Community group buys outdoor education centre

Councillor Trevor Roach (left) with the Wilderness Centre's new directors Jamie Robinson (centre) and Simon Dawson

An outdoor education centre is "in the hands of the community" after it was bought by a local group.

The Wilderness Centre near Mitcheldean was run by Gloucestershire County Council for decades as an education hub for schools.

It was sold in 2014 to a private educator but has now been bought by Wylderne, a community benefit society, which is reopening it for "all people from the community", including pupils.

Simon Dawson, one of Wylderne's directors, said he hoped the Forest of Dean site can "evolve into a learning centre where people can enjoy contact with nature".

He added that he wanted visitors to be able to "understand how they might help the unique biodiversity and the economy of the Forest to thrive".

Wylderne is now trying to raise £150,000 through a share offer to make extensive repairs and improvements.

The site includes a large Georgian house and 30 acres of grounds.

Paul Pivcevic, another director, said that the society was "already talking to ecologists to help us make a plan to bring more biodiversity to the site".

He said volunteers would be vital for this plan.

Mr Pivcevic said Wylderne was also speaking to partners to create projects on the site to train young people in skills needed for a greener economy.

Wylderne's directors hope to increase biodiversity at the site

Local Green councillors are supporting the society's efforts, including Trevor Roach, from Forest of Dean District Council.

He said: "Here we are, 11 years on from when Gloucestershire County Council sold the Wilderness Centre to a private educator and now it is back in the hands of the community.

"It's good news for Gloucestershire and the Forest of Dean."