March 2026
The hall blinds are changing! Following a fire safety review, it was recommended that the blinds over the doors in the entrance hall and main hall should be removed. While this has little effect in the entrance hall, the main hall does have two large doors which look out onto the garden. The veranda has movement activated lights, and the site does have a lot of wildlife which roam especially where food scraps may appear!
We will look into solar lights around the boat or edge of garden to give some additional lighting to improve visibility (they are on the wish list!)
February 2026
The extra adult bedroom is back! Originally the room straight ahead as you enter the dormitory corridor was an adult bedroom – over time it changed to an office – however the current manager stores everything in the old telephone cupboard, meaning that once again this room can be an adult bedroom.
Our first occupant gave it a great review, so we hope you all find it beneficial.
January 2026
Big news for 2026 is that the bathroom extension is going ahead towards the end of the year. Instead of the current, one shower and two toilets upstairs, we will have two toilet & shower rooms.
Downstairs the main bathroom becomes 3 shower cubicles, 3 toilets and plenty of sinks! The current smallest toilet near the main hall, and the accessible toilet will become one revamped and up-to-date accessible toilet and shower room.
The grant process is under way, but look out too for a challenge for units to help make sure these upgrades provide the best opportunities for your units.
We will share the designs soon.
Summary of updates from 2025
More tree work has been needed in the woodland to ensure they remain safe for all visitors.
Donations of tents gratefully received on site! Thank you to all who passed on tents, we will be holding another event before the start of the summer season. If you are thinking of donating, please make sure that the tents are in a usable state. We may be able to accept some which are missing a pole or pegs, but we do need to know what is missing before you drop them off with us.
Agnes Kusafari will be moving to Patteson lodge, now that she has finished being our giraffe on the GoGo safari challenge. If you are visiting, take a look at the GGN website to download the pack, add some challenges to your weekend and buy a badge from the shop!
If you are camping and using our tents, please contact pl@girlguidingnorfolk.org.uk or phone us to make sure that we have the tents you need!
A voluntary group from Norwich City College is supporting us with additional handyman or gardening tasks. Hautbois Rangers are also volunteering with tasks as part of their community challenges.
Friends have built a covered area next to the dry store on the campsite.
New shop! We have replaced the upstairs shop with a new cabinet in the main hall. This can be rolled to a convenient for your holiday, before you unlock and display the items. We have also used baskets for each of the items, so that you can only display items that are suitable for your age group. We look forward to hearing your feedback on the new shop.
Games shed has been moved outdoors under the veranda so that there is more space in the hallway.
The big clock is back! We removed the clock in the main hall as it is quite difficult to change the time – however feedback suggests that many of you prefer the clock so a new one has been installed.
Each year we will be reviewing all the items we have available in the shops for lodge and campsite. Have any suggestions? Please let us know.
Work has started on a new walkway through Lady Mayhew woods.
Changes to the booking system mean that only whole building hire (minimum numbers) have access to Indaba during their hire. Indaba will instead be used by another group of leaders for either a training event or meetings. This will be confirmed prior to the event, but will only involve other Girlguiding members.