Outdoor Education Centre Nant BH Celebrates 50 Years

Nant Bwlch Yr Haearn is holding an anniversary event on Saturday 8th October (from 10am). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

2016 may be the “Year of Adventure” in Wales but it also marks a very special anniversary for one of North Wales best known Outdoor Education Centres, Nant Bwlch Yr Haearn. This year Nant BH celebrates 50 Years of delivering high quality residential outdoor Education to children and adults from across north-east Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Back in the early 1960’s, Stan Guy (then working for Flintshire Youth Service) had a vision to establish a Centre on the current site. By 1966 his dream became reality and Nant BH opened its doors for the first time under the watchful eye of the first warden, Mr Dave Siviter. The rest, as they say, is history! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since those early days many people have come and gone, many things have changed. But the original aims and purpose of Nant BH hold true today: To provide top quality residential outdoor Education experiences to youngsters from North Wales. Mention Nant BH to people in North Wales and there is often more than just a glimmer of recognition. Somehow most people have heard of the Centre and many have a story to tell. During the last 50 years it’s hard to think that over 250,000 youngsters have stayed in the centre – not bad for a small residential Centre tucked away in the woods! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The 60’s were a popular time for Local Authorities to set up outdoor Education centres. Many English authorities naturally looked to North and South Wales to establish their centres. While some of these centres have survived to the present day sadly many have not managed to weather the storm of recent financial cuts facing all local authorities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

But, where Nant BH differs to many other local authority centres is that it is a rare example of a Centre set up to serve its own population . Ownership and administration has changed a little over the years as counties have been re-organised but today Nant BH is still owned and operated by Conwy County Borough Council and serves the population of NE Wales (Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham).
This perhaps goes some way to explain the extraordinary attachment that many people across North Wales have to this place. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As a celebration of the last 50 years, Nant BH is holding an anniversary event on Saturday 8th October (from 10am). There’ll be something for everyone, young and old, so please come along and see us on the day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​