Girlguiding Scotland’s Netherurd outdoor activity centre in Borders closed to cut costs

The site, consisting of a Georgian mansion house built in the 1790s and 30 acres of grounds used as a campsite by girl guides and brownies for over 70 years, had been closed since the start of the coronavirus lockdown in March, and it’s now been confirmed that it won’t reopen.

That closure is due to the centre failing to generate enough income to cover its costs, a state of affairs already making it a financial liability but brought to a head by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to bosses at Girlguiding Scotland.

“In the past, we regularly used to fill the house with adults for training weekends, but this has been declining for at least the last decade,” said chief commissioner Moira McKenna.

“Our trustees’ responsibility is to look after the best interests of the charity for the future, and they have come to the conclusion that the centre is no longer financially viable.

“That is why the trustees have taken the decision to close Netherurd immediately and put plans in place to sell the estate.

“Although we are acting in the best interests of Girlguiding Scotland, it has been a difficult decision to make.

“However, whilst the facilities will go, our memories will remain and can be cherished forever.”

Most of the staff employed at the site will be made redundant, but it has not been confirmed how many employees will be left out of work.

Dr McKenna added: “ We had hoped to build external business for mid-week, especially schools, but we were unable to build a wide enough business base to rely on this.

“We could not generate enough routine business to help us improve the finances.

“This was the situation before we were forced to close Netherurd in March due to Covid-19, and since then the centre has had no income.

“Looking ahead, it is unlikely that there will be any residential events at Netherurd this year or early next year either.”