HE WAS the 16-year-old Hampshire naturalist who was killed in an avalanche a few days before Christmas 2013.

Cameron Bespolka, a keen birdwatcher and talented photographer, was on holiday in the Austrian Alps when he was buried by a wall of ice.

Now a cottage in the New Forest is set to become a permanent memorial to the Winchester teenager.

The National Park Authority has approved plans to turn the property into Cameron's Cottage, a residential education where young people will be able to immerse themselves in nature.

The accommodation and research facility will occupy part of a woodland reserve run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

The project, a partnership between the RSPB and the Cameron Bespolka Trust, aims to provide visitors from schools, colleges and universities with a lifelong love of nature.

Cameron's passion for conservation was ignited at a similar outdoor retreat in Florida.

RSPB leaders are hoping Cameron’s Cottage will also act as a catalyst, encouraging young people to interact with the environment in a way which boosts their own wellbeing and that of the planet.

Beth Markey, a spokesperson for the charity, said: “It's never been more critical to engage young people in nature. Absolutely everyone has a connection to the environment, whether it’s simply strolling in the forest or taking an active interest in the welfare of animals.

"Unfortunately many don’t realise it because they haven’t had the opportunity to engross themselves in nature, particularly if they’ve grown up in a city.

“Cameron’s Cottage is a truly wonderful venture that will provide an unparalleled opportunity for people to absorb themselves in trees, plants and wildlife."

Cameron's mother, Corrine Cruickshank, is co-founder of the Cameron Bespolka Trust, which has raised £425,000 towards the cost of the transforming

Corinne said: “Now more than ever children and teens are widely disconnected with their natural outdoor environment and are spending more and more time indoors.

"We know that nature is important to their development in every way and there is a real need to educate young people as the future guardians of our planet.

"We strongly believe Cameron’s Cottage will offer them a way to experience and appreciate wildlife and the outdoors first-hand.”