Forest Tracker

Last weekend saw the pilot of the Forest Tracker Course – and what a course it was!

All the ingredients for a good weekend were there. It was dry, it was warm (during the day at least), we were in an ancient forest, and we had great people to share the experience.

The Forest Tracker is designed to put all the other Woodlife Trails tracker courses together and take it up a notch. We introduced an Immersive Zone-in technique, looked at sensory tracking and paleo-movement and added some more tracking techniques into the toolbox.

Some of these techniques proved particularly useful now we are encouraging the trackers to track at ever faster speeds to close the time/distance gap to their quarry. Not easy when you have to think of all the other field-craft factors involved.

But it was the trailing techniques that we were concentrating on. This is a particularly difficult skill in any environment. Not only must you get close, but you must follow the quarry. There was some successes – but with all things practice will makes better. As with all things in tracking - It doesn’t take long to learn – but it takes a lifetime to master.

Our Forest trackers are at least on the road to Mastery!

Our Woodlife Trails Tracker courses are:

• Tracking Fundamentals Day
• Wilderness Immersion Course
• Woodland Tracker Course
• Forest Tracker Course

Details on our course list page

Forest Tracker

Last weekend saw the pilot of the Forest Tracker Course – and what a course it was!

All the ingredients for a good weekend were there. It was dry, it was warm (during the day at least), we were in an ancient forest, and we had great people to share the experience.

The Forest Tracker is designed to put all the other Woodlife Trails tracker courses together and take it up a notch. We introduced an Immersive Zone-in technique, looked at sensory tracking and paleo-movement and added some more tracking techniques into the toolbox.

Some of these techniques proved particularly useful now we are encouraging the trackers to track at ever faster speeds to close the time/distance gap to their quarry. Not easy when you have to think of all the other field-craft factors involved.

But it was the trailing techniques that we were concentrating on. This is a particularly difficult skill in any environment. Not only must you get close, but you must follow the quarry. There was some successes – but with all things practice will makes better. As with all things in tracking - It doesn’t take long to learn – but it takes a lifetime to master.

Our Forest trackers are at least on the road to Mastery!

Our Woodlife Trails Tracker courses are:

• Tracking Fundamentals Day
• Wilderness Immersion Course
• Woodland Tracker Course
• Forest Tracker Course

Details on our course list page

Diploma Weekend

We had a great weekend to finish off the year at Hatfield Forest.

The weekend was dedicated to our Diploma students who have just commenced Level 2 of the programme.

For most, level one was completed in the summer and the weekend saw the commencement of level 2 practical skills.

This included axe skills led by JP where the different types of axe and there uses was covered. Of course safety aspects, carving and axe use techniques were also covered as well as sharpening techniques.

In the afternoon Pablo gave an introduction to bird tracking.

Having a course weekend at this time of year wouldn't be complete without the requisite festive drinks and chicken curry cooked up by JP himself.

Thanks to all those who came along and our new assistant Austin who provided the base-camp assistance.

Diploma Weekend

We had a great weekend to finish off the year at Hatfield Forest.

The weekend was dedicated to our Diploma students who have just commenced Level 2 of the programme.

For most, level one was completed in the summer and the weekend saw the commencement of level 2 practical skills.

This included axe skills led by JP where the different types of axe and there uses was covered. Of course safety aspects, carving and axe use techniques were also covered as well as sharpening techniques.

In the afternoon Pablo gave an introduction to bird tracking.

Having a course weekend at this time of year wouldn't be complete without the requisite festive drinks and chicken curry cooked up by JP himself.

Thanks to all those who came along and our new assistant Austin who provided the base-camp assistance.

Countdown to the Forest Tracker Course

The finishing touches are being put on the latest in our tracker courses; the Forest Tracker.

The Forest Tracker course to be held this weekend will be a pilot to see if everything works out. Our discerning clients will be none other than the Woodlife Trails crew and selected trackers from around Britain.

Expectations will be high and there will be little room for error. So, what can the participants expect?

This tracker course focuses not only on the delivery of some new tracking techniques especially designed for British woodland environments but it will concentrate on surveillance and trailing techniques. Throw in a new Immersive Zone-in Technique, some paleo-movement, sensory tracking and bird-track ID and it promises to be an interesting weekend.

Putting this into practice is key and a special exercise where participants will be trailing wildlife for an extended period has been developed which we believe will enhance senses to new heights or should I say return them to what they were 12,000 years ago.

Difficult? You bet it will be but then again this is a level 3 advanced course. Good luck to everyone coming along.

Countdown to the Forest Tracker Course

The finishing touches are being put on the latest in our tracker courses; the Forest Tracker.

The Forest Tracker course to be held this weekend will be a pilot to see if everything works out. Our discerning clients will be none other than the Woodlife Trails crew and selected trackers from around Britain.

Expectations will be high and there will be little room for error. So, what can the participants expect?

This tracker course focuses not only on the delivery of some new tracking techniques especially designed for British woodland environments but it will concentrate on surveillance and trailing techniques. Throw in a new Immersive Zone-in Technique, some paleo-movement, sensory tracking and bird-track ID and it promises to be an interesting weekend.

Putting this into practice is key and a special exercise where participants will be trailing wildlife for an extended period has been developed which we believe will enhance senses to new heights or should I say return them to what they were 12,000 years ago.

Difficult? You bet it will be but then again this is a level 3 advanced course. Good luck to everyone coming along.

WIC October 2013

Once again we had a great Wilderness Immersion Course at Hatfield Forest last weekend.

The weather wasn’t too kind to us and it poured both Friday and Saturday nights but there was enough of a dry period to allow us to do some sessions on the trail during Saturday.

With mist and fog on Saturday night and the rain I didn't really expect much in the way of sightings ; but during the Sunday debrief I was proved wrong as sightings and of badger, fox and fallow came in. We populated our sound map with tawny owl calls, mutjac barks, and badger territorial fighting to name but a few.

A tracking walk turned into a fungal foray as JP expertly guided everyone through the ins and outs of ‘shrooming. At one spot we counted in the region of 15 different species of mushroom.

Many thanks to the participants, John, Ian, Andrew and Jen and of course to the regular crew who provided camp administration and delivered some excellent sessions.