Field Sport UK – Outdoor Activity Made From The Forest 

Want to enjoy a fantastic day out at the heart of the National Forest? Field Sports UK is an outdoor activity centre, with archery, assault courses and axe throwing alongside traditional target shooting. A finalist in the Visit England Tourism Superstar Awards, a success story for the National Forest and a cracking day out, Field Sport UK is one of our top attractions for good reason. 

Committed to sustainability from their inception, they are a beacon of good practice in the region. The area was originally a landfill site which was planted and left for 20 years with no woodland management plan.  

The team behind Field Sport have sympathetically managed the woodland, removed dead trees and invasive weeds to create a rich, healthy and thriving woodland. But their green commitments don’t stop there. Everything they do on site is with an eye on eco-friendly outcomes, and when you’re surrounded by beautiful woodland that makes it so much easier.  

They harvest rainwater and solar energy and have a composting toilet. Much of the material used on the site to build structures and ranges come from the woodland itself, with the team harvesting and planking the timber. Chainsaw shavings are used for the compost toilets and bark chippings are used for pathways. There are also two ponies on site who help mow the grass and the pony poo is turned into fuel for their office log burner! Even their gun cartridges are recycled and used in on-site craft sessions. 

Good ecological management both supplies and keeps them safe. The willow-weaved hedges counteract the issues of lying rainwater due to the amount of clay in the ground. The tops of the trees (branches) are rowed up into deadheading, there are bird feeding stations and a careful balance is taken between ground clearance and unspoilt woodland for the deer, badgers, foxes and other woodland creatures. 

This commitment to sustainability has a profound impact on the business. By using the materials (and animals) on site they can both cut costs and maximise resources. Through demonstrating this customers come to appreciate their eco-friendly practices, giving more referrals and positive reviews, attracting more people who share their values. 

This goes for the employees too. Being part of a business with a genuine commitment to the environment boosts staff morale and productivity. Some of them even finding making the horse poo bricks quite therapeutic! All going towards making the business (and the woodland) more healthy, thriving and successful. 

CEO Kelly Wheeler  

Field Sport UK’s top tips for sustainable success 

• Start with a Sustainability Audit. Look at your energy usage, waste production, resource consumption and sourcing to get a clear picture of what’s working and what’s not and create a roadmap for improvement. 
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Cut down on waste and unnecessary energy use and use energy-efficient options for heat and light. Reuse materials before they go to waste! Implement recycling systems and make sure employees and customers know what goes where. See if anything can be used for packaging or marketing materials. 
• Switch to Sustainable Materials. Make a conscious effort to choose sustainable, biodegradable, or recycled materials. Switch to eco-friendly toiletries or compostable cups. 
• Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. Switching to energy-efficient appliances, LED lighting, or low-energy systems is a great first step. From there, businesses can look into renewable energy sources like solar or wind power. 
• Encourage a Sustainability Mindset Across Your Team. Get them on board, and they'll be a fantastic source of even more ideas to implement. 
• Tell Customers about your Sustainability Efforts. It can be as simple as telling them about the green materials you use, the ways you reduce waste, or how you’re offsetting your carbon emissions. 
• Water Conservation. Water-saving practices like low-flow taps, rainwater harvesting, or water-efficient landscaping can reduce your environmental impact and save money. 
• Start small and build. Sustainability is a long-term commitment, and it’s okay to take gradual steps. Pick one area to focus on, see how that goes, and expand.