Downe Scout Activity Centre

Downe Scout Activity Centre was one of the National Scout Activity Centres under the direct control of The Scout Association in Downe near Orpington, Greater London. It provided camping and indoor accommodations for Scouts and Guides.

The Downe site of 86 acres is 16 mi from the centre of London near the Biggin Hill airfield.

In November 2020 the Scout Association announced their intention to sell the site. The Scout Association said it would do everything possible "to make sure that the legacies are honoured and heritage preserved"

In late July 2021 The Scout Association trustees unanimously agreed to sell the site to Friends of Downe Activity Centre, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Registered Charity Number 1194761). Friends of Downe Activity Centre hoped to ensure that future generations of young people were able to enjoy the site.

Negotiations followed, and unfortunately, an agreement couldn’t be reached. The Scout Association decided to sell to another party, which failed to proceed and then again to a different party, which also failed to proceed. Friends of Downe were offered the opportunity to bid again in December 2023. TSA then informed them they would take the site to auction, mid-February and that Friends of Downe could proceed with their bid outside of this process as a parallel planning opportunity for The Scout Association.

Towards the end of April 2024, Friends of Downe Activity Centre (FoDAC) agreed and signed a contract with The Scout Association (TSA) for the purchase of Downe Activity Centre. The site purchase will be completed in the summer of 2024.

Downe is registered as an Asset of Community Value with the London Borough of Bromley and this will remain a material consideration in any planning applications for some years to come. Since June 2022, the whole site has been covered by a TPO (Tree Protection Order). The TPO prevents trees from being removed or pruned without formal prior permission from the London Borough of Bromley Planning.

History
Downe Camp, close to Orpington, opened in 1929 as a Scoutmasters' Training Ground. From 1933 it was available to Scout Groups and the site offered camping and some activities, including swimming. This was possible by the construction of a swimming pool which was funded by the proceeds from the very first Gang Show, which was organised by Ralph Reader for this very purpose.

Charles Darwin lived in the road along from Downe House and undertook his famous worm experiments on at least two areas of the site.

The site was supported by a committee one of whom was Sir Jeremiah Coleman, together with his wife, he donated money to build the Providor as their golden wedding anniversary gift. They also donated the clock from their stable block and paid for the tower around it.

Located adjacent to Biggin Hill Airport, Downe Scout Camp was used as a base for the Home Guard during World War II and required considerable efforts by working parties of Rover Scouts in the late 1940s to return it to a Scout camp ground.

Greater London South East Scouts assumed control and management of the site in 1987. However, in 2005, the site was renamed as Downe Activity Centre and became one of the National Scout Activity Centres under the direct control of The Scout Association.

The site was used as part of a Blue Peter special which aired on 20 February 2007 to promote the Scouting 2007 Centenary. Over 100 Cub Scouts, Scouts and Explorer Scouts were present on the camp, along with the TV crew who joined in with all of the activities.

A series of international camps called Campdowne have been held at the site, the first was in 1989, followed by 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and the most recent in 2013. Campdowne has been attended by Scouts and Guides from all over the world, set in both the woodland and open fields the camps offered a unique and unforgettable ten day programme of events and activities.