Summer Weeklong venue confirmed

I am very happy to announce that we have confirmed our venue for next year's summer workshop (20th-26th July 2013) as Petersham Sea Scout Hut, Petersham, Richmond Upon Thames.The postcode is TW10 7AH, OS grid is TQ 178 733. In the map below, the hut is unmarked, in the centre of the photo in the clearing at the southwest edge of the wood, it is shown in more detail in the picture from their website.

We have had two wonderful years at Kevin's studio in Hampton, and we may well return there, but this place intrigues us, and we wanted to give it a go. It has taken until last night for the committee to get back to me about it, hence the delay.

The setting is as idyllic as can be imagined right by the river Thames, in a glade surrounded by woodlands, near Richmond and Kingston. This bend in the River Thames is famous as 'the View' and 'The Matchless Vale', as painted by Constable, and is the only view protected by an act of Parliament. With Richmond Park, Ham House, Orleans House and Eel Pie Island all within a few minutes walk, there is so much to see and do near by. Students may camp in tents or stay in the hut (Sea Scouts call this 'camping on the main deck'), and there are washrooms, a kitchen and a lounge as well as a great bon-fire site (this is a Scout Hut after all). I will leave a donation pot for the scout hut for camping in or outside, let's say £2 each a night towards water and electricity. Those of us longing for a hot drink by the fireside after class will be very happy. I am hoping to hire a portashower, but at least the washrooms are very nice and modern. I am sure we'll work something out. We are happy to be supporting our local Sea Scouts as they try to raise money for a new hut, as this one is charming but a bit basic for the kids. With the large grassy glade, we can work outside whenever the weather allows, Mark has also suggested we look into marquee hire, which I will do soon. Here is the local website for Petersham Village. It is also possible to stay on the other side of the River, at St Margarets or Twickenham, as there is a river ferry crossing at Ham, as there was at Hampton, until 6.30pm in the summer. I am sure it will also be possible to stay with other students for £5 a night as before, so get in touch if you'd prefer this.

Travel to the venue is easy. From Richmond or Kingston you get on the 65 bus and get off at 'Petersham / Fox and Duck' (a local pub), it's a 4 minute walk down a pathway by the German School and Polo Club. Alternatively walk along the river from Richmond, which takes about 20 minutes, turning left down the path 100 metres after the slipway of River Lane. There is free parking on River Lane, but always check the tides, or ask me first, as River Lane floods up to about half-way during the high tides of spring tides, so you need to park further back up the lane on these days, and use the pathways to the venue from the road, rather than the tow path, as it may be flooded. (Spring tides are 2 days after full or dark moon, moon phases at bottom of this blog.) Overgound Network trains go to Richmond every 15 mins form east London, Hackney, Highbury and Islington, etc. Trains go to Richmond and Kingston from Clapham Junction and Waterloo. We will still be in travel Zone 6.

I will print a flyer, make a blog page, post tides, accommodation details and lots more very soon.

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