Forest of Dean Wilderness Centre reopens

The Wilderness Centre closed in 2011

An environmental education centre site in the Forest of Dean has reopened four years after being closed.

The Wilderness Centre, at Mitcheldean, was shut by Gloucestershire County Council in 2011 because of budget cuts.

The first group of school children have visited the centre ahead of a formal reopening in September.

The site was bought by Dr Daniel Sturdy earlier this year following a campaign by locals to keep it open as an outdoor education service.

Office manager, Deborah Blackmore, said: "We've got bookings in the diary - half of May for next year is already completely full - and we've got enquiries from scouts and quite a few other schools already."

Ms Blackmore said the centre would offer activities such as forest walks and canoeing for school children on residential stays.

She added the main building had been fully refurbished, and the owners were also looking at getting a licence to conduct weddings.

In 2012, Protect the Wilderness occupied the site for almost four months in an effort to save it.