Clayton-Le-Moors pre-school fundraising for new cabin after fire

A fire broke out at Great and Small Forest Education in Clayton-Le-Moors, on September 16.

The cabin was an integral part of their forest school, offering children a safe and cosy space during less favourable weather.

Owner and director Victoria Cocken also used the cabin as her base for Flow Wellbeing Network, a wellbeing business which promotes women's mental health and wellbeing.

According to Victoria, the fire began at one of these meetings after she left a candle unattended.

Cabin fire at Great and Small Forest Education in Clayton-Le-Moors (Image: Victoria Cocken)

She said: “I was holding a wellbeing circle for a group of ladies and made the simple yet silly mistake of leaving a candle unattended whilst we went into the woodland for a little while.

“That is a lesson I will never forget and never repeat and would certainly advise everyone to never leave a candle as it took light so unexpectedly and quickly.

“That same mistake could easily happen in a home which could easily have so much more disastrous consequences.”

The 44-year-old said a lot of money and hard work had gone into the cabin, in order to make it a nice place for children.

She said: “The cabin was completely razed to the ground.

“We were absolutely gutted about the fire.

“A lot of money and hard work had gone in to the cabin and it provided a beautiful space for the children of Great and Small Forest School to enjoy, plus adults attending wellbeing sessions under Flow Wellbeing Network. “

Victoria’s colleague, Lisa Heys, set up a GoFundMe on behalf of the pre-school so a "bigger and better" cabin can be built.

Victoria said without the £4,000 needed the team could not afford to build another cabin.

The Great Harwood woman said: “The income that Great and Small Forest School and Flow Wellbeing Network receives is not sufficient to cover the cost of the contents of the cabin let alone the construction of a new cabin at this time and unfortunately our insurance company is unable to help under the circumstances.

“My colleague Lisa set up the fundraising page in a bid to raise funds and awareness to offer us a solution so that we can continue to provide the highly beneficial services to children and adults going forward.”

She said a new cabin will have a huge, positive impact on the children.

She said: “As Great and Small Forest School runs throughout the year and in all weathers providing a highly beneficial alternative educational ethos to children aged three upwards learning through the seasons and connecting with nature, a new cabin will provide an indoor space for us to continue to provide the fun and engaging approach in times of really inclement weather.

“Fortunately, children are usually very resilient and enjoy playing and exploring in wet and muddy conditions but it's good to have that space if needed.

“As we also provide accredited training to adults to become Forest School leaders themselves so that they can provide the approach in their own schools and settings across the North West, the Cabin was our 'classroom' during this training.

“As such, this provides a benefit to many more children and learners across a much wider area.”

She has thanked anyone who has supported the pre-school or the fundraiser so far.

Victoria said: “We have been amazed at the messages of support we have received to date and would like to thank everyone who has reached out to us.”

A spokesperson for the fire service said: “Two fire engines from Hyndburn attended a fire involving a cabin on Whalley Road, Clayton Le Moors.

“Firefighters used one jet to extinguish the fire and they were detained for over one hour. No injuries were reported, and the cause is under investigation.”

To make a donation visit the GoFundMe at: https://gofund.me/9bd73629