3 day introduction to bushcraft and survival course

Ages: 18 and over. Price: £150 per person

This course, set over 3 days with 2 nights camping, is designed to introduce basic bushcraft and survival skills for you to be able to live comfortably in the woods for a short period of time. The topics included will be:

Day 1: Fire and shelter

• Basic rules of survival and priorities.
• Where to site your camp.
• Knots and lashings using ropes
• Natural shelter building which you have the opportunity to sleep in if you wish
• Creating fire using modern and primitive techniques. Wood properties. Natural and man made tinder. Fire safety. Fire lays.

Day 2: Food and water

• Finding water sources. Man made and natural filtration. Transpiration and solar stills. Purification techniques.
• Wild plant and tree identification. Wild edibles. Hedgerow medicine. Other tree and plant uses both past and present.
• Safe use of the axe, bow saws and hand saws.
• Safe use of the knife and knife law. Whittling and Swedish carving techniques. Feather sticks. Tent pegs.
• Small game butchery. Fish and rabbit.
• Making bread. Cooking over an open fire.
• Mammal traps, the law and morel obligations. The figure 4 trap and other dead falls. Snares. The twitch up.

Day 3: Craft work

• Green wood working including, but not limited to: pot hangers, camp cutlery, and a bow drill set.
• Knife and tool sharpening.
• Natural cordage.
• Making a simple hazel bow and/or an Atlatl

During the evenings there will also be some entertainment in the form of games, riddles and quizzes. If you would like to participate there will also be available a range of physical challenges, including axe, tomahawk and knife throwing, archery, primitive throwing spears, air rifles and a slack line.
All food and beverages will be included except for your lunch and dinner on the first day and
breakfast and lunch on the second day. This is because we wish for you to experience cooking over an open fire.