We love wild spaces
White Dragon Activity Centre is set in 5 acres of beautiful countryside, including woodland, willow meadows and a beautiful old barn.
We’re lucky to work surrounded by nature and we care deeply about protecting it. We aren’t perfect - but we’re always improving. Here’s a quick summary of what we do.
Water
Our director and head coach, Mark, is a former water scientist with a degree in marine and freshwater biology. We may be some distance from the coast, but we’re committed to keeping the bad stuff out of the oceans. We:
monitor the health of our woodland stream
minimise single-use plastic
wherever possible, use ocean-friendly suppliers
will soon introduce a water capture system so that our new garden uses recycled water
Waste
We believe in minimising waste, both of materials and energy. Making the most of what we have already is at the centre of bushcraft, and it’s an ethos that we follow in everything we do. To keep our footprint light, we:
only use reusable cups, teaspoons and other drink/food items
practice recycling
create our amazing decor with recycled and upcycled material wherever possible
use 2D ‘Prince’s Colours’ targets made from recycled foam
use solar lighting outdoors, such as in the woodland loo
tend to put several extra jumpers on well before we turn on the office heating!
Wildlife
We don’t own our land. But we see ourselves as custodians of it. Our woodland is home to badgers, buzzards, wrens, shrews, deer (roe and muntjac) and many other wildlife. Plus the less ‘cuddly’ but important insects, soil organisms, fungi and more.
To protect their habitat, we:
manage the woods responsibly. We may remove dead trees or dead boughs if they are dangerous, but not otherwise.
never use loud speaker systems or bright artificial lighting in our outdoor areas
never use pesticides or herbicides in our garden or outdoor areas
leave some areas of the wood untouched
periodically move our woodland archery range around as the badgers move parts of their sett, so they are undisturbed
install and maintain bird feeders and insect hotels
use dead-hedging, which creates a habitat as well as a barrier
ensure our barn decor is safe for swifts who live in the roof
do not use netting, which can entangle birds and bats
We do light campfires - this is an essential part of bushcraft - and we demonstrate a variety of ways to do so, including propellant use. However, our firelighting is minimal and proportionate to the skills being taught.
We also, on occasion, shoot flaming arrows. This is done only in a very damp area, following safety checks to ensure that there is no flammable material in the shooting space. Our fire arrows are specifically designed and loaded with material that does not burn hot or for long - they don’t catch like the ones you see in Hollywood films!
Watch a video
Essex County Council worked with us in 2022 on a short film about green skills and apprenticeships. Watch below.