2024 is a very big year for us – we are finally underway building a brand-new Reindeer Centre. The business, operating out of Reindeer House since it was built in 1960, has outgrown its roots, and we’ve been very aware that the Paddock and Exhibition adjacent to Reindeer House (where people unable to go on the Hill Trips could visit a few members of the herd) had become very dated and in need of a major upgrade. The dream of a whole new, fully-accessible and inclusive building, housing the shop and reception area, the office and the educational Exhibition – all under one roof – started to take place.
An extremely generous donation from one of our long-term supporters gave us the motivation needed to get this project up and running, turning the dream into the starts of reality. We began with a long-needed car-park (now nearly completed) and in early January the major project got underway as we tore down most of the old Exhibition. Excitement has been tinged with sadness – 30 years to build the Paddock area into what it had become, and less than a couple of weeks to flatten it entirely.
Actually, ‘flattening’ it is the crux of one of the problems. Our new building will be situated between Reindeer House and the old Exhibition shed, and as you may know, the whole site is on a very steep slope. Shoe-horning all the elements we need into such an awkward space is proving a bit of a headache. But the main worry is – predictably – the ever-rising cost. As everyone is only too aware, the price of pretty much everything has sky-rocketed in the last few years, and the whole project is eye-wateringly expensive for a small, family-run business.
Not only have we got the building itself to consider, but all the associated groundworks for the Paddocks, and the other buildings and displays which will be situated there (we can’t leave the elves homeless – they need their Elf House back!). The new Centre is tentatively due to be finished in early winter, but we’ll need to kit the whole place out before moving in – ideally with upgraded Exhibition displays.
We have a few ideas up our sleeves, which started with organised visits to Tilly’s farm to see the other part of the reindeer herd throughout the Easter holidays. But right now, our big upcoming adventure is a crowd-funding project! It will launch on 25th May and run for 28 days, with an aim of reaching £30,000 to help us achieve our goal of providing a truly immersive experience at the new Centre for those unable to visit the reindeer on the hill. We’d love to start strong so if you know anyone who might be keen to pledge on May 25th then let them know! We have come up with some pretty cool rewards too that we’re excited to share with you.
If you’d like to be updated when the project goes live – pop your email in the form below and we’ll send you an update!
Not interested in the crowdfunding rewards but would simply like to donate towards the project? You can do this directly by clicking the link below. Thank you so much!
