A popular wildlife venue in Gloucestershire is hoping to boost its offer to local schools and groups by adding a new outdoor learning centre where visitors can meet rain or shine.

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (GWT) asked Cotswold District Council for permission to build an octagonal gazebo structure at its Crickley Hill site, telling planners: "The purpose of the hut is to enable nature related school sessions, volunteer days and training days to have a low-impact, nature immersed all-weather covered space".

The GWT, which now has 28,000 members, a number it said equates to 5% of housholds in the county, asked planners for the new facility so that volunteer teams can focus on "enabling the next generation to have a connection with the natural world and develop pro-nature related behaviours".

The timber used in the construction for the gazebo/cabin building will be left to weather and silver naturally, the GWC said, while an installation plan detailed how minimal disturbance would be made with the on-site assembly, with no trees being required for removal.

The Trust added: "As a Wildlife Trust, all our work – including the people-related side, supports the care of and improvement of the natural environment."

Working across Crickley Hill, Greystones Farm and Robinswood Hill, the GWT runs fully led days for prebooked groups year-round and provides single-class visits with an option to add more pupils, visitis costing £9 per child (or £6 for half-day programmes) and no charge for accompanying adults.

At its latest count, the Trust, which is now chaired by David Bullock, former head of conservation at the National Trust, has 500 volunteers in its ranks.

In 2023, the Trust appointed  Andrew McLaughlin as its new CEO. The appointment, the GWT said, came at an important time in its progress for delivering its 2030 Strategy. Mr McLaughlin is also a former prominent figure in the National Trust.