Luke

Luke is a keen tracking enthusiast, inspired by Pablo's early posts on the Woodlife Network.

Over the past few years he has become enthralled by our native wildlife and the art of tracking them, using bushcraft and all the associated skill sets used to try and get closer to our wonderful natural environment.

Luke is involved in a group focused on tracking the alleged big cats from sightings in the south west of England. He is determined to change Pablo and JP’s stance on Big Cats in the UK!!

His particular interests are: Wildlife, tracking, primitive skills and technology, wild foods and natural history, with the occasional bit of canoeing thrown in.

He likes nothing better than getting out into his local woods with his kids and watch their enthusiasm and confidence in the outdoor environment grow.

The things he enjoys most about being a Mentor/Assistant with Woodlife Trails  is the fact that they are able to ignite a passion within WT attendees and watch that spark being nurtured and grow before their very eyes. Also the fact that Woodlife Trails is not just a Bushcraft & Tracking company, but above all it's a family.

Luke has his own blog http://cotswoldbushcrafting.wordpress.com/

Luke

Luke is a keen tracking enthusiast, inspired by Pablo's early posts on the Woodlife Network.

Over the past few years he has become enthralled by our native wildlife and the art of tracking them, using bushcraft and all the associated skill sets used to try and get closer to our wonderful natural environment.

Luke is involved in a group focused on tracking the alleged big cats from sightings in the south west of England. He is determined to change Pablo and JP’s stance on Big Cats in the UK!!

His particular interests are: Wildlife, tracking, primitive skills and technology, wild foods and natural history, with the occasional bit of canoeing thrown in.

He likes nothing better than getting out into his local woods with his kids and watch their enthusiasm and confidence in the outdoor environment grow.

The things he enjoys most about being a Mentor/Assistant with Woodlife Trails  is the fact that they are able to ignite a passion within WT attendees and watch that spark being nurtured and grow before their very eyes. Also the fact that Woodlife Trails is not just a Bushcraft & Tracking company, but above all it's a family.

Luke has his own blog http://cotswoldbushcrafting.wordpress.com/

Location: Hatfield Forest

Suitable for: Families (we recommend children should be over 6 years old - but please contact us to discuss this)

Duration: Fri, Sat and Sun

Dates: Please check availability below.

Previous Experience Required: None

Description:

This course is designed for the full family and a great (and cheap!) alternative to amusement parks and other expensive outings during school breaks.

We will set up a camp in the woods, make a fire, cook some food over the fire, and perhaps do some craft work like carving, learn about trees & plants and their uses and learn about the woodlands and forest. We will have stalking games and missions for the young adventurers; hiding important decision making skills in fun tasks. You will also learn about the birds and animals in the vicinity; how to track and get closer to them.

We will help you set up an overnight camp and show you how to walk around at night in safety and teach you about night adaption techniques. We will show you how to watch animals at night, using new skills and modern technology like night-vision equipment. You can tell us where to put our camera traps and see if we get anything.

This is a fantastic opportunity to see nocturnal animals such as deer, badgers and foxes; although, of course, this isn't guaranteed.

Finally, you will able to relax around the fire and watch a bit of "Bush TV".

This is a great opportunity to take your children away from the trappings of the modern world and introduce them the wonders of nature.  They will get dirty and tired, but they will certainly have fun!

The Course (depending on the one or two day option) could include:

• Skills; including carving or bushcraft skills including fire-lighting, and aspects of outdoor living.
• Wildlife, plant life, tree and environment identification for resource use
• Introduction to tracking – Introduction to the ancient art of tracking; compression shapes, feeding and other signs; telling the story in the tracks
• Team-building tasks including team tracking
• Woodland walk - Identifying plants, trees, tracks and signs & hopefully some animals. Using natural resources
• Setting up woodland camps for wildcamping
• Woodland awareness tasks and games

Location: Hatfield Forest

Suitable for: Families (we recommend children should be over 6 years old - but please contact us to discuss this)

Duration: Fri, Sat and Sun

Dates: Please check availability below.

Previous Experience Required: None

Description:

This course is designed for the full family and a great (and cheap!) alternative to amusement parks and other expensive outings during school breaks.

We will set up a camp in the woods, make a fire, cook some food over the fire, and perhaps do some craft work like carving, learn about trees & plants and their uses and learn about the woodlands and forest. We will have stalking games and missions for the young adventurers; hiding important decision making skills in fun tasks. You will also learn about the birds and animals in the vicinity; how to track and get closer to them.

We will help you set up an overnight camp and show you how to walk around at night in safety and teach you about night adaption techniques. We will show you how to watch animals at night, using new skills and modern technology like night-vision equipment. You can tell us where to put our camera traps and see if we get anything.

This is a fantastic opportunity to see nocturnal animals such as deer, badgers and foxes; although, of course, this isn't guaranteed.

Finally, you will able to relax around the fire and watch a bit of "Bush TV".

This is a great opportunity to take your children away from the trappings of the modern world and introduce them the wonders of nature.  They will get dirty and tired, but they will certainly have fun!

The Course (depending on the one or two day option) could include:

• Skills; including carving or bushcraft skills including fire-lighting, and aspects of outdoor living.
• Wildlife, plant life, tree and environment identification for resource use
• Introduction to tracking – Introduction to the ancient art of tracking; compression shapes, feeding and other signs; telling the story in the tracks
• Team-building tasks including team tracking
• Woodland walk - Identifying plants, trees, tracks and signs & hopefully some animals. Using natural resources
• Setting up woodland camps for wildcamping
• Woodland awareness tasks and games

Family Bushcraft, Tracking & Wildcamp Weekend

It was perfect weather for our Family Bushcraft and Tracking event.

All the participants knew each other but none of them had been wildcamping before. Despite this, they soon got into the routine and everyone, including the younger ones, were busy carving away with their knives and some even making spoons.

The afternoon saw some tracking skills being taught and a staking game, which was great fun, even for one person who got a little wetter than the others! Actually a welcome relief bearing in mind the hot weather!

Saturday night and a out came a fantastic curry prepared by Vinnie. Who ever said Forest survival should be uncomfortable?

Sunday started off with fire-lighting which was a session led by our potential instructor Griggers. Trooper, our other potential instructor had already delivered the knife safety session the day before. Every one had a go. I was so impressed with the determination of the youngsters who wouldn't give up until their spark form the ferro-rod had caught the birch bark. Their faces lit up as they realised that, at last, they had managed to make fire.

George gave a great demo off potassium permanganate and glycerine as a means of starting fire.

Our plant and foraging walk ended up at Hatfield Forest’s cafe and the family groups had a go at rowing around the lake. I understand that a sea battle ensued, and Vinnie& George lost!!

Here are a few photos.

Family Bushcraft, Tracking & Wildcamp Weekend

It was perfect weather for our Family Bushcraft and Tracking event.

All the participants knew each other but none of them had been wildcamping before. Despite this, they soon got into the routine and everyone, including the younger ones, were busy carving away with their knives and some even making spoons.

The afternoon saw some tracking skills being taught and a staking game, which was great fun, even for one person who got a little wetter than the others! Actually a welcome relief bearing in mind the hot weather!

Saturday night and a out came a fantastic curry prepared by Vinnie. Who ever said Forest survival should be uncomfortable?

Sunday started off with fire-lighting which was a session led by our potential instructor Griggers. Trooper, our other potential instructor had already delivered the knife safety session the day before. Every one had a go. I was so impressed with the determination of the youngsters who wouldn't give up until their spark form the ferro-rod had caught the birch bark. Their faces lit up as they realised that, at last, they had managed to make fire.

George gave a great demo off potassium permanganate and glycerine as a means of starting fire.

Our plant and foraging walk ended up at Hatfield Forest’s cafe and the family groups had a go at rowing around the lake. I understand that a sea battle ensued, and Vinnie& George lost!!

Here are a few photos.