Adventurer Bear Grylls scouts out a 'little pocket of heaven'

SCOUTS in Swansea have welcomed a special guest to their "little pocket of heaven" on Gower.

Television presenter and adventurer Bear Grylls, who is also the association's Chief Scout, made a flying visit to the movement's newest campsite, Moorlakes Woods, in Fairwood.

Around 85 Explorer Scouts, aged 14 to 18, from eight groups in the Swansea Bay region, had gathered at the former RAF Second World War camp in woods next to Swansea Airport.

The visit was part of a tour — which included an earlier trip to Carmarthenshire Scouts in Pembrey — as part of the 38-year-old's mission to encourage more adults to volunteer for Scouting.

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Bear Grylls, who was accompanied by his wife and children, said: "It's amazing coming somewhere like this. I get such a buzz out of it. They have worked hard, saved money and bought a little pocket of heaven. An amazing 30 acres of woodland and it's there for one purpose, to encourage and inspire young people.

"I think where Scouting is genius is when it gives kids a chance to have an adventure. You go around here today and there are people making fires, building shelters, setting snares, roasting marshmallows, all sorts of stuff kids love but never know how to do or where to do it. A place like this is a scouting model and led by fantastic leaders. I leave these places always inspired."

In a plea for more adult volunteers he said: "The message is there are 35,00 kids desperate to join this movement and they can't because there aren't enough volunteers.

"The leaders enjoy themselves as much as the kids. It's one of the laws of the universe, the more you give, the more you get."

Organiser Steve Jones, from Sketty Scouts, said: "It's great having Bear down here, they see him on television but to see him in person, doing the things he does on the TV is so inspirational."

Skewen Scout Will Hunkin, aged 17, said: "He seemed really interested in what we were doing and it was great to meet him."

Sketty Scout Katie Morgans, aged 11, said: "It was great to meet him. I gave him a Welsh cake and he said they were his children's favourite cakes."