Memories of Exmoor activity centre wanted for 40th anniversary celebrations

AN Exmoor activity centre for children with special educational needs and others from troubled backgrounds will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year.
Yenworthy Lodge, near Oare, was opened in 1969 especially to provide activity holidays for children from Oxfordshire.
It can accommodate up to 36 pupils aged from five to 16 years, plus five accompanying staff, offering surfing, rock climbing, kayaking, and canoeing.
The centre is set in six acres of beech and oak woodland and continues to be owned by Oxfordshire County Council as part of its outdoor education programme.
Groups of young offenders and children of asylum seekers have also been hosted by Yenworthy.
To help celebrate its 40th birthday, anybody who has spent time at the centre is being asked to send in their memories of it
Photographs, letters, and other records of time spent at Yenworthy will be used to create an anniversary exhibiton.
Centre manager Steve Cox, who has run Yenworthy for 22 years, is also organising an open weekend early to mark the anniversary in May.
Mr Cox said: “We offer children the chance to explore and have fun under the proper guidance.”
He said anybody who wanted to contribute their recollections of the centre could email him at steve.cox@yenworthylodge.co.uk or write to him at Yenworthy Lodge, Oare, Lynton, Devon, EX35 6NY.
Anybody interested in attending the open weekend should call Mr Cox on 01598 741266 or visit the website http://www.yenworthy.oxon.digitalbrain.com/.

• Our photograph shows Yenworthy Lodge manager Steve Cox with some of the youngsters who have taken part in activity holidays at the Exmoor centre. Photo submitted.