Telephone: 01202 876 556
office@fernmid.dorset.sch.uk
Ferndown Middle School
Peter Grant Way Ferndown Dorset BH22 9UP

Mill on the Brue 2017

Posted on 15/06/2017

It’s 09h30 on Monday 22 May and it’s “All Aboard!” for the Squirrels, Badgers, Otters, Moles and Magpies (not forgetting the “A” team aka Mr Herringshaw, Mr Higgins, Mrs Melia, Mr Wyeth and myself,  Madame Vincent.)

Our destination? Mill On The Brue, Bruton, Somerset.

Our mission? To build teams; solve problems; face challenges; establish new friendships; increase our environmental awareness; focus on our “growth mindset” and … to have FUN!

Our success criteria? 50 happy, exhausted pupils with tales to tell and memories to treasure.

So what is Mill On The Brue all about?  It’s an outdoor activity centre set in its own beautiful 25-acres of fields, woods and a river valley which was established nearly 40 years ago by the current owner’s parents.   Pupils spent every waking moment involved in a variety of activities in a group of ten with an instructor from MOTB and an adult from FMS.

Those who enjoy the great outdoors were in their element, sleeping in camp beds in good, old fashioned ridge tents.  Those with a healthy appetite were never disappointed with variety of home cooked comestibles awaiting us several times a day in the dining hall.  Those who enjoy getting wet, loved the Water Slide.  Those who love speed, squealed on the Grass Toboggans.  Those who relish the thought of maybe getting wet, had fun Canoeing, Raft Building and Crossing the River.  For those with a keen eye, then Archery and Rifle Shooting were favourites.  Those who like heights (or want to conquer their fear of them) had numerous opportunities with the Crate Stack, the Climbing Tower,  High All Aboard and the Zip Wire.  For those who revel in competition, Crazy Olympics and the Assault Course Race fuelled them with adrenaline.  Did we succeed in our mission? In the words of some of our Year 8 pupils:

My experience at Mill on the Brue was amazing, unforgettable and was the best school trip ever – I loved every bit!

My favourite experience at Mill on the Brue was the assault course race at the end.  I really enjoyed this activity because my group had really good team work and we communicated and made a plan.  In the end we came second, but we really worked hard to achieve this.

My experience at Mill on the Brue was really positive.  We were challenged to do things we would never normally do.

I had so much fun – I would definitely go back again.

Madame Vincent  – Trip Leader