A FUNDRAISING appeal to replace a Scandanavian log cabin deliberately burned down at an outdoor pursuits centre last month has already brought in £1,000.

The hut at Open Door Adventure in St Asaph, which offers activities and ‘escapes’ for disadvantaged children from across the UK, had been hand-built out of solid wood. but was “reduced to a pile of burning embers” as a result of the arson attack in April.

The cabin had taken owner David Orange more than a year to construct at a cost of £5,000.

Its features and contents included fur skins, a barbecue and hand-built beds and benches. But Mr Orange said: “We have managed to raise over £1,000 so far towards the rebuild.

“The support we have received so far has been really brilliant.

“Two people have donated £500 and I have said they are welcome to come for a visit on a weekend of their choice on us as a thank you.”

Mr Orange said of the arson attack, which happened some time between April 10 and April 12: “I was absolutely devastated when I heard the news.

“I had gone to visit my daughter and came back to be told about the cabin.

“A member of staff had found it when they were clearing the area for our bushcraft workshops.

“I set this centre up 25 years ago in Mid Wales. I had a fabulous life in the [armed] forces and was a PE teacher and outdoor pursuit specialist.

“When I moved the centre to North Wales, it took me over a year to built the cabin. I’ve devoted a lot of time and effort to young people through my work here.

“Unfortunately, the cabin had been reduced to a pile of burning embers.” Open Door Adventure offers team-building, group activities and one-to-one tuition on a variety of outdoor activities from quad-biking to canoeing, kayaking, archery, climbing and more.

Anyone who would like to donate to Open Door Adventure to help rebuild the cabin is asked to go online at www.gofundme.com/
opendooradventure