Little did we know when we bought Park Wood that not only would it be our grandchildren running about, we’d also play host to many hundreds of young people from the locality and, importantly, from Dartford Cambria Sea Scouts.
“With money tight for so many families it can often be hard for the Sea Scouts to fund camping trips away, meaning the children sometimes miss out on gaining essential skills, unique team-building opportunities and, importantly, a chance to engage with nature.
“When Steve asked if the Sea Scouts could come and hold a one-off camp, we were only too happy to say yes, and now, almost 10 years on, we’re delighted to regularly host all sorts of different scout camps and are readying ourselves for the 2025 schedule.”.
Ted Newton, 84, and his 80-year-old wife Marilyn originally bought the woodland in east Kent to walk their dog, Poppy, but have since opened it up to the local community, including a school and creche as well as the scouting group from one of the most deprived parts of the county.
“Older teenagers from our group regularly camp in the woods, gaining essential time in the great outdoors, and developing skills, from learning to build a fire and cook over the coals to clearing a campground of undergrowth and using axes or saws effectively.
