in use as well.
May Update -
- We have just installed a defibrillator, on site attached to the lodge wall in a cabinet. To access the defibrillator dial 999 for the ambulance service, confirm the location and you will then get the code. We all hope this new equipment addition is something none of us have a need to use.
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I am pleased to confirm Alison Salter has now taken over as Booking Secretary at Glenny Wood campsite.
- Involvement day was help on the 22nd May - very limited support, although a lot of wood was moved. Many thanks to those who helped
- The Aerial Runway is being set up for use after the 18th June
- Recruitment adverts are in the local newspaper seeking volunteers
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Bouldering Wall is now finished with three coloured courses available. Factsheets and draft Risk Assessments available in the H&S section of this website. A big thank you to the team for making this activity available on site and especially Angus who led on the planning and building the wall.
April Update -
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Near the end of April our recruitment campaign has commenced with letters from myself via Gordano GSLs and our DC to all leaders, helpers and parents, explaining our need to increase the team to maintain and develop Glenny Wood and retain the current high standards. This information has also been place on many Facebook pages across our area. We already have had positive interest….
Our vacancies we have will suit a wide range of interests. To see please go to our volunteer page.
What has been going on in April at Glenny Wood??
- This month has been focused on the bouldering wall and getting this ready for opening in mid May. Great progress has been made and the wall is looking great and on target to be completed to time.
- We welcomed Rita Warry and family on site to see the bench they commissioned in memory of Colin. Colin was a much loved and highly respected Scouter in Gordano and a former Site Warden, who sadly passed away last year.
- The large amount of Tree works on site, for safety reasons, mainly due to Ash Dieback, have now been completed. Many thanks to Tom and team. The task now is to collect up the wood and tidy the site, hence the involvement day on the 22nd May...
- The first grass cut for the year has taken place
- Various maintenance jobs have been completed around the site.
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We have at the end of the month had our annual water test, for safety reasons, against Legionaries disease and bacteria. We now await the results.
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With the sun out, the bluebells and other wild plants looking fabulious plus the tree works below is a series of photos Kath took recently on the site
March Update -
- The tree planting is now completed, a significant number of new trees and saplings now planted over the past 3 months
- We were joined by Lloyds Bank for one of the work days... And did it rain! Lots of logs collected, Logs split and our last two benches built
- Following recent storms lots of branches and twigs down and collected
- Toilet block revert back to Boys / Girls / Adult loo rooms.
- Additional signage put up
- We welcome Tamsyn who has now taken on the challenge as our cleaner for the loos / showwers / lodge.
- Glenny Wood revised organisation and approach now set and will be deployed over the next couple of months
March Pictures
Friday 18th March was a lovely day so I (Phil) went for a walk around and below are some of the pictures taken..
February Update -
This months focus has been on Tree Planting
We gave planted the following mature trees of around 1.5 - 2 metres tall
3 x Oak Trees
2 x Purple Beech
2 x Common Beech
3 x Sweet Chestnut
2 x Small Leaved Lime
APPLE TREES
2 x Apple - Bramley Seedings
2 x Apple - Coxs Orage Pippens
2 x Apple - Russet
2 x Apple - Scrumptious
50 Hedge UK natural plants
Via the The Oakupy Project 2021 we have received and planted 30 Oak Whips of around 50 cms in length in a nursery area to further plant out.
So when you add together the 113 trees and whips, along the 300 Fencing trees from Decembers planting we have over the last three month added over 400 trees to Glenny Wood natural habitat. This is all part of our long term suitable Woodlands plan for Glenny Wood and leaves a strong legacy for future users to enjoy.
As you can see from the pictures below the trees are well protected from wildlife and give plenty of room to grow.
2 x Common Walnut
2 x Hornbeam Rockhampton Red
2 x Hornbeam -
2 x Field Maple
2 x Silver Birch
3 x Rowan
January Update -
This is a month for basic maintenance.... all the exciting jobs. Below is a small selection -
- Weekly site reviews and checks made
- Redo Codes
- Fence from Lodge to loos now grown so rotting wood fencing removed
- Clear Stream Blockage
- Lights to loos cable repaired and put up the pole
- Screw pole up by altar fires
- Cut up and remove branches blocking to track.
- Trees above Loos trimmed
- Cleared campfire areas – ash / Wood tire back to grass sledge course!
- Recent storm damaged trees logged and massive roots are which was out of the ground now put back.
News from 2021
December Update -
- Trees - Over 300 small trees planted on the 22nd, to create a new boundry hedge for Willow plateau and to split Hawthorne and Hazel Plateaus.
- Glenny Wood Covid Risk Assessment updated in line with The Scout Associations instructions of the 2nd December 2021
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Storm Arwen has caused damage to our woodlands, with two large trees being blown down and branches down. The branches are now in the wood pile and the fallen trees are safe in their current position. Recent tree inspection was undertaken and our professional adviser has been consulted about the latest trees coming down. This was an incident due to Storm Arwen and our windy weather policy >>>> covers such events and the evacuation of the site.
- Site Toilets - 4 cubicles reopened
- Site check - Phils final walk around for 2021 on the 29th saw all the activities equipment / lodge /loos etc all fine although a tree down up on the very top bank. Codes for the site changed. During the walk a number of winter pictures were taken, see below.
Winter views 29th December
November Update -
- Walkway in front of lodge now finished - A big thank you to Angus for leading on this project.
- Areas of bracken cleared for tree planting on Dec / Jan
- Latest Tree survey reviewed and agreed. Due to Ash Dieback further trees will need to be felled. Now seeking Planning Permission to allow for this to take place, due to the Gordano Valley Tree Preservation Order (TPO) requirements
October Update -
- Work on the path around the lodge continues
- Work on the bouldering wall landing area restarted.
- Safety checks around the site undertaken
- Beech Plateau hedge trimed
- Confidence repairs undertaken
September Update -
Fencing - The Glenny Team, along with our friends from Lloyds Bank, on one of their Volunteering days, have made further improvements to the site. The front area above the track and Pheasants Mead and up the bridleway has been refenced. The old fence and barbed wire removed and a much smarter and safer replacement installed.
Wood store - The log store has been replenished as well, with loads of hard work by those splitting the logs.... Mega thanks to the Lloyds Bank team
New Path - We have started installing a new path infront to the lodge / veranda to make it easier and safer to get around...
Electrics - Lights from the Car Park to Lodge and Lodge to Loos are now back working...
Washing - We have washed the outside walls of the Lodge and Garage... Its looking so white, sunglasses may be required!!!
Grass Cutting - A further cut around the site undertaken...last of the year????
August Update -
Site Bookings - this month we have introduced our new booking system using Online Scout Manager - OSM. The system is straight forward to use although first please read our guidelines on the Booking page >>>>. Please remember to follow the key steps when booking to visit or camp or use the lodge - 1 - book a Plateau, then 2 - book a LOO room and then 3 - book your activities. After this you can book the lodge / Showers etc...
Planning - All planning issues now resolved - great news - the Certificate of Lawfulness for confirmation that the existing tented camping use for a recreational organisation is permitted development under Part 5, Class C of schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) and that the buildings including lodge and stores have been on site for more than 4 years and are ancillary to the camping use.
Many, many thanks to Peter Bath MD of Project Design and Construction Management Ltd for resolving this for us
Camp Fires renamed - Main Campfire will now be known as HOLLY campfire AND Willow Campfire will now be know as ROWAN campfire
Plateau changes
Stepped plateaus will now be the collective name for the following plateaus - Ash - Cherry - Birch - Spruce and Oak
Willow becomes its own Camping and visiting plateau - see new map
Hazel plateau now split into two plateaus - Hazel and Hawthorne - see new Map
Sycamore plateau is now the name for the plateau just inside the inner gate
Gordano Activities Plateau - is the new name for the plateau formally called sycamore
Glenny Adventure Zone - is the collective area that covers the Confidence Course and Wetlands
Showers colour identifies, for booking - Orange, Pink, White and Yellow
Map - Updated Site Map now available >>>>
Confidence Course repairs completed
Sheds - All with new roofing felt and repainted
Vegetation management - Grass cutting and strimming, Fences and plateau slopes all cut
Additional Signage - Signs have been put up for the new plateaus and campfire names
Inner Gate - new gate put up last month is now painted green with the refurbished Glenny Wood sign on it
Rowan Campfire - We have mve the campfire area out onto the plateau fiurther to give more room and safer as its not under the trees.
July Update -
Scouts and Cubs back camping on site after a 20 month gap....Fantastic to see this again.
Grass Cutting / strimming - as also lots done especially with the warm and wet weather we have had
Inner Gate replaced and path extended
Rubber clippings laid in Confidence Course under twisting log
Path into Hazel has new decking boards on it
Shed roofs refelted
New booking system developing using OSM
July photos – a few of things happening at Glenny Wood...
June 2021 Update
Grass & Trees - June started the same way as May with loads of cutting with the tractor mower and strimmer plus weeding and pruning the bushes around the gas tank area, along with, picking up branches and logs from the trees we have had cut down
Bookings - the site for June and July is virtually full and very few evening slots are left....A very busy summer at Glenny.
September on bookings OPEN and filling up!
June photos – enjoy Glenny Wood...
May 2021 Update
Site Activities - On Wednesday evening 5th May we opened up all the site activities available for 2021. See our activities page to book your activities whilst on site.
Water Test - Safety checks process completed and water has passed both the Legionella and Bacterial test details at >>>>
Tree Works - The necessary work to remove the Ash trees as identified in our last survey for for which we obtained planning permission for has been undertaken. Now its the clear up and storage of the wood.
Lloyds Bank Volunteers - a group of keen volunteers lead by Caroline (also GSL 2nd Portishead) spent the day at Glenny with the team starting the process of clearing up the wood, branches / Logs following the felling works. Clear up continues
Bluebells this year crop is fabulous, with the banks and site areas turning a bright blue. The wild garlic with its white flowers is also making a beautiful showing.
May ended with a major attack on the grass now the Bluebells had died down, loads of cutting with the tractor mower and strimmer!
May photos – Glenny Wood resplendent at this time of the year
April 2021 Update
Grass - First grass cut completed on site and we continue with this until October!
Water - in Loos and Lodged flushed through ready for testing
Water Test - Safety checks undertaken
Tunnels - Repairs to boxes completed
Bouldering Wall - Build continues
Bookings - Lots of interest in booking Glenny. Site availability checker added to bookings page on this website
Bluebells - the woodland slopes are now showing that lovely blue colour from the Bluebells. Remember these are slippery and please try to avoid walking on them.
April - a few photos of the activities and lovely woodland at Glenny Wood Scout Campsite.
Double click on the pictures for a slide show.....
March 2021 Update
Fantastic news - Glenny Wood has reopened on
Monday 29th March 2021
Signage - Our new signs have been delivered and these have been put up and are looking good. A few examples below
Front entrance area - this has been tidied up, with the "gatepost makeover" and signs.
Planning - Over the past few months I have been working with Peter Bath - Project Design and Construction Management Ltd in an exercise to tidy up our site planning situation. Peter is a former Scouts and has kindly been volunteering with me on this project.
We have now submitted to the North Somerset Planning department - Lawful development: Existing use - Use of land and buildings as Scout camp at Glenny Wood Camp Site, Wood Lane, Clapton‐in‐Gordano, BS20 7RQ
A notice of this has been place on the site gate post, as per picture. Updates will be posted in the news section.
Bouldering Wall - this project continues at a pace with the framework going up onto the container and now around the tree. It's all very sturdy, as it needs to be, with a predominate of 100mm x 100mm size timber. Nothing subttle!More pictures below
Tree Review - Phil and Kath completed the monthly Tree review on the 29th. The checks showed no new changes, which is good news.
Flowers - lots of Daffodils and Primroses out on site. Today (29th) spotted our first Bluebell flower of the season
The site reopened on Monday 29th March - We lookforward to welcoming back
Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers, plus their leaders to our site. Our first week back looks to be a busy one with local groups from Portishead and Nailsea at Glenny.
Activities - work has commenced in checking, repairing / updating the activities areas, so we can reopen these which we are currently planning for in line with the mid to late May
Congratulations - A very special congrats and well done to Angus Wardle,as he has been awarded the Award for Merit for services to Scouting as a Cub Leader - Portishead,
Volunteer - Glenny Wood and Trainer - Gordano District
Double click on the pictures for a slide show.....
Late March was a lovely on site and we were volunteering at Glenny. So as I walked around, including completing the monthly tree review, checking the site, doing jobs here and there, I took some photos across Glenny. Such lovely colours awaiting our members to come back and use the site again in a few days
Double click on the pictures for a slide show.....
February Update - Lots more trees planted and protected.
What’s been happening at Glenny Wood in February 21???
Well we, Angus, Tony & Phil have planted a further 15 mature trees and have put protection around them. This more than replaces the trees we have had cut down for safety reasons.
Phil and Angus continue to check the trees on a monthly basis and yesterday’s check showed no new changes, which is good news.
We have also started building the bouldering wall, with the base in and wood starting to be put up to fix the wall on.... good progress
In late February with the weather great I took some photos across Glenny, it certainly is starting to green up as Winter moves toward Spring.
Double click on the pictures for a slide show.....
Bouldering wall - The build continues A new activity for 2022.
Double click on the pictures for a slide show.....
Photos pre 2021
New waste management system,
BioFicient sewage system
It’s not sexy but essential!!
Yes folks - Our new waste management system - BioFicient sewage system, has been installed in November by Anderson’s. The tank and all the rest of the equipment went in well, after a large hole was dug first. Once the installation was completed the Anderson’s team, cleared everything away, seeded for grass around it and left the area extremely tidy. An excellent job and many thanks to our Site Manager Angus for overseeing the works on behalf of Glenny Wood.
The funding for this project was equally shared between Avon Scouts, Gordano Scouts and Glenny Wood. Many thanks to both Avon Scouts and Gordano Scouts for their continued support.
