The Scout Field and Scout Huts
1st Henfield’s traditional home has been the Scout Field in Cragitts lane, off Church Road since the land was gifted to the Scouts in the 1920’s. The Scout Hut has seen two Scout Huts, the first lasted from the 1920’s to the end of the 1960’s and the second from the 1970’s to 2021. Both Huts were built to maximise the Scout field’s outside space for those all-important true Scouting outside activities
The Scout Hut 1920’s – 1970
Since the mid 1990s as concerted campaign has been undertaken by the Clarks Mead Trust and the Henfield Scout Community Centre appeal to build a new Scout Building. In July 2021, only a year after the hut was refurbished to enable it to operate in the immediate Post Covid world, the Henfield Scout Community Centre appeal informed us that there was enough money to commence its immediate demolition and therefore the Group had to vacate our nearly 100 year home with six weeks notice.
The Scout Hut 1969 – 2021
A new Community building is now in development, one we hope to return to when the Building and the importance outside space is operational.
A New Home
Once we were told we had to move out, we only had 6 weeks to obtain a new home so Scouting in Henfield did not die, something that was distinctly possible after the impacts of Covid and the suspensions of face to face Scouting. We were very fortunate that there was space for us close by in Small Dole for the anticipated 1 year build, so the Group relocated to Hillside Scout Camp. A Scout Camp, Hillside itself was recovering from the impacts of Covid, was rebuilding under a new management team and that enabled us to work together to help both parties.
Hillside offers great facilities, a large main hall, with kitchen, toilets, and storage – but most important of all – two large fields , woodland and other outside activities. Things we once had to go to camps for are all on site, and with footpaths leading directly to the downs its perfect for outdoor adventure. Now into our third year at the site, we support the site teams and have held many camps and other activities there on top of our regular meetings. The most important thing we learnt from covid is outside space is so important, and for this we are fortunate that we were able to move to Hillside so our Young People have this most important of resources on tap!
Currently we operate 2 Beaver Colonies, 2 Scout Troops and a Cub Pack from Hillside, filling all the available free evenings at Hillside and a place we will be remaining for the foreseeable future
Our Lovely current home at Hillside Scout Campsite
Another New Home
With the Growth in the Group after Covid, we soon found we needed to reestablish our Second Cub Pack, which initially reformed in the Henfield Church House in January 2023 with 6 new Cubs. Within the space of three months that number had grown to 18 and we had outgrown the Church House. We are grateful for them accommodating us, but we knew it would be short term as that lacked the key outside space we knew we needed once the Spring arrived. So it was with some pleasure that in April 2023 we secured St Peters Primary School for our Cub pack, and our new offering Squirrel Scouts . St Peters offer facilities similar to Hillside, we have a large hall form which to run the evenings, a playground, very large sports field for rounders, athletics, kite flying to name but a few and even a forest school area for fire lighting.
We currently operate 1 Cub Pack and 1 Squirrel Drey from this site in the heart of Henfield.
Our lovely second home – St Peters CofE Primary, Henfield – (Picture via St Peters school website)
The Scout Hut and extensive Scout Grounds before decommissioning
