Skreens Park visit by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

VISIT BY HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH

To Skreens Park Activity Centre, Skreens Park Road
Roxwell, Chelmsford CM1 4NL on 4th March 2026

Press Release

The Duke of Edinburgh visited Skreens Park Activity Centre in Roxwell, Chelmsford, Essex on Wednesday 4th March 2026 and was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst. During his visit, the Duke met with and talked to Explorer Scouts from Chelmsford and Crouch Valley who are participating in the DofE Awards Scheme.

Following a tour of the new Treacher building, the Duke unveiled a plaque to officially open the complex, a purpose-built 36 bed accommodation block that will be used by Scouts, Guides, Church and Community Groups and other voluntary youth organisations, including The Princes Trust and St Johns Ambulance Cadets, as well as School and Youth Club DofE groups.

Construction of the Treacher building was made possible following receipt of a legacy from a former employee of Essex Scouts and longstanding scouting volunteer, Malcolm Treacher MBE, with the building named after him.

Photos from this event are availiable here.

Additional information

Skreens Park Activity Centre is a 52-acre campsite, with a 3-acre boating lake which is owned and operated by Essex Scouts. In addition to Scout and Guide groups, the Activity Centre continues to be used by Church and Community Groups and other voluntary youth organisations, including The Princes Trust and St Johns Ambulance Cadets. The site is also regularly used by School and Youth Club DofE groups undertaking their practice expeditions, with c5k non-Scout young people passing through during the 6 months to the end of September 2025.

The site also hosts corporate visitors during weekdays mainly for Training/Team Building Days, including Essex Fire Brigade, the Essex Police Dog Unit and Essex County Council.

In 2025, a total of c6.5k UK Scouts stayed at the Activity Centre overnight (c1k of which were undertaking their DofE expedition), plus a further 1k visiting for either day or evening activities and nearly 5k young non-Scout users camping as part of a school residential activity holiday, or as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme (these also included RAF, Police and Fire cadets, resulting in just over 3,000 young people hiking for their DofE awards). In addition, 27 Primary schools brought over 1,000 young people to the site for their school residentials – a start to loving the outdoors.

Since acquiring the Activity Centre in 1972, Essex Scouts have invested funds to upgrade the sites infrastructure, by installing a new water main, purchasing land to construct the entrance road and building a toilet/shower block for use by campers. In addition, the three old wooden accommodation buildings on the site have gradually all been replaced and new activities introduced including High/Low/Linear Ropes and Disability Courses and a go-kart track.

The Treacher building replaces a 45-year-old wooden building, which was second-hand when the site acquired it in 1981 and was no longer fit for purpose. The building is a purpose-built 36 bed accommodation block that incorporates use of an Air Source Heat Pump, Solar Panels and a rainwater harvester, to help reduce the site’s carbon footprint. Construction of the building was paid for using a legacy from a former employee of Essex Scouts and longstanding scouting volunteer, Malcolm Treacher MBE, with the building named after him. The building already has multiple bookings for 2026.

Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme

During the last 10 months, the following have been achieved by Scouts in Essex:
Awards achieved: Bronze 118, Silver 68, Gold 86 – Total 192
Awards started: – Bronze 137, Silver 118, Gold 54 – Total 309

A copy of this press release can be downloaded here.

Any questions/requests for additional information should be directed to Paul.Stennett@essexscouts.org.uk