MORE than 120 Scouts from 11 groups across the Salisbury area enjoyed a camp out at the recently reopened Foxlease Park near Lyndhurst.

The Salisbury & South Wilts District Scout Camp took place over the weekend of May 9 to May 11 and organisers said the high attendance by Scouts made it one of the biggest District Scout Camps in recent years.

The groups that took part included: Bourne Valley Idmiston & Figsbury, 1st Wilton, 3rd Salisbury (Sea Scouts), 4th Salisbury (Harnham), 8th Salisbury (Methodist), 10th Salisbury, 23rd Salisbury, 1st Alderbury, 1st Amesbury, 2nd Bulford, and 1st Boscombe.

After arriving and setting up on the Friday evening, the Scouts took part in a carousel of activities on the Saturday and Sunday morning, which included archery, climbing, raft building and paddling, woggle making, branding, semaphore challenge, catapult making, orienteering and axe throwing.

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On the Saturday evening there was a BBQ organised by the Bourne Valley Leaders, which was followed by a campfire led by the District Lead Volunteer Ian Jack.

Branding Picture: Mark Warner

Scout Section Program Team Leader Matt Sutton, who was one of the organisers of the camp, said: “Over 120 scouts and 30 leaders from eleven separate scout groups from across the district of Salisbury and South Wilts camped together for our annual District Scout Camp last weekend – the largest attendance that we have had for many years.

“It was great to have the opportunity to camp at the former GirlGuiding activity centre at Foxlease Park in the heart of the New Forest.

Tomahawk throwing Picture: Mark Warner

“We were the first large group to use some of the newly reopened activities on site, and the jam-packed activity programme for the scouts included rafting, climbing, bushcraft skills and archery.

“The weekend also allowed scouts from across the district to come together – meeting new people, making new friends, learning new skills and challenging themselves with new activities – things that lie at the core of why we love scouting.

Archery practice Picture: Mark Warner

“Enjoying a group campfire for 150 people with the backdrop of the New Forest twilight was a pretty special way to end the camp too!”