A community group set up to save a popular New Forest activity centre has suffered a major setback in its bid to buy the site and secure its future.

Foxlease Activity Centre in Lyndhurst has been providing adventures for young people since being gifted to Girlguiding in 1922.

So a decision by trustees of the charity to sell the much-loved 65-acre site was met with shock and outrage - and Foxie's Future was set up to save it.

(Image: Savills)

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Against the odds, campaigners raised enough money to bid for the centre and run it themselves, thanks to some incredible fundraising and support from Guides past and present and the community.

Their bid was above the guide sale price of £2.5million.

But now, the group has been told it is not the preferred bidder for the site, despite all their efforts.

A Foxies Future spokesperson said they felt 'let down', adding: "Whilst we understand Girlguiding's Trustees' obligations to consider the bid best for the charity, we find it difficult to accept that their decision can be the right one, given that we submitted a bid above their listed guide price for both lots, the vast support we have from their membership, the extensive benefits for the future use by their members and the synergies with Girlguiding's publicly declared aims and future strategy. 

"We have worked hard not to be negative or to encourage any challenge to Girlguiding as we wanted to give them a fair chance to choose us for all the right reasons.

"We have developed a sound five-year business plan and fundraised an almost unbelievable amount in a short time to put ourselves in a position where Girlguiding could legitimately choose us, whilst complying with its obligations.

"Unfortunately, despite all of that, they have not.

"We do not know who the preferred bidder is but, as we know that Girlguiding has been following our progress and are aware of its membership's strong support of Foxie's Future, we feel let down."

(Image: Newsquest)

Sarah Hodge used to take her nine-year-old daughter Emma to evening activities at Foxlease with her Totton Brownies group.

The 37-year-old from Totton was 'disappointed but not surprised' that the charity had chosen to go with another bidder.

Sara said: “It does feel like everyone’s hard work and efforts to raise these funds has gone to waste.

“Everyone tried their hardest, but it was just not enough. It feels like charity means nothing these days.

“I think that Foxlease will now be gone forever.”

It was one of five sites trustees decided to sell for financial reasons.

A Girlguiding spokesperson confirmed more information on the sale will be provided in the coming months, adding: “Information regarding the sale of activity centres remains commercially confidential.

"We are working hard and with care to ensure we achieve the best value and outcomes for Girlguiding members across the UK. Throughout this process we have been acting for the overall welfare of the organisation and in accordance with charity law."

(Image: Newsquest)