The end of Heritage Ambassadors Project
The Mayor of Bridgwater invited along recently to mark the end of the 12 month Heritage Ambassadors project by attaching a plaque to the Centre’s mascot, a phoenix carved in Exmoor oak.
The project was funded by the Heritage Lottery in partnership with Exmoor National Park Authority, Quantocks AONB, Somerset Wildlife Trust and the Field Studies Council at Nettlecombe Court and was aimed at young people (13-20) who do not normally have the opportunity to explore and enjoy the rich natural habitat on their doorstep.
The project focused on the ReCreation Centre on the Hamp estate in Bridgwater and the YMCA in Taunton. Young people from ReCreation enjoyed every opportunity that was presented to them and have participated in sessions on pond dipping, green woodworking, walking, forest school activities, fossil hunting, camping and high ropes team building tasks.
Commenting on the year, Danielle said: “The project made me want to work outside even more, and has given me the opportunity to start Forest School training” and Bob said: “The project has given me more confidence; I never used to be comfortable talking in front of people and now I am, and I’m on a course at Elmwood School doing childcare”
Les Riddle, ReCreation Centre manager said that he has seen such an improvement in the behaviour of one youngster over the year of the project that he has progressed to running the kitchen at ReCreation.
