Welcome to Rosliston Forestry Centre
August 2026

Welcome to Rosliston Forestry Centre, the new home of South Derbyshire and Ashby Woulds Amateur Radio Group.
 The centre sits in 154 acres of woodland, footpaths, lakes, environmental information trails, a large play area, a good café and fully accessible facilities. It is a popular choice among Group members, who were keen to take part in the Practical Wireless 144MHz QRP Contest in June to test the location for the first time and promote amateur radio to the many visitors.
 “Initially, all seemed well, but contacts soon dried up and we found ourselves repeatedly hearing the same stations,” says secretary Jacqui Johnson, M9JQY'. A new approach was needed.
 “Enter Robin, G5OUT. His time on the microphone, which can only be described as heroic, netted several additional contacts. Nick, G5NIK also put his expertise on the key to good use and added a few more to the log.
“No prizes will be coming our way this year but we had several visitors show an interest in the hobby. Who knows — they may even come knocking on our door on a Wednesday evening.”
 Engaging young minds in amateur radio is vital for the future of the amateur radio hobby and the 3rd Holbeach Town Scout Group have proved that the next generation is ready and eager to listen.
 In an action-packed, hands-on Communication Badge evening, the Cub Scout pack swapped their usual routine for the magic of radio waves, phonetics and global communication.
 Pack leaders transformed the field into a buzzing, real-world field station. A 4x4 vehicle equipped with a vertical antenna mast created a mobile set-up while inside the hut a full HF/ VHF station and a digital laptop logbook stood ready for action.
 The evening began with an insight into how radio waves travel through the atmosphere and what different frequencies mean. Before touching a microphone, every youngster mastered the NATO phonetic alphabet. They then put their newly acquired skills to the test by sending coded phonetic messages back and forth across the grounds using hand-held radios, learning at first hand the importance of clear, disciplined operating procedures. The highlight of the evening was to experience a live amateur radio contact. With coaching on how to operate a Press To Talk microphone, the Cubs took turns speaking over the airwaves to Alan Hensman, chairman of Spalding and District Amateur Radio Society. Every Cub had fulfilled the requirements for their Communication Badge by the end of the evening.
 “For many of the children, hearing a friendly voice slice through the static to call them by name was an unforgettable ‘Eureka’ moment,” says a Cub Scout Group spokesperson. “Events like this, run in collaboration with local clubs like the Spalding and District Radio Club, show just how enthusiastic young people can be when they are given the microphone.”

Story originally published in RadCom, August 2026.