Cudham Shaws - News - Autumn 2019

Our seven girl events were all popular, attracting 421 girls from all sections. Our loyal event teams, Trefoil volunteers & police cadets worked together to deliver a massive range of different activities: making outdoor homes, having adventures with happy feet, learning circus skills with Splats entertainment, Rainbows taking their teddies on adventures and a bear hunt in the woods. Guides found treasure using a compass and maps and Joe’s Bows helped us to connect with nature with their birds of prey visit. Each event gave the girls the opportunity to earn various Growing up Wild Paw Print badges, Skills builders and new pieces of the Cudham 4 Seasons Jigsaw badge.

Girlguiding LaSER has been working in partnership with the RSPB for the past three years & we were thrilled when they agreed to fit out the Nature Cabin on the lower site. Each wall is dedicated to a season, with loads of seasonally-themed outdoor nature activities which 210 girls have already tried. The opening took place in March this year at our first girl event. The special opening offer £5 for the Nature Cabin is extended until the end of March 2020.

Badgers underwent some renovation work during the winter months & this year’s guests have appreciated the new carpets, indoor and outdoor bathroom facilities, tiling and sinks, and refreshed paintwork. It won’t be long until we can hang the new curtains which are currently being made voluntarily by one of our “Hazeltyne” quilting group, who also made all the curtains in Silver Birches!

For 2020 we have changed the pricing structure for Badgers. From January, the fees will be on a per person per night basis - hoping to attract small units - £13.50 per person for the weekend with a minimum charge of £243 per weekend, which includes gas & electricity.

Between 1January 2020 and 31 March 2020 one night bookings (max 24 hours) may be available in Badgers; price Per Person = £6.75 (min charge = £121.50). Please enquire!

Friends of Cudham have held their usual range of fundraising & social events: the wildflower walk, the region Trefoil fun day, Macmillan Coffee Morning and the ever-popular cream tea served during the Biggin Hill Air Show and the family camp weekend.

The funds that Friends of Cudham have raised in 2019 have been used to purchase cooking pots, crockery & utensils for the self-catering houses and posts for the 10 new RSPB trail boards positioned around the top & lower sites. So far this year, 306 girls have enjoyed doing some of the free activities on them as part of their Be Well challenges, and 316 girls have had fun out of doors with our free RSPB Brilliant Birds resource box.

A new swing set comprising of a basket swing and two individual swings have been installed next to the topsite play area. This was purchased using two very generous contributions: the Beryl Rosebrook legacy and Bromley South Division donation.

Thanks to another generous legacy, we have purchased lots of activity and games equipment including new archery bows and equipment, pyrography pens, circus skills apparatus, a new badge maker and lots of indoor games for both houses. We have now moved the two table tennis tables into The White House, making an ideal indoor winter activity for Guides and Rangers - come and try it!