Goblin Combe Lodge

Goblin Combe is situated in the heart of north Somerset, covering 130 acres of woodland. It is an SNCI and SSSI, and a site of historic interest from the Iron Age.

Groundwork South has owned Goblin Combe lodge and a large part of the woodland since 2014.

Our site, on the edge of the woodland, features a 38-bed lodge, listed cottage, yurt, outdoor classroom and camping field. We used to use the woodland as an outdoor classroom for people of all ages (toddlers through to people in their 80’s), working with schools, community groups, rehabilitation centres and more, with several of these groups also using the residential lodge. However use of the site began to decline and Groundwork South took the decision to close it temporarily whilst the future of the site was reviewed. Throughout this period, the woodland continued to be hugely popular with local residents and visitors from north Somerset and beyond, and thanks to interest and support from a range of local stakeholders as well as the Groundwork South Board of Trustees the site was re-opened to hirers in 2022, with a view to re-launching a programme of outdoor and environmental education activities in due course.
In order to help us get there, we’ve benefited from the support of a group of local volunteers, who have started up a ‘Monday club’, carrying out a wide range of activities to improve the site for hirers and future site users. Having the support of volunteers from VANS will help to get the site ready for hirers and other future users and make improvements to the woodland space as well.

Groundwork South

We support local communities and businesses to build capacity and resilience as this is vital if we are to tackle hardship, achieve a just transition to net-zero and help nature recover in a way that reduces inequality and leads to better work and healthier, happier lives.

What this means in practice is: helping people get jobs and supporting the growth of the green economy; reducing the waste of energy, food and water; creating and maintaining biodiverse, accessible green spaces; supporting businesses to be more successful and responsible; and empowering communities to take action to improve their health and wellbeing and the local and global environment.

The way we work:

- connects people with each other, with opportunity and with nature
- builds knowledge and confidence so that people feel more in control of their future
- delivers social, economic and environmental outcomes in an integrated way.