Essex @ World Jamboree 07

The first tent pegs were driven into the ground at Hylands Park, Chelmsford as building work started on the huge tented city that will house thousands of young people at the World Scout Jamboree.

Over the next three weeks other buildings and services will be added to the site to create a mini city. Stages, accommodation areas, a hospital and the largest temporary eating area in western Europe capable of accommodating 8,000 volunteer staff will be built before the opening ceremony on Saturday, 28, July.

Thousands of volunteers from across the globe are travelling to Chelmsford to help with the construction process. Scout Leaders are coming from as far as southern Chile and Australia to help with the build. Some are even walking from Serbia to be part of the event.

Setting up the site needs a wide range of skills. The building team consists of people with all abilities, from professional plumbers, medical practitioners to energetic explorer scouts ready to help. By the end of the preparations, the 574-acre area will be transformed into spectacular home grounds and activity sites for the Scouts. It will be the largest ever volunteer construction project consisting of more than 8,000 volunteers.