Living off nature should bring people together - not divide them

This week's showing of The Island featuring Bear Grylls has drawn some pretty negative headlines. While the core of the programme is about survival and living in the wild, this year's twist has focused on the people taking part. And as the first programme revealed, to say the group didn't quite gel would be an understatement.

It's a shame really, because bushcraft - the art of living off the land - is a great way to bring people together. Whether total strangers or an existing group, bushcraft - especially if done over several days - helps reveal the strengths and weaknesses of individuals.

Armed with new skills, you discover natural leaders and those who are happy to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in. It's amazing when you see it first hand.

While having a common goal such as finding food, building a shelter and being warm can help people bond, it can - as this first episode of The Island shows - also highlight the cracks in an existing group.

In fact, we're such fans of bushcraft we've just unveiled our new bushcraft centre here at Meon Springs, in the South Downs National Park. It's great for companies and organisations looking for a great day out and assessing the health of their team.