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Holt Hall
Tom Green • May 14, 2021
Boasting sprawling grounds, a picturesque lake, and mature woodland, Holt Hall on the North Norfolk Coast has it all for anyone interested in immersing themselves in or learning about, the great outdoors.
Tom Green believes this is a unique opportunity to create a hub of learning that can help promote a better understanding about the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.
Long before Hogwarts became one of the best known fictional boarding schools, Holt Hall in North Norfolk provided a magical residential experience for thousands of visiting children. This Victorian country house with its lake and mature woodland and fields, is being prepared for sale by Norfolk County Council.
News of the closure decision by Norfolk County Council last year prompted an outpouring of support for a campaign by the Friends of Holt Hall to reopen this wonderful facility as soon as possible. Many have spoken of the life-changing impact of even a few days at Holt Hall. For some it was simply an opportunity for gaining the confidence of being away from home for the first time, or the excitement of staying in a country house setting or simply having time to discover the natural world in an unspoilt country estate.
We have had many heart-warming testimonies from teachers speaking of a transformation in the behaviour of challenging pupils. Then there have been scores of adults from far and wide sharing their vivid memories of wonderful school visits to Holt Hall.
As well as exploring the woodland of the estate, waking to the sound of bird-song or discovering the fascinating microscopic life of the lake, the Hall has been a base for trips to learn about the varied habitats and life of the nearby marshes and coast with its rapidly changing features.
Knowing how modern life so often deprives many children of knowledge and experience of the natural world, the charity ‘Friends of Holt Hall’ is now engaged in the exciting but challenging task of finding a way to continue the legacy of Holt Hall as a centre for environmental and outdoor learning. The Trustees are actively fund-raising and exploring ways to achieve this goal through partnerships or direct acquisition.
The Friends of Holt Hall is run by volunteers, many of whom have helped on the estate, have worked in the woodland, in the walled Victorian garden or raised money for the ‘Friends’ Bursary scheme.
Bursaries have enabled less advantaged children to come on school visits which otherwise they could not afford. We are passionate about what outdoor learning can contribute to children’s well-being, and even more so, now that it is widely recognised that the covid pandemic has undermined the mental health of young people.
Our vision, to secure the future of environmental and outdoor learning at Holt Hall, imagines a revitalised establishment where schools and community organisations will be able to enjoy this space, and gain knowledge about the natural environment. We envisage it as a place of excellence to promote a better understanding of the challenges of climate change, of the massive loss of biodiversity and degradation of the natural world, of sustainable food production and our place in the world.
We envisage Holt Hall as a stimulating location for both children and adults to find space and time to explore these crucial issues.
A successful Crowdfunding Campaign is helping to finance the professional support needed to urgently move this project forward, but more will be needed for the vision to become a reality.
If you support our cause, it would be great if you could share the fact with your elected Councillor. To find out more, we invite all who share our aspirations to check out our new website for more details https://fohhnorfolk.org/
You also may wish to follow us @futureholthall on Twi4er and Facebook, or on Instagram
futureholthall.
Tom Green.
Chairman. Friends of Holt Hall. Registered charity in England 1151613
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