A historic campsite in Nettlestone that has welcomed generations of young people since the 1930s is set to come back to life after being transferred to a newly established Isle of Wight charity.
The six-and-a-half-acre Bucks School Camp Association field – better known locally as the Scout Field – on Eddington Road has officially been transferred to The Haven, Isle of Wight following three years of negotiations and approval from the Charity Commission.
The field has hosted camping holidays and outdoor adventures for children for almost a century but has been largely unused since the COVID-19 pandemic. The transfer ensures the site can once again be used for the benefit of Island children, young people and the wider community.
The Haven says the site already has the infrastructure needed to support camping and outdoor activities, although work will now begin to modernise and improve the facilities. Located on the number 8 bus route, the field is within walking distance of Priory Bay, St Helens Duver and surrounding villages.
Trustee Rose Gillett said the charity is keen to put the community at the heart of the site’s future.
“We are very excited that this amazing field can once again be a place where young people can explore, relax and play. Our main priority now is to involve and consult our local community in how we manage this amazing community resource.”
The Buckinghamshire Schools Camp Association, which has owned the site for decades, says it is pleased its legacy will continue on the Island.
Brian Pell, one of the association’s trustees, said:
“Generations of Buckinghamshire children have had a wonderful time and built confidence and resilience and great friendships through camping on the Isle of Wight.
“We are delighted that the Bucks School Camp legacy will continue and a wide range of young people can now benefit from this field. We wish The Haven every success in the future, and we will always be grateful for the welcome the Island gave us.”
The Haven trustee Andrew Bradstock thanked the many organisations and professionals who helped secure the transfer.
“We would never have achieved the transfer of the field if it wasn’t for the support of a wide team of expertise. We’ve had pro bono support from charity lawyers and planning consultants, and we are thrilled that we can now welcome the community in to get involved.
“Thank you to Bucks and everyone who has helped us to secure this field for the community, and we look forward to working with the community to ensure it provides much needed benefit for local young people.”
The charity is now inviting Islanders to share memories of the former camps, where children were famously woken each morning by a bugle before heading off to beaches and beauty spots across the Island.
Residents are also being asked to help shape the future of the site through a public consultation, with ideas including camping facilities, community growing spaces, orchards, nature-based activities, community events and improved access. The Haven is also exploring creating a digital device-free outdoor space to encourage people to reconnect with nature and each other.
One proposal would see a permissive path created around the edge of the field, providing a safer walking route between Nettlestone, Seaview and St Helens.
A community picnic celebrating the handover will take place at the field between 12:00 and 14:00 on Saturday 4th July as part of the Biosphere Festival. The event will include the official handover from the Bucks School Camp Association and the opening of the field by the High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight, Nigel Hartley MBE.
The Haven is also seeking volunteers, local groups interested in using the site and donations to help fund renovation and set-up costs.
