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The
Windy Sayles Story |
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WINDY
SAYLES |
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THE WINDY SAYLES
STORY The Blyth family, specifically Edmund Blyth (who built the tree cathedral) gave the Dunstable Division of the Guide Association half of the field now known as Windy Sayles. The other half is on loan. This gift was in memory of his mother and the work she had done in the early days of Guiding. Mrs Blyth had been a pioneer of guide camps and Guide trainings and set the first camp training sessions for Guiders under the title ''Girl Guide Officers Training Service''. She ran these trainings from her home which was called Windy Sayles, hence the name of our activity centre and from the Training Service initials ''GGOTS'' we get the Windy Sayles symbol of a goat. One of the conditions of this gift of land was the site facilities would be used by members of the Guide Association only. Another was that the Dunstable Division Guides would keep the Tree Cathedral tidy. For many years Guides had working parties pruning and cutting until the National Trust took over the manual labour. The Guides, Brownies and Rainbows still do litter clearing and general tidying up. The land was given to the division around 1967 and the main building was opened on 19th September 1970 (Guide Diamond Jubilee Year) by Lord Baden-Powell (grandson of our founder) and his wife Lady Patience (who was the Guide Association Chief Commissioner at the time). The dormitory section was added later and officially opened in September 1982. Over the years the toilet block and the Guiders room have been enlarged and the toilet facilities added for campers. The Silver Fish award gained by Mrs Blyth is on display in the Windy Sales Holiday House. Three of the trees in the middle of the Windy Sayles camp field are in memory of the three friends whose death inspired Edmund Blyth to create the Tree Cathedral. A fourth tree, the blue cedar, was planted in 1981 by Henry Blyth in memory of his father Edmund who died in 1969. Back to the Top |
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THE STORY OF THE TREE
CATHEDRAL In 1930, with his wife, he visited the new Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool and marvelled at the challenge of designing a cathedral. Then, while driving home he stopped to watch the sunset through a group of trees and marvelled at their beauty. So the idea was born of making a cathedral of trees. It was his wife who suggested chapels for each season. In 1927 Mr Blyth had bought Chapel Farm at Whipsnade next to the National Trust area. In 1930 with the help of Albert Bransom he began planting. The work was almost complete by 1939 but was then delayed until after the war. When work started again assistance was given by Gerald Wallsam. He is commemorated in Wallsam Way. Another dedicated assistant was William Baldwin. The only change to the original plan has been the addition of the hornbeam avenue from the car park. This in memory of Mr Blyth's son Tom who managed the Tree Cathedral after his fathers's death in 1969 until his own death in 1978 when the Tree Cathedral was given to the National Trust. Back to the Top |
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Hall: The hall has a beamed ceiling and
access to the field. |
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Dormitory: Carpeted Room
to sleep 18. |
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Guiders Room: Carpeted Fitted
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Kitchen: Fully equipped. |
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Washroom: Toilets: 3
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Cleaning: Brooms etc in the cupboard by the backdoor. Telephone: The phone is in the guiders room. Guiders are asked to log all calls in the book provided and put the appropriate payment in the tin. First Aid: A small box is in the kitchen for emergencies. Guiders are asked to bring their own first aid box. Campfire: A campfire circle is available in the woods. This can be used freely - liasing with campers if necessary. |
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For more
information or to make a booking please telephone |
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Sites: There are 2
unequipped sites on one field, each to accommodate approximately
30 campers. |
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| Toilets:
2 flush toilets for daytime use and a separate one for gentlemen. Water: The tap is on the outer corner of the building, near the toilets. The mains stopcock is in the toilet block in the building. Elsans: The cesspit is clearly marked (near the water outside and must be used by Adults Only, who are asked to ensure that the drains are not obstructed and that the elsans are not put under the drinking water tap for rinsing. Telephone: Campers are advised to take a mobile telephone. (if someone is resident in the Holiday House there is a telephone in the Guiders Room) Guiders are asked to log all outgoing calls in the book provided and put the appropriate payment in the tin. Rubbish: An incinerator is available in the woods. The residue from the burned rubbish and unburnable rubbish should be put in sacks, tied and placed in the wheelie bin at the side of the garages. Rubbish must not be buried and no food is to be left as the site has a large number of nocturnal animal visitors. The wheelie bin should be left on the corner by the Village Hall for collection on Mondays Cooking: Altar fires are only to be used - no turfing is allowed. Guiders need to bring their own equipment - but see the note below on bricks. Small hike fires may be lit with great attention to safety in the woods on suitable bare areas as long as the fire area is totally cleaned up afterwards. Campfire: A campfire circle is available in the woods. This can be used freely - liasing with anyone staying in the Holiday House if necessary. Wood: Wood may be gathered from the top of the site (as you stand with your back to the building) and the left hand side. (The woods on the right hand side are private) Brought in wood is sometimes available but Guiders may like to bring additional supplies. These should be left neatly if not taken home again. Gadget wood and firewood must not be cut from trees. Bricks: Some half bricks are available. They must be returned to the container by the garages and not thrown in the woods or left on the field. Tent Pegs: As the field is mechanically mown it is most important that all pegs and gadget wood are retrieved when striking camp. Cars: Cars should be parked on the field near the pathway at the end of the building. They must not be driven across the field. Visitors may park in the Tree Cathedral car park. Back to the Top |
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Last updated 22 May, 2007