It was a cold, cold weekend. The kind of ‘damp-cold’ that gets through your clothes and chills you to the bone.
The only thing to do was to build the fire up… and up… and up.
I think it was the clothing that everyone wore that made me film the meet in a this way. It just seemed right.
It was brilliant to see everyone again. Great laughs and great company as usual. Hope you enjoy the video.
It was a cold, cold weekend. The kind of ‘damp-cold’ that gets through your clothes and chills you to the bone.
The only thing to do was to build the fire up… and up… and up.
I think it was the clothing that everyone wore that made me film the meet in a this way. It just seemed right.
It was brilliant to see everyone again. Great laughs and great company as usual. Hope you enjoy the video.
We will be at Hatfield Forest during half-term on Sunday 19th February with our famous ‘Table of Death’ full of Nature exhibits for you to look at. We will also be running Bushcraft and Tracking demos and taster sessions throughout the day.
The first Woodlife Trails weekend course starts on 23rd March. Join us at Hatfield Forest for a weekend. The course is designed to show you how to set up small wildcamps and base camps in the woods. It will also show you how to run a safe and hygienic camp. We will give you the opportunity to try out various bits of kit from stoves to shelters. No more relying on YouTube videos!
You may have noticed Woodlife Trails has a new logo. The logo is an amalgamation of Pablo’s Woodlife and JP’s Nature’s Trails logos. What do you reckon? Leave us a comment and tell us what you think. We’ve got some logo’d up goodies planned.
Have a go at our Bushcraft and Tracking courses survey? It will only take you a couple of minutes and is completely in confidence. Tell us your experiences on previous courses and what you expect from a bushcraft and/or tracking course. This will give us an idea of how to structure our programmes in the future.
We are on track to launch our Diploma in April. We have five participants so far and still have a place left. If you are seriously interested, please let us know.
That’s all for now. Thanks for the visit.
We will be at Hatfield Forest during half-term on Sunday 19th February with our famous ‘Table of Death’ full of Nature exhibits for you to look at. We will also be running Bushcraft and Tracking demos and taster sessions throughout the day.
The first Woodlife Trails weekend course starts on 23rd March. Join us at Hatfield Forest for a weekend. The course is designed to show you how to set up small wildcamps and base camps in the woods. It will also show you how to run a safe and hygienic camp. We will give you the opportunity to try out various bits of kit from stoves to shelters. No more relying on YouTube videos!
You may have noticed Woodlife Trails has a new logo. The logo is an amalgamation of Pablo’s Woodlife and JP’s Nature’s Trails logos. What do you reckon? Leave us a comment and tell us what you think. We’ve got some logo’d up goodies planned.
Have a go at our Bushcraft and Tracking courses survey? It will only take you a couple of minutes and is completely in confidence. Tell us your experiences on previous courses and what you expect from a bushcraft and/or tracking course. This will give us an idea of how to structure our programmes in the future.
We are on track to launch our Diploma in April. We have five participants so far and still have a place left. If you are seriously interested, please let us know.
That’s all for now. Thanks for the visit.
I set off early complete with small pack, small stove and small dog... oh and a pork pie! The idea was to take some photos in Broaks wood, which is a forestry commission wood about 10 miles away from me.
The wood is usually full of dog walkers, but I took the chance even though it was looking like a fine, sunny day. Saturday is normally shopping day for the ‘unfortunates’ so I might be lucky and have the woods to myself for some time.
It was a chilly start and signs of frost were everywhere, which made for some interesting photos. Unfortunately, I just didn’t take any good ones! I even missed a Muntjac fawn which obligingly stopped in the middle of the track. Billy wasn’t amused that he couldn’t give chase.
We ended up circumnavigating the whole wood just to keep the cold at bay; but by lunchtime it had warmed up considerably and we ended up in our favourite spot overlooking farm land and woodland.
We shared the pork pie and I fired up the lightest cookset I have. An Evernew titanium burner and Alpkit titanium mug.
It didn’t take too long to boil up some water for a coffee.
The warmth of the sun brought out insects that should certainly have been hibernating. The log I was leaning on must have been a favourite hibernation area, as there were literally tens of Ladybirds coming out of the cracks. I do’;t think I’ve ever seen so many in one place.
After a leisurely lunch (and a snooze in the sunshine) we wondered down to the North side of the wood where things were a lot different temperature wise. As we went into late afternoon, the temperature dropped even more and, after a final sit spot we decided to head back to the car.
We had been out for five hours and even Billy was getting tired. For a small dog, he has got tremendous stamina. It was also a good chance to try out my new Harkila Lynx GTXs which performed brilliantly (I’ll do a review soon.)
Thanks for the visit.
I set off early complete with small pack, small stove and small dog... oh and a pork pie! The idea was to take some photos in Broaks wood, which is a forestry commission wood about 10 miles away from me.
The wood is usually full of dog walkers, but I took the chance even though it was looking like a fine, sunny day. Saturday is normally shopping day for the ‘unfortunates’ so I might be lucky and have the woods to myself for some time.
It was a chilly start and signs of frost were everywhere, which made for some interesting photos. Unfortunately, I just didn’t take any good ones! I even missed a Muntjac fawn which obligingly stopped in the middle of the track. Billy wasn’t amused that he couldn’t give chase.
We ended up circumnavigating the whole wood just to keep the cold at bay; but by lunchtime it had warmed up considerably and we ended up in our favourite spot overlooking farm land and woodland.
We shared the pork pie and I fired up the lightest cookset I have. An Evernew titanium burner and Alpkit titanium mug.
It didn’t take too long to boil up some water for a coffee.
The warmth of the sun brought out insects that should certainly have been hibernating. The log I was leaning on must have been a favourite hibernation area, as there were literally tens of Ladybirds coming out of the cracks. I do’;t think I’ve ever seen so many in one place.
After a leisurely lunch (and a snooze in the sunshine) we wondered down to the North side of the wood where things were a lot different temperature wise. As we went into late afternoon, the temperature dropped even more and, after a final sit spot we decided to head back to the car.
We had been out for five hours and even Billy was getting tired. For a small dog, he has got tremendous stamina. It was also a good chance to try out my new Harkila Lynx GTXs which performed brilliantly (I’ll do a review soon.)
Thanks for the visit.
Snugpak Stratosphere
A new meaning to bivvying
PB 207 blue flame lighter
Saves rubbing two bits of wood together
Frosts Clipper
Excellent knife for under £10 - I still use mine.
Woolpower balaclava
Essential winter hammock wear - do not enter banks wearing this.
Karrimor Sabre 75
So versatile – add side pockets and you’ve got 100 litres!
Leatherman Charge TTI
Always in my possible pouch.
Harlika Lynx GTX 9in
Ooops! 150 quid! But what a boot for trackers! Don’t wear them around the fire. It’s all hi-tech stuff. Brilliant and 100% waterproof.
Alpkit Gamma headtorch.
Red Green and white LEDs. HOW MUCH!! £12.50! I’ll have two!
Tracpac billy set
What more do you want for £14-00? I use the smallest one. The others are hobo stoves.
Bruseletto Leuku
Simple, cheap and effective
Woolpower base layer
200g is enough to ward of the British winter
Exped Down Mat
It’s more important to get insulation under you than on top. Exped is the way to go.
Alpkit down bags
Great price - great bag
Wool and possum fur hat
Great for sitting around the winter fire
Fjallaven
This is as close to a wide-brim hat as I get!
Hogs of Fife headwear
The Scots know something about weather – so why not?
Buff
Multi-functional head or neckwear.
Camelbak Cloudwalker
Technical lightweight daysack.
EKA Nordic W11
Great all round sub-£100 bushy style knife
DD hammock and Tatonka tarp
The only way to sleep out
Silky saw
Possibly better than the Bahco
Snowsled
Not the cheapest ventile about – but if its good enough for Ran Fiennes, it’s good enough for me.
Ganfors Bruks
Still the best axe around.
Yellow flip-flops
(Only joking)
Bushbuddy stove & Crusader cup
Natural fuel and a stainless receptacle
Mini Trangia
Lightweight and reliable meths stove. Take the burner out and add it to the tracpac billy and bushbuddy. Voila!
Primus Litech Frying pan
Probably the most versatile piece cookware you’ll ever have.
Nato water bottle
Mine says 1976. I was issued it. Great for using as a hot water bottle in winter!
Deer Hunter Gamestalker 2 Smock.
If your going to go cammo – go Deerhunter or Mad Dog. I love this smock for its in-built mossy net and large horizontal pocket.
