what time can we arrive and when do we need to leave site
in the school summer holidays the earliest arrival time is 2pm and buildings/sites have to be vacated by 11am on the day of departure
you can arrive earlier or leave later as long as the building/site is left clear – there’s plenty of space to play and picnic areas if you want to eat before you set up your site or after you’ve packed up
outside of the school summer holidays you can arrive and leave whenever you like, although bear in mind that buildings are charged per 24 hour period
who can stay at the site
we welcome Scouts, Guides, schools, and other bona-fide youth and educational groups from around the World
due to our child protection policy we don’t allow adult groups or members of the public to stay overnight, however, you can use our facilities and activities during the day
we’re staying indoors – do we need to bring bedding
only mattresses are supplied – you need to bring all your own bedding with you
do supermarkets deliver to the site
yes – Tesco, Sainsbury’s and ASDA all deliver to the site
there are various large supermarkets within a short drive including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Lidl
there is also an early-late convenience store just five minutes walk from the campsite
are gas and electric included – do we need to pay for showers
building charges include gas and electricity so you don’t need to pay anything separately
all our hot showers are free
can I bring my pet with me
in exceptional circumstances campers may bring pets on site provided that they are kept on your camping area, do not cause a nuisance to other site users and any mess is cleared away immediately for health and hygiene reasons – please contact us in advance
how big is the site
Butchers Coppice is 7½ acres, the field is approximately 5 acres and the rest is a copse area
approximate dimensions for camping areas are shown on the individual site pages
do we have to clean the toilet block
no – our team will keep the toilet and shower facilties clean and tidy but we would ask for your assistance in keeping things the way you’d like to find them
can we have a fire on our site
every field camp site and most of the copse camp sites have a concrete base where you can build a fire directly on to the floor – we also have a number of alter fires you can use if you prefer as well as a firelighting area and campfire circle
we have a well stocked woodpile at the Duck Lane entrance to the field
where can we park
there is a car park, accessed via the Holloway Avenue entrance to the site, for those using the Jubilee Centre, Dad Atkins Centre, Explorer Centre or the copse camp sites
those camping in the field can usually keep their vehicles on their site with them
what’s the mobile phone coverage like on site
the site has full signal on all mobile phone networks
do you have WiFi
virtually the whole site has free WiFi access
do you have fridges and freezers available
the indoor accommodation centres all have fridges and freezers
freezers are also available at Reception for campers to refreeze freezer blocks
what are the rules on smoking and alcohol
adults are permitted to bring alcohol on site and consume alcohol in moderation provided that this does not interfere with your groups ability to run your camp safely, does not cause a nuisance to other site users and is not consumed in the presence of young people
smoking is not permitted anywhere on site in the presence of young people – smoking is not permitted in any buildings or activity areas at any time – there is a dedicated smoking area to the rear of Reception or you can go outside the site
can we bring our own air rifles on site
yes, however, you are required to have approval in advance and you need to arrange safe storage – we don’t have any storage space available, however, you can lock air rifles in a vehicle for safe keeping
are there any local takeaways
we are in the heart of Bournemouth – you can pretty much find whatever you need whenever you need it… take a look at our Where’s the Nearest leaflet for more information
what happens to the rubbish
a recycling system is in operation at the site – you can recycle paper, cardboard, cans, plastic bottles, glass and aerosols
waste bins are provided for other waste
do I need to send you a Scout Association Nights Away Notification (NAN) Form
as Butchers Coppice is a Scout campsite you do not need to notify the host District Commissioner of your visit – you only need to notify your own District Commissioner in line with the process in your own District
you may need the following information for your Nights Away Notification Form:
VENUE NAME: Butchers Coppice
VENUE ADDRESS: Holloway Avenue, Bournemouth, BH11 9JW
TELEPHONE: 01202 574747
you do not need to complete the ‘Host DC Name’ or ‘Telephone’ boxes
what are the first aid arrangements on site
you are responsible for providing adequate first aid arrangements for your group
assistance is usually available from reception during office opening hours
when is quiet time
quiet time is from 11pm to 7am
can I get to Brownsea Island by public transport
you can take a bus from closeby the site to Poole Town Centre, approximately six miles away, then walk from Poole Bus Station through the Dolphin Centre and down the High Street to Poole Quay, where you can take a ferry over to Brownsea Island – it will take you roughly 20-30 minutes to walk from the Bus Station down to Poole Quay, depending on your walking pace
if you wish to visit Brownsea Island check out our activities page where you’ll find more information about National Trust Educational Group Membership and contact details for the ferry companies
which railway station is closest to Butchers Coppice
Bournemouth and Poole Railway Stations are both around six miles away from Butchers Coppice and both have bus links to the site
what’s your cancellation policy
if you cancel your booking within 60 days of the arrival date or in the event of non-arrival, Butchers Coppice reserves the right to make the following cancellation charges based on the numbers declared on your booking form:
- 60-31 days before your arrival date – 50% of the total cost of the booking
- 30-8 days before your arrival date – 75% of the total cost of the booking
- 7 days or less before your arrival date – 100% of the total cost of the booking
we will make every effort to accommodate last minute changes to activity bookings during your stay, however, at least 48 hours notice is required for all activity booking amendments and cancellations, otherwise we reserve the right to charge the full cost of the session(s)
Butchers Coppice is a member of the Association of Scout & Guide Campsites. If you fail to pay any sums due to the campsite for any reason we will take legal action to recover any sums due and will notify all other Scout and Guide Campsites, which could lead to your group being unable to make bookings at this and other sites across the UK
still stuck?
contact us for help!