A century of giving children access to the outdoors

11 hours ago

Ethan Gudge,South of Englandand

Ed Crofts,Oxford

News image — Hill End first opened to children a century ago

Hill End A black and white archive image of school children standing in a field next to a sign for Hill End. — Hill End first opened to children a century ago

An education and residential centre is celebrating 100 years of giving generations of children and young people access to the outdoors.

Hill End Outdoor Education Centre, near Oxford, first opened its doors to school trips in 1926.

In the ensuing century, Hill End - which is spread across 67 acres of Oxfordshire countryside - is estimated to have given outdoor experiences to more than a million children.

Lucy Crittenden, the centre's director, said it had given children who might not otherwise get a chance to experience nature, to get out into the relative wild.

"Hill End's always been here for people who don't get outside as much as they should - so it was originally for urban children from Oxfordshire, from London, from Birmingham," she explained.

"We stay true to those principles today, inviting everybody but mostly we really try and target those who need us most, who don't get out into green spaces every day."

Hill End An archive image from the 60s shows children lining up waiting to be served at a red and white ice cream van. — The centre estimates that more than a million children have visited in the past century

Crittenden said the experiences were "really life-changing for those kids because they won't have had the freedom to run around".

"So many children tell us it's the best day of their lives... you don't have to create a plastic environment or give them screens - it's getting back to basics."

The centre offers an array of outdoor activities, including archery and different crafts.

Hill End team member Rebecca Upright said the centre was "such a valuable place".

"Just to see children here being outdoors, being free, getting muddy - love it," she said.

"We don't see enough of it, and actually when you see the children here, it's much better than being on a screen"

Hill End Lucy Crittenden has long hair and is wearing a green t-shirt. She is standing in a large green open field. — Director Lucy Crittenden said the centre was "really life-changing" for children

Another volunteer, Val Townsend, said: "A lot of the parents and grandparents remember coming here."

"They're actually probably more excited to be here and to come back with their memories of Hill End than their kids are - and that's really nice," she said.

To celebrate its 100th birthday, the centre has started an online memory bank, where people can share their stories.

A special ticketed festival is also due to take place on 6 June, with a range of activities and musical performances being held throughout the day.