End of an era

Dovecote Afloat – Bringing the Magic of the Canal & River to Children

Sadly our narrow boat Biddy’s Dream sailed her last voyage in the summer of 2016. Many children from the Blackbird Leys area enjoyed lots of adventure onboard during the five years she has been cruising with us.

Biddy’s Dream provided young people with a more exciting, challenging and fun way of introducing them to the natural environment. It made teaching and learning about nature and environmental awareness easier and fun to do. It opened up a completely different side to life to young people, which will always be available, but which, ordinarily they may have remained unaware of. Cruising along on the Oxford Canal or River Thames on a glorious sunny day provided young people with the opportunity to explore Oxfordshire’s countryside from a completely different perspective, giving them the opportunity to observe wildlife and the natural environment in a less obtrusive way.

A visit from a Gurkha Soldier from Abingdon Army barracks was the highlight of one summer. Young people cooked on an open fire, made dens, searched for bombs, tried on some army kit, listened to some fascinating stories and much more.

A big thank you to all our sponsors and valuable volunteers who made the project such a success.

What next? Watch this space!!