- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Diploma Weekend

We had 5 participants on our Diploma weekend this weekend at Hatfield Forest. At last the weather was kind to us and it was sunny and warm.

What the participants didn’t know as they arrived in the Forest was that this weekend we would be asking them to revisit basic skills such as constructing their own shelter out of available materials given to them, build a fire (of course), locate and purify available water , and construct a natural first aid kit out of plants. Their meal would be provided trout which they would have to cook.

As the participants were at level 2 most of the tasks were not too challenging but it focussed the group on bushcraft tasks instead of relying on kit brought in to the Forest.

We also did two navigation exercises, one during the hours of darkness, and we soon realised that all our Nav skills were a little rusty. Some work to do there!

The weekend finished up with a good debrief with lots of learning and tired but happy participants.

One sour note to the weekend was the discovery of a large number of fire-scars and even human excrement and deposits of tissue paper from a previous event in our area. We cleared everything up (yes! including the excrement - as it may have contaminated the food and, of course, left no trace with our own fire.

This is, of course, a fundamental skill which unfortunately is over-looked by many so-called bushcrafters and even outdoors professionals.

If you are in any doubt as to what you should be doing or not doing in the woods, our slogan says it all; do a course with us and “ We Will Show You How.”

Diploma Weekend

We had 5 participants on our Diploma weekend this weekend at Hatfield Forest. At last the weather was kind to us and it was sunny and warm.

What the participants didn’t know as they arrived in the Forest was that this weekend we would be asking them to revisit basic skills such as constructing their own shelter out of available materials given to them, build a fire (of course), locate and purify available water , and construct a natural first aid kit out of plants. Their meal would be provided trout which they would have to cook.

As the participants were at level 2 most of the tasks were not too challenging but it focussed the group on bushcraft tasks instead of relying on kit brought in to the Forest.

We also did two navigation exercises, one during the hours of darkness, and we soon realised that all our Nav skills were a little rusty. Some work to do there!

The weekend finished up with a good debrief with lots of learning and tired but happy participants.

One sour note to the weekend was the discovery of a large number of fire-scars and even human excrement and deposits of tissue paper from a previous event in our area. We cleared everything up (yes! including the excrement - as it may have contaminated the food and, of course, left no trace with our own fire.

This is, of course, a fundamental skill which unfortunately is over-looked by many so-called bushcrafters and even outdoors professionals.

If you are in any doubt as to what you should be doing or not doing in the woods, our slogan says it all; do a course with us and “ We Will Show You How.”

The Bushcraft Show 2014

The Bushcraft Show is taking place between the 24th May and 26th May at Catton Hall in Derbyshire.

This is what we’re up to this year…

Tracker Central

Whether you are a beginner or experienced; enthusiast or expert come and visit the Tracker Central area at the Woodlife Trails stand at the Bushcraft Show. Renowned UK wildlife tracking experts JP and Pablo will invite you to pull up a chair around the fire and chat about all things tracking, bushcraft and wildlife. You will also be able to view their gallery and nature exhibits and interact with the birds of prey.

From their stand they will be talking, demonstrating and getting you personally involved in:

• Field-craft skills and techniques taken from military, law enforcement and countryman experiences;
• Track and sign identification and interpretation using elements of their famous "table of death" wildlife exhibits;
• UK indigenous countryside skills such as trapping, snaring, and hunting with birds of prey and, of course;
• Bushcraft skills which underpin everything tracking.

There will be special show offers if you sign up for their unique tracking courses which are held in association with the National Trust in Hatfield Forest, Essex. Visit our website at www.woodlife.co.uk for more details

The art of tracking is not new - it was our first ever science!

____________________________________________

All talks, activities and demonstrations will take place from the Woodlife Trails Stand

Field-craft skills – Getting close to wildlife (Talk and demo)

Woodlife Trails staff will explain how to get closer to wildlife than you ever thought possible by using a mixture of tracking, field-craft and surveillance techniques.

Track and sign identification and interpretation (Talk, demo and activity)

Woodlife Trails staff will explain the basics of track and sign identification and take you for a walk around the local area identifying some of these tracks and signs. We will also help you to interpret them.

UK Indigenous Hunting with Birds of Prey – (Demo and talk with Harris Hawk and Owl)

Woodlife Trails staff will explain and demonstrate UK hunting lore commonly called Countryman skills which includes trapping, snaring and hunting with birds of prey. Meet our Harris Hawk and Spock, the Ashy-faced Barn owl.

Fire lighting by friction – (Demo and activity)

If you’ve ever wanted to learn this technique which remains elusive to most, come and see how easy it is with our bow-drill technique. We will also suggest easier methods to light your fire.

The Bushcraft Show 2014

The Bushcraft Show is taking place between the 24th May and 26th May at Catton Hall in Derbyshire.

This is what we’re up to this year…

Tracker Central

Whether you are a beginner or experienced; enthusiast or expert come and visit the Tracker Central area at the Woodlife Trails stand at the Bushcraft Show. Renowned UK wildlife tracking experts JP and Pablo will invite you to pull up a chair around the fire and chat about all things tracking, bushcraft and wildlife. You will also be able to view their gallery and nature exhibits and interact with the birds of prey.

From their stand they will be talking, demonstrating and getting you personally involved in:

• Field-craft skills and techniques taken from military, law enforcement and countryman experiences;
• Track and sign identification and interpretation using elements of their famous "table of death" wildlife exhibits;
• UK indigenous countryside skills such as trapping, snaring, and hunting with birds of prey and, of course;
• Bushcraft skills which underpin everything tracking.

There will be special show offers if you sign up for their unique tracking courses which are held in association with the National Trust in Hatfield Forest, Essex. Visit our website at www.woodlife.co.uk for more details

The art of tracking is not new - it was our first ever science!

____________________________________________

All talks, activities and demonstrations will take place from the Woodlife Trails Stand

Field-craft skills – Getting close to wildlife (Talk and demo)

Woodlife Trails staff will explain how to get closer to wildlife than you ever thought possible by using a mixture of tracking, field-craft and surveillance techniques.

Track and sign identification and interpretation (Talk, demo and activity)

Woodlife Trails staff will explain the basics of track and sign identification and take you for a walk around the local area identifying some of these tracks and signs. We will also help you to interpret them.

UK Indigenous Hunting with Birds of Prey – (Demo and talk with Harris Hawk and Owl)

Woodlife Trails staff will explain and demonstrate UK hunting lore commonly called Countryman skills which includes trapping, snaring and hunting with birds of prey. Meet our Harris Hawk and Spock, the Ashy-faced Barn owl.

Fire lighting by friction – (Demo and activity)

If you’ve ever wanted to learn this technique which remains elusive to most, come and see how easy it is with our bow-drill technique. We will also suggest easier methods to light your fire.

Tracker Courses

Hot on the success of the Wilderness Immersion Course and Tracking Fundamentals course, the Woodland Tracker will be taking place this weekend. (25th)

The Woodland Tracker is an intermediate technical tracking course that covers micro tracking, speculative and systematic techniques. We look at gait patterns and also delve deeper into field-craft techniques and ageing tracks and sign.

We have some places left so please give us an email bookings@woodlife.co.uk

The Immersion course once again proved a great success and we received some tremendous feedback from our inaugural Tracking Fundamentals course.

It’s all systems go as we move from tracking-led to bushcraft-led courses for summer. We will also be attending the usual shows this summer plus a few other that we will be revealing soon.

Let us know if you want to  be part of it. Have a look at our courses and events page http://www.woodlife.co.uk/course-events-calendar/