SHOWCASING THE BEST OF THE FOREST OF DEAN AT THE NEW LOOK BEECHENHURST VISITOR CENTRE.
 Spruced-up facilities at Beechenhurst Visitor Centre in the heart of the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire will be unveiled on Friday October 3.
The Forestry Commission will officially open its fantastic new environmentally friendly café, shop and information centre which will showcase the best the Forest has to offer. Local dignitaries from the Forest of Dean and beyond have already pledged their support.
. Simon Hodgson, Chief Executive at the Forestry Commission England said:
“The new-look Visitor Centre will not just to act as a Forestry Commission flagship, but also link visitors with the wider tourist economy of the region and maximise Beechenhurst’s economic benefits for the local area. Beechenhurst is the hub in Gloucestershire for outdoor healthy living activities which take place throughout the Forest.”
"The development offers a great opportunity to bring modern design and innovation into the stunning scenery of the Forest of Dean and create a quality facility for all of our visitors. It will strengthen Beechenhurst's role as a key venue for the growing number of iconic and exciting events held in the Forest of Dean, it will offer local businesses a showcase for their products".
The new look centre welcomes the new patrons of, ‘Gavellers’ the cafe managed since the beginning of September by Capricorn Catering, a Newnham-on-Severn based business, which already has a track record of commitment to supporting local events.
Capricorn Catering won the bid to manage the catering facilities because of their focus on quality food, made wherever possible with locally sourced ingredients. Martyn Turner, a partner in’ Gavellers’ said: “We are over the moon to be given the opportunity to develop and run ‘Gavellers’ at Beechenhurst. The history of this site as a colliery and then later as a leisure area, is well known locally. As local people ourselves, we want to develop and enhance the facilities, while respecting its past.”
‘Forest Connections’, is the new ‘showcase’ for local products and the area generally, managed by Derek and Elaine Yemm who hail from Ruardean and Mitcheldean respectively, will showcase quality local produce from the Forest.
Derek said: “As local people, we are very proud to act as Ambassadors for the Forest of Dean.”
Staff at the new café and shop are gearing up for the opening and also the Forest Showcase Event on Sunday 5 October. This year’s Forest Showcase promises to be the best yet and visitors will be among the first to sample the new facilities following Friday's sneak preview.
Nicola Greaves, Forest of Dean District Council Tourism Manager said:
"The new café and showcase offer excellent facilities for visitors to the Forest. They will help to promote the many other attractions and activities on offer and therefore provide a real boost for the tourism industry and local economy.
"The ethos which partners, Martyn Turner and Mark James, at ‘Gavellers’ and the Yemm family wish to establish at ‘Forest Connections’ fits with the aims of all of the partners involved who want to see Beechenhurst play its part in supporting local tourism and attracting inward investment into the District. “There is no doubt that the combined improvements to Beechenhurst will have knock on benefits for local businesses and suppliers and give added confidence to associated job sectors, which can only help local people.”
Investment of more than £200,000 from Gloucestershire Rural Renaissance has given this project a huge boost with regular injections of financial support as works progressed on site. The Forest of Dean District Council has also provided generous support with £75,000 offered to see the extension plans succeed.
“The Forestry Commission is delighted that this opportunity to target its resources into improving services for both local people and businesses has finally been realised” Rob Guest Deputy Surveyor for the Forestry Commission enthused.
Rob is justly proud of what has been achieved. He said:
"Beechenhurst has come a long way in boosting the growth of the tourism industry in the area. From its humble beginnings as a log cabin serving ice creams, through to the installation of the Sculpture Trail, to this ‘coming of age’ celebration.
“The new facilities at Beechenhurst are a perfect reflection of the Forestry Commission’s intentions to manage woodlands in a way that enhances the quality of peoples’ lives.
"In order to address climate change, solar panels have been installed to power the new kitchen and there are future plans for the installation of a state of the art biomass boiler, using local wood-chips for fuel. The new-look centre was completed mid September, and there will also be re-vamped picnic sites and a community meeting room available for hire.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITOR
1. The Forestry Commission is the government department responsible for the protection and expansion of Britain's forests and woodlands.
2. Two Core Aims of the Beechenhurst Project:
v Redevelopment of the existing Beechenhurst Visitor Centre buildings to provide high quality 21st century visitor facilities, together with space and opportunities for the development of new businesses and community activities integrating the visitor centre buildings, visitors and the forest and so helping to retaining it as one of the top 5 most visited attractions in Gloucestershire.
v Provide the physical infrastructure for development of economic, social and environmental projects and partnerships in the wider area and maximise public benefits of the Forestry Commission landholding in the Forest of Dean.
3. Background History: Beechenhurst was formerly the site of Speech House Colliery, which closed, in the early 1900’s. It was cleared to make a picnic site in 1969, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Forestry Commission. In the early 1980’s the Sculpture Trail became a new attraction. The popularity of the trail led to the Lodge being built in order to cater for greater numbers of visitors year on year; it was opened by HRH the Duchess of Kent in July 1992. With the increased recreational facilities in the heart of the forest, pressure on Symonds Yat Rock was relieved; until then, ‘The Rock’ was Forestry Commission’s main recreational site in the Forest of Dean.
Beechenhurst has since gone from strength to strength and is now one of the most visited tourist attractions, not only in the Forest of Dean, but the whole of Gloucestershire with an estimated 250,000+ visits every year. It is expected that visitor numbers may double as the Dean’s reputation continues to grow.
4. Forest Showcase Event will be held on Sunday 5th October between 10am-5pm. This will host many stalls selling local produce from the Forest and the surrounding area. Demonstrations and music will also be amongst the many attractions. Admission charge of £2.00 for Adults and £5.00 for a family ticket; free car parking
5. The Gloucestershire Rural Renaissance programme, managed by Gloucestershire First, is now fully committed. It is investing £8 million in projects across the county to boost the rural economy and improve access to services. £4 million of that investment comes from the South West Regional Development Agency – the largest amount the Agency has invested in any county across the region to date. The rest comes from the public and private sectors. For more information, see www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/ruralrenaissance
6. Images: Media and photo opportunities are arranged for the press and media from 12.30p.m. after the opening ceremony on Friday 3rd October
7. Please credit the Forestry Commission for attached photographs; see attached in email
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Dee Ashurst – Public Affairs Manager; Tel: 01594 270 074
Dean@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Nicola Greaves: Forest of Dean District Council Tourism Manager; Tel: 01594 812 389
James Lloyd: Gloucestershire First, Rural Programme Officer; Tel: 01242 864 146
e-mail: dee.ashurst@forestry.gsi.gov.uk |