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about the campsite...
Butchers Coppice is a 7½ acre campsite situated in the north west corner of Bournemouth, close to Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Wimborne, the Isle of Purbeck and the New Forest. We are also the closest Scout campsite to Brownsea Island, the birthplace of Scouting. The campsite is easily accessible by road, rail or air.
The campsite has two indoor accommodation centres, one sleeping 42 and the other sleeping 30. Both centres have fully equipped kitchens, toilets, hot showers and central heating.
For campers we offer a choice of sites, either on the main field, for those who need plenty of space, or in a variety of individual copse sites, ideal for smaller Patrol camps.
We have a modern toilet and shower block at the copse entrance to the main field to serve campers and day/evening visitors. The facilities, built in 2007, offer free male and female toilets and hot water showers as well as separate washing points. The block also includes separate disabled toilets and showers and a baby changing area.
We welcome Scouts, Guides, schools, and other bona-fide youth and educational groups from around the World.
Bournemouth is a fantastic venue for longer holidays or short breaks with a rich and varied landscape - from forest to beaches to busy shopping centres - visitors to the campsite can enjoy a variety of on-site and local activities.
This is a local, friendly campsite, owned by Bournemouth Scouts and is operated entirely by voluntary staff.
If you have any questions about the site please contact us.
the history of Butchers Coppice...
the Canford Estate from the Norman Conquest...
The history of the land now known as Butchers Coppice can be traced back over 800 years. The site was originally part of the Canford Estate, held in trust for the Realm and controlled by the Lord of the Manor at Canford Manor. The Canford Estate is steeped in history, having been occupied by the Walter de Eureux family (the Earls of Salisbury), the De Lacys (the Earls of Lincoln), the Montacutes (the Earls of Salisbury), Cardinal Henry Beaufort (the Bishop of Winchester), Henry Fitz-Roy (son of Henry VIII and Duke of Richmond), Henry Countenay (Marquis of Exeter), the Earls of Huntingdon and Baronet John Webb of Salisbury.
In 1840 the copse area of the site was owned by the trustees of the will of Sir John Webb and occupied by William Homer - this area of the site was then known as How Croft Wood. There is no firm evidence of the lands original use, however, the word 'coppice' means a wood of small trees for periodical cutting. The wood, once cut, was used for local craft work as well as fuel for heating and cooking. Surrounding the site were Durdells, Cudnell and West Howe Farms, with much of the surrounding land used for growing crops and grazing animals. 'Early each October one would find the swine foraging in How Croft Wood, fattening themselves on acorns - this area having an abundance of mature Oak trees'. Most tenants on the Canford Estate would have kept an Estate Pig.
The altered tithe documents of Kinson from 1920 indicate that the rest of the land leased by William Homer in 1840 now belonged to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, but Butcher's Coppice (as it was then referred to) appeared in a list of properties where ownership was simply marked as 'various', although someone had pencilled beside it 'C. Estate', so it's fairly safe to assume it still belonged to the Canford Estate. From 1846 the Canford Estate was owned by the Guest family, former South Wales Iron Masters.
the ghost of Butchers Coppice...
In the mid 18th Century the area surrounding Butchers Coppice was historically used by the smuggler Isaac Gulliver, whose men would carry contraband up from the chines in Poole Bay and take it across Cranborne Chase to be distributed all over Southern England. Gulliver had several properties in the area, however, all of the contraband was stored in the tower at St Andrew's Church in Kinson (the marks of the ropes used to haul it up can still be seen in the soft sandstone walls of the tower) and in several stone graves in the churchyard which were constructed for storage and never saw a coffin. A network of tunnels were said to exist between the chines and the Kinson area, one of which ended inside the site of Butchers Coppice. One day, just as a band of smugglers reached the end of the tunnel at the Coppice, Customs Officers arrived and the tunnel had to be quickly filled in, accidentally burying one of the smugglers alive. The end of the old tunnel was located between the new toilet block and the copse, where an old disconnected water tap now stands. If you need to go to the loo late at night beware, sometimes you can still hear the scratching noise of the ghost of the buried smuggler trying to escape.
Scouting begins in Bournemouth...
Scouting started early in Bournemouth, from it's roots at nearby Brownsea Island in the summer of 1907. The formal start of 1908 saw small gatherings in the Bournemouth area. In June 1909 these were brought together into the Bournemouth Association. Almost immediately there were problems finding suitable locations for meetings and activities. Local headquarters were initially provided at Westover Chambers, courtesy of Mr G A Mooring Aldridge, and in 1926, a room in Canford Hall on St Peter's Road was rented from the YMCA as a temporary District Headquarters.
With some degree of optimism, the Bournemouth Association embarked on their first venture into the property market, purchasing a large private residence, 'The Grange' at 61 Wimborne Road, for £3,500 (with a £2,000 mortgage to supplement funds). The property was adapted to provide a lecture room, Scouters and Rovers room, an office and workshop along with a scullery and kitchen. The other two floors were converted into living accommodation and let to the then District Commissioner, General R F Sorsbie, at a rental covering the mortgage interest.
Camping at the time was provided through the kindness of Lord Wimborne, whose Canford Estate once covered most of what we now know as Bear Cross, Canford Heath and Wallisdown. Lord Wimborne allowed temporary use of around twenty acres of land at Wallisdown, which was part of the 'Old Drive', retained by Lord Wimborne when Canford House became Canford School. Considerable use was made of this training ground for the next two years, although it was very damp.
a new campsite...
Knowing that the use of the training ground made available by Lord Wimborne at Wallisdown was to cease, Mr G T Nichol, Assistant District Commissioner for Rover Scouts, persuaded his sister, Miss Eleanor B Nichol from Weston Super Mare, to purchase the two and a half acres of woodland known as Butcher's Coppice from Lord Wimborne. The purchase was made in July 1931 for the sum of £340 and arrangements were made to lease the land to Bournemouth Scout Association for camping and training purposes. The lease, starting in 1932, was to run for seven years at a rent of £18 per annum with an option to purchase at any time, at the cost price. A restrictive covenant was placed on the land indicating that no buildings should be erected on the property except for use in connection with the Boy Scout Association or 15 detached or 14 semi-detached private dwelling houses.
Almost immediately work began at the site, with Rover Scouts erecting fences, making gates and helping construct wash houses and showers. Construction of a swimming pool was well under way in early 1932 and the first camp rules were published under the jurisdiction of Frank 'Dad' Atkins, the first Warden of Butcher's Coppice. The swimming pool was built under arrangements with Bournemouth & District Gas and Water Company, who needed gravel to bury pipes to the new water works nearby. By mid-summer parts of the copse had been cleared and camps were held each weekend from Whitsun, with several Troops also holding their weekly meetings at the site. Early visitors remembered pushing their trek carts from other parts of the town, across the new estates, where they were bombarded with mud, stones and abuse by the locals, before reaching the relative sanctuary of the Coppice, which was, at that time, surrounded by farm and heath land. Bournemouth was still a young town of separate villages, not the urban sprawl we see today.
The annual District Rover Camp and the County Rover Camp were both held at the Coppice in its first year and Rovers Own (Scout religious services) were held regularly in the already established Chapel. The Association Camping Shield and the eliminating trial for the Emlyn County Trophy were also held at the site in the first season, both demonstrating the high standard of camping, aided by the extra camping practice now readily available since the acquisition of the Coppice. Scout Sports were also held at the Coppice and both sub Districts held their winter training courses there.
During 1933 the swimming pool was completed and, thanks to the unusually fine weather, summer camping increased. Camping fees were 2d per camper, per night.
The five acre field adjoining Butcher's Coppice was purchased on 18 August 1934 for £1,200. The field was then let to a tenant farmer, Mr H J Edwards of the stores in West Howe, at a rental of £5 per year. The tenant became responsible for the maintenance of fences and hedges and the Scouts were to have complete possession from mid July, after the hay crop, until the end of September.
1934 was the Silver Jubilee of Scouting in Bournemouth and to mark the occasion campers came from as far away as Portsmouth (which at the time was considered quite extravagant!). An international camp was held from 17-24 August 1935 and overall camping was double that of 1934. The open-air Chapel, designed by Frank 'Dad' Atkins, was completed in 1935, when it was dedicated by the Rural Dean, the Reverend F C Learoyd.
1936 saw Scouts from as far as France and the very north of England, taking the number of camping nights to an all time high, 1,124, with the swimming pool being used by some 2,800 bathers. All the usual camps and competitions, which by this time had become annual events, were held, along with fund raising events such as the woodland fete during the summer. The wet season further emphasised the need for a permanent shelter, slightly alleviated by a gift from Gilwell Park in the form of a large tent to replace an older marquee which had been destroyed by gales in 1935. By this time 'Dad' Atkins was furthering his dream for a permanent shelter. In his annual report of 1936 he calculated the cost of materials for the building at between £75 and £100.
1937 and 'Dad' Atkins dream had been fulfilled. Thanks to a generous gift from Alderman W Hayward a spacious hut, the first so called 'Dad's Hut' had been built. 1937 also saw the Coronation of the King George VI, which was celebrated by a special day of sports, swimming, boxing and a campfire as part of a world link. At these ceremonies a message from the King was read and a broadcast by Baden-Powell, the Chief Scout of the World, was heard. During 1937 the option to purchase the copse was exercised and so Butchers Coppice was at last ours.
A national appeal was lunched in 1938 to raise £500,000 to finance the Movement and a special rally was held at the site as part of this fund raising. Also at this time a bequest of the late Ralph Ogleby Davies of Branksome Park in the sum of £1,000 completely paid off the debt on the field and so the whole of Butchers Coppice was now fully paid for. As a mark of respect (and gratitude) the field was named the Davies field and officially opened by the Mayor of Bournemouth. Campers during 1938 included Scouts and Rovers from Norway, Holland and France. Both the Hampshire weekend Rover camp and the joint Dorset and Hampshire Rover moot were held at Butchers Coppice. Also in 1938 local Scout Groups donated trees to be planted along the north side of the field. A cast plaque commemorating a Cornish Elm, planted by the 43rd Bournemouth Scout Group, was found in the hedgerow in the early 1980's. Sadly, the tree would not have survived the ravages of Dutch Elm disease in the early 70's, if indeed it survived until then, however, the local Association Chairman provided Copper Beech trees, which were planted in the middle of the field and still thrive there today next to the Shack.
Grass was sown extensively around the site and the washing shelter, built some years earlier, was extended. 'Dad's Hut' was further improved by wood panelling and a permanent bike shelter was erected. Fencing was also well under way.
dark days...
1939 was a very sad year for Butchers Coppice, when in September, Frank 'Dad' Atkins died suddenly at his home, aged 69, after spending 55 years in Bournemouth and having been actively involved in Scouting for the majority of these, though especially remembered for his 8 years at Butchers Coppice. His funeral, at St Peter's Church, where he was a chorister for many years, was attended by over 200 Scouts with representatives from every local Troop. A memorial to Frank can be found on the oak altar in the Chapel attached to a plaque bearing an Irish blessing “may the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sunshine warm upon your face, the rain fall soft upon your fields and, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand”.
The start of the second world war stopped outdoor camping at Butchers Coppice and, therefore, 'Dad's Hut' was used extensively for overnight sleeping. The Davies field was requisitioned by the Ministry of Agriculture for crops for the whole duration of the war, although a new fence was erected to leave a small strip along the north side, which continued to be used for Scouting activities. Unlit campfires were held every Saturday night and were attended by large numbers of Scouts, especially those serving in the allied armed forces from all over of the world, who happened to be in Bournemouth. Often the campfires were held on the main copse green because the crowds were too large for the campfire circle. In wet weather they were held in 'Dad's Hut'. Scouts Own services, held since the Coppice had opened, continued to be held in the Chapel on Sunday afternoons.
1940 saw the first major threat to Butchers Coppice from the then County Borough of Bournemouth. They published their draft local plan and had designated the five acre field as 'private open space' - this might have meant that it would be designated as non-development land forever. Forward looking Leaders and supporters of the day recognised that this new haven might not always be suited to the purposes of Scouting. As a result of this insight, they fought the local council, who wanted to protect the site for their own interests.
At this time the Honorary Camp Warden was Mr T A (Alf) Dickens, Group Scout Master of the 17th Bournemouth Scout Group, once again a veteran of Scouting, who had joined as a Cub in 1911 before Cubs had officially started. As a Scout in the First World War, Alf had helped at Waterloo Station to comfort wounded troops and later raised money to open a museum of models, many of which he had crafted himself. Whilst Warden he made many articles for use at the Coppice, including the carved gates which once stood at the main gate of the site and markers for each camp site. He also painted eight copy paintings of old masters for 'Dad's Hut', some of which are still preserved today. Also during his short time as Warden he registered the 1st Butchers Coppice Rover Crew, an early forerunner of today's service crew. Alf had a superb collection of memories as well as some wonderful photographs in his album. He lived, until the 1980's, at 'Pixies Holt', a beautiful cottage at Gods Blessing Green, Holt near Wimborne. As far as we know, his collection was sent to his son in Australia upon his death, which was his wish.
In fact, another Warden also presided over the Coppice during the war years, though the exact dates are not known. Miss Violet Oldham was primarily the Group Scout Master of the 1st Kinson Scout Group (later known as the 3rd Bournemouth Scout Group) but is also known to have been secretary to the Local Association. Violet lived in a large house in East Howe, now known as the Thatched House Inn.
During November of 1944 an application was made for a licence to carry out repairs and extensions to the swimming pool, but was turned down by the building control office. Later in the year the bottom and side of the pool cracked and began losing 120 gallons of water per day. These cracks were filled with a bitumen solution. It was also during this year that water purification treatment was introduced.
after the war...
When camping restrictions were lifted in 1946 the Davies field was still held by the Ministry of Agriculture and the copse was heavily used. Food rationing continued but Butchers Coppice was granted a catering licence and so the providore was reborn. 14 July 1946 saw a very successful parent's day with more than 150 on site. Also the Chapel sanctuary was paved, a veranda erected at the front of 'Dad's Hut', the interior of which had been improved by the panelling of the centre portion and the erection of a partition producing a Leaders room. The Warden's hut had been cleared of gear, panelled, and a fireplace built. Due to the bad weather all through the season the Coppice and the strip of land available in the field had suffered severely and a great deal of work was necessary to rectify this.
From 1946, and for some time, little record appears to have been kept of the precise activities held at the Coppice, though it is known that the financial position of the Association had been strengthened by the sale of the headquarters at 61 Wimborne Road, much of the former activity carried out there being transferred to the Coppice.
In 1947 the Davies field was fully returned and resown with grass before being opened to campers in 1948 with a brand new providore. Also during 1947 applications for work on the swimming pool were once again submitted, along with a plan for improved lavatory facilities. The latter were agreed but plans for the pool were once again refused. At this time a new flag pole had also been cut, to be erected in the centre of the field. January 1948 saw a new water main laid, though the improvements to the toilet block were still under way. During February the providore was broken into for the first time.
1948 saw the re-opening of the Coppice to visiting Troops, a jamborette being held, attended by the Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr W Moore, during which visiting Scouts came from as far as France, Switzerland, Malta, Belgium and Eire. During this time local Scouters took a monthly turn as Coppice Steward, each having a theme of the month to cover one aspect of training.
In 1952 the local council notified the local Association that 2.3 acres of the Davies field was to compulsorily purchased for the erection of flats. This was to be one of the fiercest battles in the long history of Butchers Coppice. Strong objections were immediately tabled and a public enquiry was held on the 23 September. This was the result of some weeks of heated discussions and, to the delight of all concerned with the Coppice, the plans were upturned. A small strip was, however, taken from the eastern end of the field to make a public footpath along Duck Lane.
1953 saw the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and celebrations were held everywhere. Some local Groups held special celebration camps at the Coppice and it was, therefore, host to a great many visitors during the year including, as was by this time often the case, the Mayor.
The swimming pool was finally reconditioned in 1954 at a cost of £300 and in 1956 a hut, named in memory of the Reverend Claude Beckwith, District Commissioner, was constructed for Scouters in charge of camps. The Reverend Claude Beckwith had given many years of service to Scouting in Bournemouth and especially at the Coppice. It is after him that the present day 'Beckwith Banner', still a keenly contested trophy, was named.
By 1957 the Coppice was firmly established as a centre of Scouting activity for both local boys and campers from other towns and countries.
Though voluntary labour had always been freely available it was clear that paid labour would be required for some of the more ambitious plans in the development of the site. Maintenance continued to be the task of the many volunteers from throughout the town.
The water supply and drainage were by now adequate and so an electric cable was laid, a signal for the old gas lamps in 'Dad's Hut' and the Warden's hut to disappear. Money was needed to finance the increased facilities at the Coppice and so a Scout fair was held at the Town Hall in the hope of raising £1,000, which was achieved.
In 1958 the wooden hut given by Alderman Hayward twenty years earlier and the original ‘Dad’s Hut’ was deemed inadequate and defective, and plans were drawn up for a larger hall with room for an office and kitchen at an estimated cost of £3,000. With the assistance of a grant from the Ministry of Education, work on the new ‘Dad’s Hut’, now known as the ‘Dad Atkins Centre’, was started. A plaque just inside the entrance to the new ‘Dad’s Hut’ read “this hut was opened by His Worship the Mayor of Bournemouth, Councillor Deric S Scott, on the 19th May 1962 to replace an earlier ‘Dad’s Hut’, so named as a tribute to Frank (Dad) Atkins, first warden of Butchers Coppice. The building was made possible by a legacy from the estate of Mr Spenlove Brown, a donation in memory of Pop Hale, Group Scout Master of the 54th Bournemouth Scouts, a donation in memory of John Rooke, Assistant Scout Master of the 20th Bournemouth Scouts, gifts and help from friends of Scouting, and by money raised through the combined efforts of Cubs, Scouts, Scouters and lay members of Bournemouth Executive Committee and Butcher’s Coppice Sub Committee.”.
The first Wood Badge course was held at the Coppice in November of 1959.
In 1963 the Coppice saw the Cubs of Bournemouth perform a pageant of the Pied Piper of Hamelin whilst Scouts and Senior Scouts gave demonstrations in camping and pioneering. Later that year the Senior Scouts of the town found themselves hosts to the annual "County Senioree" with nearly 400 Seniors camping at the site. Another preliminary Wood Badge course was also held there during 1963.
During the following years, 1964 and 1965, hopes started for the much needed extension of 'Dad's Hut'. By this time the site was being used much more often, following the moderate decline in use during the post war years. The Coppice was now being manned each weekend by various Scouters from all over the town, who's skills enabled training and testing of Scouts in outdoor pursuits. The first full Wood Badge course was run at the site in 1964 when the swimming pool was also much improved by the introduction of the filtration units.
As a result of the advanced party report of 1966 a Venture Unit started at the Coppice in that year, replacing the Senior and Rover Sections. Also, the ever successful 'Father and Son' camp was once again held there. Much more use was made of the Coppice in the summer of 1966, with in excess of 1,200 Scouts camping there from as far away as America, Germany, Finland, Switzerland and Austria, not to mention the many local Scouts. 2,000 day visitors came to the site, especially on Whit Sunday, when the Mayor and Mayoress came to see the many improved facilities at the site.
In 1969 plans were drawn up for the construction of the former toilet block at a cost of £3,000 – this facility was demolished thirty-eight years later, in 2007, following the construction of the present toilet and shower facilities, and to make way for a new Explorer Scout and Scout Network Centre.
During 1974 over 60 Scout Troops and Cub Packs from across the UK, including one from Lurgen in Northern Ireland, and several small parties from many parts of the world visited Butchers Coppice. A new venture was a combined Scout and Guide camp, which was recorded as being run 'efficiently and to the highest camping standards'.
The Coppice was now being used regularly for County and District training courses, committee meetings, District Scout Councils, many different fund raising events and in 1974 even a Dog show.
In early 1975 Butchers Coppice featured in a Scout programme on Radio Solent. Several new projects were completed including the third garage, which was to be used as storage for the Gang Show scenery. New pioneering equipment was purchased and several remedial jobs were carried out on the swimming pool, copse sites and the buildings in general.
In 1977 a second indoor accommodation centre, the ‘Jubilee Pack Holiday Centre’, was opened, named to commemorate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. The centre, located in the field, served visitors well for twenty-nine years before major renovation in 2006 through ‘Target 2007’ when new dormitories, central heating, disabled facilities and showers were added to enhance the facilities. The building is now known as the ‘Jubilee Centre’.
1985 saw further improvements to ‘Dad’s Hut’, principally disabled access to the centre.
The campsite fell into disrepair in the mid 1990’s and plans were drawn up to sell Butchers Coppice to a property developer for several million pounds. Whilst the sale was going through a small group of Leaders from Bournemouth, led by Bob Oliver, set to work restoring the facilities at the campsite. Planning permission for the sale of Butchers Coppice and the creation of a new Scout campsite at Berry Hill near Muscliffe were later refused by Bournemouth Borough Council and again in May 2003 by the Planning Inspectorate after an appeal by the proposed developers.
a new beginning...
Following the restoration of basic facilities at Butchers Coppice, ‘Target 2007’ was launched by Talbot Massey, who was appointed development co-ordinator, and the active site Management Committee. The plan was to raise a staggering £1m to further improve the facilities at the site and to establish it as a nationally recognised centre of excellence. 2007 was significant as it marked the Centenary of Scouting and marked the 75th anniversary of the campsite. As the closest Scout campsite to Brownsea Island, the birthplace of Scouting, Butchers Coppice once again hosted visitors from around the globe.
Through ‘Target 2007’ improvements were made at the campsite including the transformation of the Jubilee Centre together with the creation of it’s own car park, the construction of the new toilet and shower block, the rejuvenation of the Dad Atkins Centre, the renovation of the reception and staff centre, the construction of a purpose-built indoor air rifle shooting range, the Centenary hut, a re-fit and new equipment in the games room, significant improvements to the climbing and abseiling tower, the construction of an adventure playground and an agility trail, the installation of ground level trampolines, the installation of security fencing around the perimeter of the site, disabled access and car parking improvements.
The campsite has been popular for camping and training every year since its opening. Butchers Coppice Scout Camp & Community Outdoor Centre now welcomes thousands of visitors every year – Scouts, Guides and other young people from across the world, offering camping and adventurous activities like climbing, abseiling, archery and air rifle shooting. The site is perfect for visitors as it offers easy access to the rich and varied landscape of beaches, forest and heath land of the south coast as well as numerous tourist attractions including Brownsea Island, the birthplace of Scouting in 1907.
Wardens of Butchers Coppice
1931-1939 Frank ‘Dad’ Atkins 1939-1945 Miss Violet Oldham 1946-1948 T A (Alf) Dickens 1949-1955 F J H Beswick 1956-1958 H R Whitehead 1959 K J Riley 1960-1965 John E Kear 1966-1992 James E Cassidy 1992-1997 Jean Sherring 1997-2007 Robert Oliver 2007- Darren Gilbert
compiled from a report of the early history of Butcher's Coppice Scout Campsite by Michael Harley, using extracts from a variety of previous reports, testimony from old Scouters and early Wardens and new writing along with other information from various sources.
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