Market Drayton pupils help open new Lake District learning space
The new room at the Grove School field centre was officially opened by the Mayor of Market Drayton
The Mayor of Market Drayton, Councillor Tim Manton, joined Grove School Year 7 pupils in the Lake District to officially open a new learning and discovery space at The Birks field centre.
The Undercroft, at the centre in Seathwaite, was unveiled on Wednesday, September 23, following work led by volunteers from the Birks Committee.
The Birks was bought by former Grove School headteacher Geoff Dickinson in 1985 and has since been used by generations of pupils from Market Drayton. It is now owned by the charity Friends of Grove School and run by the volunteer Birks Committee.
The Undercroft project was led by Birks Committee president Steve Murphy, who worked with volunteers to convert a low-ceilinged area into the centre's first dedicated learning space.
Jordan Machin, co-chairman of the Birks Committee, said the project would allow the centre to expand its educational activities.
"All credit goes to Steve and his team, who have worked their socks off to make this happen," he said.
"We have always tried to be more than a field centre. Our charitable aims are about developing a love of the outdoors in young people, especially those who wouldn't normally have access to this wonderful part of the world.
"With The Undercroft, we can honestly say this is a place for learning and discovery."
The committee also thanked Grove School headteacher Mitch Allsopp and the Marches Academy Trust for continuing to support The Birks.
Plans for the new space include working with the Duddon Valley Local History Group to explore the area's history and using it as a starting point for activities in the valley.
Each bedroom at The Birks has also been named after a former resident of the site, with the names dating back to 1681, when William Gybson and his family farmed the land.
The Undercroft will also support the Restoring Hardknott Forest project, which is working to return an old plantation to native woodland.
The opening also saw the unveiling of a new public artwork featuring local farmer Eddie Benn, his dog Sky and his Herdwick sheep.
The artwork was made by Market Drayton fabricator Ian Noden. Mr Benn has lived in the Duddon Valley since 1967 and has supported The Birks over many years.
The Birks is available for private and group bookings.