The Bothy: Built by Teamwork
Our New Outdoor Learning Space Takes Shape
Well… pretty much!
There are still a few finishing touches to complete on the roof, the living wall is very much a work in progress, and seating is already starting to take shape - but after weeks of measuring, cutting, digging, cementing, building and problem-solving, the Edge Woods Bothy is standing!
And it is looking pretty epic.
Built together, from the ground up
The Bothy has been a true all-programme Edge Woods effort, with groups working together at different stages of the build to turn an idea into a fantastic new outdoor learning space.
There have been post holes to dig, posts to position and cement into place, timber to measure and cut, materials to move and countless practical jobs to tackle along the way.
When more supplies were needed, our Transitions group even headed to B&Q to help source them; adding an entirely different retail environment to their real-world learning experience and handling the mission brilliantly.
Every part of the project has created opportunities to practise practical skills, communication, teamwork, planning and problem-solving. More importantly, everyone involved can now stand back and see something real that their collective hard work has helped create.
Why “The Bothy”?
Traditionally associated with Scotland’s outdoor landscape, a bothy is a simple place of shelter - somewhere to gather, take refuge from the elements and share space with others.
That made The Bothy feel like a natural fit for Edge Woods.
Ours is, of course, much more than a shelter. It will be a place to learn, work together, spend time outdoors and make use of the environment around us. That sense of practicality, connection and shared space fits perfectly with what Edge Woods is all about.
Just like the wider project, The Bothy has been created through shared effort and will continue to evolve through the people who use it.
More than just a shelter
That is exactly why the Bothy feels so special to us.
Yes, it gives Edge Woods a brilliant new sheltered outdoor learning area. But it also captures so much of what Edge Woods is about.
It is a space created through people working together, learning through doing and contributing towards something that will continue to be used and enjoyed by programmes and community groups for years to come.
No single session, group or task created the finished structure. It has taken lots of people, lots of different skills and a willingness to get stuck in, sometimes quite literally!
The Bothy also represents another major step in the continuing development of Edge Woods as a place for practical learning, creativity, connection with nature and shared achievement.
A huge team effort
We have also been incredibly grateful for the support of a third-party contractor who helped us tackle the more specialist elements of the structure and roof construction.
A particularly special shout-out has to go to Gareth and Rebecca, who have led the charge on Edge Woods and played a huge part in keeping this build moving forward. Gareth, in particular, has put in some serious graft on The Bothy, including a couple of late nights working alongside the contractor to get the roof to this point.
Behind them has been an enormous programme-wide effort. Our groups have measured, cut, dug, filled, carried, built and problem-solved their way through the project - and the results speak for themselves.
Seeing the before and after is quite something.
And we are definitely not finished yet…
The structure may now be standing, but the next chapter of the Bothy has already begun.
Our programme groups have plans to develop the area around it with a living wall and purpose-built seating, with some of that work already underway.
Those additions will help transform the Bothy from a newly completed structure into a welcoming, practical and nature-rich space that can be used in all sorts of ways across Edge Woods.
And, in true Edge Woods fashion, our programme groups will continue to play a major role in making it happen.
The Bothy is a huge milestone, but what excites us most is knowing that it will continue to change, grow and develop alongside the people who use it.
To every programme participant, member of staff and supporter who has helped us reach this point: thank you.
We built this together.
And we cannot wait to show you what comes next.
Want to discover more about Edge Woods?
The Bothy is just one part of what is taking shape in Edge Woods. Discover more about the project, follow our progress as the space continues to evolve, or join the Edge Woods Facebook group to keep up with the latest activity.