The Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Tommy Judge opened the brand new Hive Woodland Camping Pods at Ghyll Head Outdoor Education and Activity Centre just one of the brand new features installed as part of a £1.5 million investment project.
Ghyll Head is owned by Manchester City Council and is located in Cumbria on the edge
of Lake Windermere. The 17-acre site has been offering residential outdoor
education predominantly to Manchester schools since 1967.
The Council approved a business case in November 2019 to fund the scheme from the
capital receipts generated from the sale of Buglawton Hall.
Social enterprise GLL will manage the centre on behalf of the Council and have procured
and managed the works under an agency agreement . GLL also manage 22
community and elite leisure facilities in Manchester on behalf of Manchester City Council
under the MCRactive brand.
The significant refurbishment works carried out have brought the much loved facility up
to a modern standard and greatly enhanced the residential offer available to schools and
community groups.
Over 25 schools and community groups have already booked in from this month until the end of the year. The centre is being promoted to all Manchester Schools & Youth organisations and recently held camps in May Half Term for local SEND children and their families.
Gareth Kirk, Regional Director for GLL said:
“We’re delighted to be managing such a unique facility, extending our relationship with Manchester. It’s been a challenging 16 months for everybody across the city so we’re looking forward to welcoming schools and groups safely to Ghyll Head and being able to
contribute to young people’s health and wellbeing through this superb facility in the
beautiful backdrop of the Lakes.”
Councillor Garry Bridges, Executive Member for Children’s Services, Manchester City
Council, said:
“Ghyll Head has been serving generations of Manchester school children
since 1967, growing their confidence and skills, and giving them the chance to learn and
experience the great outdoors in its breath-taking lakeside setting. The upgrades we’ve
been able to make to it aren’t just about investing in a building, it’s a direct investment in
improving the lives of all our young people who will be able to visit it now for decades to
come.”
