Survival Skills On Offer At Children's Weekend In Woodland Wilderness

Most people wouldn't have a clue how to light a fire without matches and could not build a rainproof shelter from broken branches and leaves even if their life depended on it.

Full article: Survival skills on offer at children's weekend in woodlahttp://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=3480056791257717983&postID=2876514890154855608nd wilderness - Yorkshire Post

Bushcraft Sleepover Promises A Wild Night In Dalby Forest

Adults are being invited to hear the call of the wild and spend the night in the big dark forest fending for themselves.

The Forestry Commission is staging a unique sleepover bushcraft event for grown ups involving building a des res shelter from natural materials, foraging for food and learning how to identify animal tracks on the estate in 3,440 hectare (8,600 acre) Dalby Forest, near Pickering, North Yorkshire.

The event takes place on 20 March and again on 15 May and 18 September.

Forest chiefs have staged similar smaller scale day-time events for youngsters for many years and even come up with National Den Building Day to celebrate the great outdoors. But as ranger Mark Barker explained, it wasn’t just children that came along.

“We found that the adults were just as enthusiastic as the kids, which got us thinking there’s scope here to do something quite ambitious. Interest in bushcraft has never been higher thanks to such gurus as Ray Mears. But it also fits in with a growing belief that we must live more in harmony with our environment and learn to husband natural resources. And of course, bushcraft is such tremendous fun and total escapism, a world away from the rat race.”

Last year’s first ever adult bushcraft event in Dalby was quickly oversubscribed. The cost of shoddy workmanship when making a shelter out of brash and branches is a damp night, so rustic bolt holes turned out to be miracles of improvised construction.

Mark has been with the Forestry Commission for 10 years and previously was in the army. Learning outdoor skills and self-sufficiency has become a way of life and a passion he wants to pass on to others.

The event costs £35 and booking is essential on 01751 460295 or 472771.

Get busy With Bushcraft This Half Term

The Forestry Commission has planned some fun bushcraft events to keep children amused this half term on its estate in West Devon.

On Tuesday 16 February children can head to Cookworthy Forest, near Holsworthy where our Ranger will teach them some basic bushcraft and survival skills in the Celtic roundhouse. There will be sessions on fire lighting and shelter building and there will be toasted marshmallows to finish with.  Similar events will then be held at Eggesford Forest near Crediton on Thursday 18 February.

There will two sessions on both days.  The first, aimed at children between four and eight will run from 10am until 12 noon.  The later sessions, which will start at 1.30pm and finish at 3.30pm are for children aged between eight and 12.  The cost is £6 per child and accompanying adults go free.  Booking is essential by calling 01392 834233.

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I love my World is a new guidebook to rekindle the naturally playful spirit and develop a deep connection with nature from an early age. Full of bushcraft, environmental art, nature awareness and outdoor play activities, as well as mentoring tips and beautiful images, this book will make you want to pack your bags, step out and celebrate our wonderful world. It's for parents, outdoor educators, play rangers, forest school leaders, teachers, aunties, uncles...in fact anyone with a love of our world who spends time outdoors and enjoys sharing it with other people.

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