Spring Immersion Course

We had another great weekend at Hatfield Forest with our Spring Wilderness Immersion Course.

Despite heavy showers and a base-camp turning into a bit of a mud bath there were smiles on everyone’s face as they reported some amazing close encounters whilst out watching wildlife.

We also deployed the trails cams and night vision gear to great effect with a particularly good result of 4 badger cubs in a sett Lee was watching. I’ll string together some video footage when I have more time.

The Immersion course is a mixture of everything from tracking to nature-study via bushcraft. Our next Immersion course is in October and places are already filling up – so please have a look at the course page and book up now if you would like to come along.

Our next stop is in Kent for the May Day meet from Saturday 5th to Monday 7th May. We will be doing bushcraft and tracking demonstrations so go along to their web page to see what’s going on.

Thanks for the visit.

Spring Immersion Course

We had another great weekend at Hatfield Forest with our Spring Wilderness Immersion Course.

Despite heavy showers and a base-camp turning into a bit of a mud bath there were smiles on everyone’s face as they reported some amazing close encounters whilst out watching wildlife.

We also deployed the trails cams and night vision gear to great effect with a particularly good result of 4 badger cubs in a sett Lee was watching. I’ll string together some video footage when I have more time.

The Immersion course is a mixture of everything from tracking to nature-study via bushcraft. Our next Immersion course is in October and places are already filling up – so please have a look at the course page and book up now if you would like to come along.

Our next stop is in Kent for the May Day meet from Saturday 5th to Monday 7th May. We will be doing bushcraft and tracking demonstrations so go along to their web page to see what’s going on.

Thanks for the visit.

GG

I’ve spotted a few rarities over the last couple of days.

Firstly these was this Short-eared owl. I’m sure they’ve been over-wintering locally as I’ve seen glimpses over the last few months.

Today, it all fell into place as I had my big camera with me and the light was good. I also managed to get within 20 feet of it. I watched it hunting low over the fields and then land on various perches. It often went on the ground and stayed there for some considerable time. I couldn’t see whether it had caught anything. I suspect it had. A stunning bird!

The other good spot was a couple of groups of Oxlips. I know they are in Park woods, but this is the first time I’ve seen them in Poor Park Woods. These are pretty rare countrywide; only to be found in this area of East Anglia. Very similar to cowslips, but lacking the orange stripes inside the petals. Also the leaf is a slightly different shape. They also grow almost exclusively in woods as opposed to fields.

Finally the Golden plovers were just sitting on the runway of the local disused airfield. Not so much a rarity, but I’ve never seen them here before.

We’ve off to Hatfield soon for our Wilderness Immersion Course. I’ll let you know how it went next week. Until then, thanks for the visit.

\P/

GG

I’ve spotted a few rarities over the last couple of days.

Firstly these was this Short-eared owl. I’m sure they’ve been over-wintering locally as I’ve seen glimpses over the last few months.

Today, it all fell into place as I had my big camera with me and the light was good. I also managed to get within 20 feet of it. I watched it hunting low over the fields and then land on various perches. It often went on the ground and stayed there for some considerable time. I couldn’t see whether it had caught anything. I suspect it had. A stunning bird!

The other good spot was a couple of groups of Oxlips. I know they are in Park woods, but this is the first time I’ve seen them in Poor Park Woods. These are pretty rare countrywide; only to be found in this area of East Anglia. Very similar to cowslips, but lacking the orange stripes inside the petals. Also the leaf is a slightly different shape. They also grow almost exclusively in woods as opposed to fields.

Finally the Golden plovers were just sitting on the runway of the local disused airfield. Not so much a rarity, but I’ve never seen them here before.

We’ve off to Hatfield soon for our Wilderness Immersion Course. I’ll let you know how it went next week. Until then, thanks for the visit.

\P/

Easter Weekend

What a great but tiring weekend!

We started off at Hatfield on Good Friday. Thanks to Linda and Trooper who helped, we set up in good time at Hatfield Forest…

…and it wasn’t long before we were surrounded by folk eager to have a look at our display and learn about what we did in the Forest.

                 

As well as our usual skulls, scat and feathers and feeding signs, we had a couple of new arrivals for this year; a muntjac head and a roe buck in velvet.

On Saturday, after a night in the Forest, we turned our attention to our Fire-lighting Day.

JP expertly guided clients through the history of fire-lighting and different fire-lighting techniques…

Everyone learned very quickly that you can never have enough in your twiggy-bundle.

Of course the highlight was the bow drill. Embers are nurtured…

…before blowing into a flame.

And you can always guarantee the reaction…

…of someone who’s successful for the first time.

Well done to everyone and thanks for coming along.

Our next course is the Wilderness Immersion Course on 20th April. We have 2 places left so have a look at the course page.

Thanks for the visit.

Easter Weekend

What a great but tiring weekend!

We started off at Hatfield on Good Friday. Thanks to Linda and Trooper who helped, we set up in good time at Hatfield Forest…

…and it wasn’t long before we were surrounded by folk eager to have a look at our display and learn about what we did in the Forest.

                 

As well as our usual skulls, scat and feathers and feeding signs, we had a couple of new arrivals for this year; a muntjac head and a roe buck in velvet.

On Saturday, after a night in the Forest, we turned our attention to our Fire-lighting Day.

JP expertly guided clients through the history of fire-lighting and different fire-lighting techniques…

Everyone learned very quickly that you can never have enough in your twiggy-bundle.

Of course the highlight was the bow drill. Embers are nurtured…

…before blowing into a flame.

And you can always guarantee the reaction…

…of someone who’s successful for the first time.

Well done to everyone and thanks for coming along.

Our next course is the Wilderness Immersion Course on 20th April. We have 2 places left so have a look at the course page.

Thanks for the visit.