The Birks

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The Birks Field Centre, Duddon Valley, Seathwaite, Cumbria LA20 6EF

www.thebirks.org.uk

29/09/2026

The new room at the Grove School field centre was officially opened by the Mayor of Market Drayton

27/09/2026

It was a great pleasure last Wednesday for the Birks committee to have the opportunity to see, at first hand, the students enjoying the Birks and participating in the activities. It enforced the reasons of ‘why we do, what we do’ to give the Grove School pupils unique experiences in the stunning Duddon Valley while staying at their ‘home from home’.
Returning to the Birks for lunch the smiles of excitement were obvious on (most!!!) of their faces, as they were looking forward to new challenges later that day.
Like so many children before them, they won’t appreciate what an adventure they have had, till they return to Shropshire and the ‘Birks magic’ takes hold in a few days time. The school are working hard to give the children chances to visit again in subject groups.
As history will no doubt repeat itself, some of these 11 & 12 years old will come back in another 30 – 40 years to book the Birks for a family holiday with their children and eventually grandchildren. This has happened on so many occasion in the past as students wanting to share life experiences and memories with their loved ones, hire the Birks.
To ensure that the Birks is here for those bookings, the committee are always keen to recruit new members to maintain its safe & secure future. If you would like to get involved and prepared to put the interests of Grove School students at the centre of any decisions you make, please contact us on: [email protected].
The other photographs show Eddie with his wife Anne & dog Pip, standing by his artwork with Ian Noden.
Although celebrating their 4th wedding anniversary Pip & Jordan volunteered to take on the catering for the day. Many congratulations to them both and thank you very much for all your hard work.

24/09/2026

Wednesday 23rd September 2026 was a very special day for the Birks. It was a celebration of the Grove School Yr7 groups arriving, the opening of the undercroft and unveiling our piece of public art.
Traditionally Yr8 has always been the first time students could access the Birks but an initiative by headteacher Mr Allsopp will open up greater opportunities.
The group had arrived on Monday 21st and resident in the building. On our arrival the Yr7 students were already under the safe guidance of Kepplewray staff, climbing in Great Wood and ghyll scrambling in the river.
Mr Dickinson was the headteacher at the Grove School in 1985 and took the bold decision to buy the Birks so without him we wouldn’t have the Birks today so we were delighted to welcome him.
Parents had given permission for their children to be photographed so during the lunch break Ethan & Isabelle presented Mr Dickinson with a hand made pen, created from some old wood recovered from the Birks during renovation work.
Later student representatives from each of the newly formed house system were invited to officially open the undercroft: Sienna, Seathwaite House; Cera, Handknott House;Jarrod, Duddon House & George; Harter House.
They were joined by Market Drayton Town Mayor, Councillor Tim Manton, Geoff Dickinson, Mitch Allsopp and Chris Ingham & Jordan Machin – Co Chairs of Friends of Grove School.
The undercroft will act as a dedicated community facility, classroom and learning space and marks the completion of over 40 years of hard work to improve the facilities and give the Birks a long term future. It is the final piece of a very large jigsaw puzzle.
Throughout the building we have improved/modernised the facilities but have retained all the historic features where we could. The undercroft is no exception. A cattle stall, original door and iron work have all been kept. The room now has display boards featuring geology, history of the Birks and of the local community.
It has always been important to the committee to acknowledge and respect the origins of the Birks that, for many centuries, operated as a significant sheep farm. To this end we have created a piece of public art to be enjoyed by everybody who visits the Birks or who hikes past on the public footpaths. It is a large structure but which fits nicely into the landscape and depicts a shepherd with his dog and sheep. The image is modelled on a photo of our friend and local farmer Eddie Benn. He has helped us on many occasions over the years and it felt only fitting that we should ‘install him in the valley forever’. The artwork was created by IN Fabrications, Market Drayton.
The assembled group was made up of representatives from the Marches Academy Trust, Grove School Governors, the Kepplewray Centre, the Duddon Valley community and volunteers who have contributed significantly over the past 40 years to the success of the project.
They were all treated to the glorious autumnal weather, a military fly past three times in an hour, bacon rolls donated by Fordhall Organic Farm, Market Drayton and delicious cakes purchased from the Broughton Village Bakery.

13/09/2026

Josie shares a few words from a truly wonderful day. Thank you for allowing us to share.

(Please note the Birks is not a licenced wedding venue)

https://thebirks.org.uk/2026/a-wedding-to-remember/

01/08/2026

This video contains an extract from my interview on BBC Radio Cumbr...

26/07/2026

Thank you to Pete Armitage, dedicated committee member, for sharing a photograph of the Birks taken when he was there studying A Level Geography in 1970.
https://thebirks.org.uk/2026/the-birks-in-1970/

16/07/2026

It was a lovely day for the annual Birks garden party, hosted by Jenny & Ros. Many former Grove School staff gathered to chat about the old days. Can you recognise anybody? The money raised will be used to fund a piece of public art that will be installed in the grounds later this year. Thank Jenny & Ros.

03/07/2026

***Summer 2027***
July/August 2027 dates will become available from 9am on Sunday 5th July.
All bookings need to be placed through our calendar on thebirks.org.uk/book
During the summer holidays, bookings are for seven nights, running Saturday - Saturday
Thanks

03/07/2026

Last week, under an impressive Duddon Valley sky the final piece of a 20 year project was put in place.
Some of you may remember having lessons in the undercroft, the space under the boys barn. The structural work has transformed the area making it ready for opening in September as a dedicated classroom. Andy & Chris again worked long, long hours to finish the work. After fitting the skirting board, they carried on grouting and sealing the floor, putting up the window plaques and plumbing in the kitchen unit. One of the old bedroom doors has been stripped back and used as a cupboard door using the original hinges. The old horse shoe that was nailed to the external door has been cleaned and put on the door for good look. The cattle stall, last used over 67 years ago has been put back in it’s rightful position and enhanced with gallow brackets. If that wasn’t enough they went on to replace the broken glass in the barn window and finish off the banding and sill work on the undercroft window.
Other jobs taken on by Alex, Jenny & Stew included grounds maintenance, clearing debris for the water supply, tidying around the building and painting.

17/06/2026

The Birks Committee was saddened to hear of the death of another ex Grove member of staff, Pat Jackson - maths teacher extrordinaire. Whilst not involved with Birks trips, she will be remembered for organising the fabled student trips to South Africa and her commitment to raising funds for Vukani School, a Black Township School that had few resources but dedicated members of staff not unlike Pat. Here are a few photos from the first student visit in 2003.

Address

High Birks, Seathwaite
Broughton In Furness
LA206EF

Website

http://thebirks.org.uk/

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