Skip to content

'Mindlessly' vandalised scout camp to reopen

Matt Weigoldand
Dan Hunt,Derby
News imageTansley Wood Scout Campsite A dorm room of a scout hut with a metal bunk bed and single bed. The green walls are covered in read sauce. Two of the beds have mattresses on them with white sheets, the top bunk does not have a mattress. The single bed has a mobile radiator laid on it. The lower bunk has a black bag and litter on it. The wooden door is slightly ajar.Tansley Wood Scout Campsite
Damage at Tansley Wood Scout Campsite included ketchup "mindlessly squirted" up the walls of the dorm rooms

A burgled and vandalised scout camp site in Derbyshire is due to reopen after the local community rallied around to restore it.

Mattresses were slashed, toilets were flooded and furniture was destroyed at Tansley Wood Scout Campsite, off Old Coach Road, on 7 March, with an estimated £2,500 of damage caused.

Team leader Debbie Steeples said she was grateful to the volunteers, local businesses and online donators who have helped clean and repair the site after the break-in, which happened in the early hours.

"We all found it really difficult, because we put so much love and care into the place and we've all got wonderfully happy memories there," she said.

"The power of scouting is quite powerful to see and the way the local community have come around us has been inspiring," she added as the site prepares to welcome back forest schools and scouting trips.

News imageTansley Wood Scout Campsite Two large wooden huts with a brick base, three windows on one side and large double doors. A woman is stood outside inspecting a striped mattress which has a large whole in it. The woman has blonde hair, glasses, a blue shirt and scout neckerchief. There are lots of trees behind the huts.Tansley Wood Scout Campsite
Debbie Steeples removing one of the slashed mattresses from Tansley Wood Scout Campsite

The camp welcomes about 50 school children per week for educational outdoor activities, as well as scout and guide troops using the bunkhouse for overnight weekend stays.

"It's loved by many people in scouting and guiding," said Steeples, "It's absolutely wonderful to see little kiddies running about in the countryside, safe to do so."

But nine days ago, local walkers reported litter found in Tansley Wood, which alerted the camp team to the break-in.

Fire extinguishers, notice boards and toilet rolls were among the items stolen and thrown into Bentley Brook, after thieves gained entry by smashing the kitchen window of the hut.

"It felt really difficult to comprehend how somebody could mindlessly squirt ketchup up the walls, for example," said Steeples.

News imageTansley Wood Scout Campsite Two images. Left, there is a brook with a fire extinguisher, broken frame, notice bards and toilet rolls in it. There is a leafy bank on either side of the brook. Right, there is a kitchen with white tiles, yellow walls, metal sinks, black draining rack, a black washing bucket and a soap dispenser. There is broken glass across this worktop, next to a window with no glass. Outside, there is a grassy area with trees in the distance. Tansley Wood Scout Campsite
Fire extinguishers, notice boards and toilet rolls were among the items stolen and thrown into Bentley Brook, after thieves gained entry by smashing the kitchen window of the hut.

Children's activities have been cancelled since the raid but thanks to the "inspiring" response from local people and "wonderful offers" from local businesses, they can now resume.

"We've had items provided at cost and then fitted for free, a landscape gardening company are coming to do a full site sweep of the area and a company are providing us with CCTV," Steeples said.

Derwent and Dove District Scouts also launched a fundraiser to repair the site which has raised more than £5,000.

"We're going to use it to get better doors, new fencing, replace the damaged flooring with better quality than we had before - just make the site a much nicer, safer, more secure place for the children," she added.

Steeples also thanked Derbyshire Police for being "incredibly supportive" and providing locks and alarms to better secure the hut.

The force has asked for anyone with information about the burglary to get in touch.

Listen to BBC Radio Derby on Sounds and follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.

Related internet links