I'm trying to find sites for Bushcraft in SE London/Kent Borders.

[P Wren]

I live in South East London on the Kent Surrey Border and am fascinated by all things related to Bushcraft.

In the past I have used some very isolated in infrequently used and hardly managed public woodland, or disappeared off into the New Forest for a few days, but I have never been comfortable making fires on public land so have always resorted to a hexamine stove, my trusty MSR Pocket Rocket or just had cold rations.

I'm keen to practice friction firelighting techniques, shelter making, bowl making and all the basic stuff, but would prefer not to engage in unathorised/'guerrilla' camping or do anything that might put landowners out.

BushcraftUK has plenty of details of companies like 'Natural-Pathways' and 'Bush Basics' which are relatively close to me, but money is tight and I would prefer not to have to shell out for a course every time I want to get outdoors for a few days.

I know of some beautiful areas of woodland around the Sevenoaks area but don't know how to find out who owns the land. Is BushcraftUK planning any kind of resource to identify friendly land owners or locations where Bushcraft can be practiced?

Does anyone know of any friendly landowners in the Warlingham, Biggin Hill, Tatsfield, Sevenoaks, Woldingham, Tonbridge area that I might approach for permission?

Any tips anyone? I'm sure Chief Seattle never had this much trouble…..

 

[bambodoggy]

Hey Matey, I think most Scout Campsites allow fires and will sometimes let non-scout members use them.

Or maybe you could think about starting up a South East Meet-up group?

I am lucky were I am that I have a little bit of woodland that I can camp and have small fires on in return for my tree felling and clearing (which I do anyway as I have commoners rights to collect firewood from there) and it's surrounded by miles and miles of MoD land that I can use for everything bushcrafty except camping and fires

Here's a link to Scoutnet where they list a lot of Scout camp sites, hope it's useful to you:

http://www.scoutnet.org.uk/camps/index.htm

Bam.

 

[Kepis]

Have a look at my post "Blackberry Wood", you might find it interesting

 

[Laurence Dell]

Hi P Wren,

Do you know Broadstone Warren Scout Campsite near Forest Row, East Sussex?
I think it is the location for the Ashdown meets, it is also one of the sites that Woodlore use for some of their courses.

Whereabouts in the Sevenoaks are these woods you are thinking of?
I work in that area for a tree surgery firm and know it quite well and know some of the landowners.
PM me with some locations and I'll see if I can help

 

[bloodline]

Mavers Blackberry Wood suggestion is a great idea . We stayed there Tuesday night we had my mates kids in tow and wanted somewhere we could teach them how to light and keep a fire going .You can buy sacks of wood but take your own tinder and kindling. They have good clean loos and showers and there is some beautiful countryside to explore. Im going back with my wife as im trying to convert her to bushcraft living and I think this place is ideal as you can cook on an open fire and chop a few logs up.

 

[gismo]

go to council with map of land you wish to use they can find out from land register who owns it.

 

[rich59]

Hey Matey, I think most Scout Campsites allow fires and will sometimes let non-scout members use them.

Or maybe you could think about starting up a South East Meet-up group?

........

Bam.

Can someone give the lowdown on the organisation of other meetup groups? How would one get one started?

 

[bambodoggy]

Can someone give the lowdown on the organisation of other meetup groups? How would one get one started?

Just start a thread in the meet up section announcing that you are starting up a meet in XXXX place and then when you have enough people interested just set a date, book the camp site and then meet up on the day.....simple

Pm me if you want to know anything else but that#s all there is too it

Bam.

 

[rich59]

Just start a thread in the meet up section announcing that you are starting up a meet in XXXX place and then when you have enough people interested just set a date, book the camp site and then meet up on the day.....simple

Bam.

What sort of place? How long is a meet up? How many people is enough? What sort of cost is acceptable?

 

[bambodoggy]

What sort of place? How long is a meet up? How many people is enough? What sort of cost is acceptable?

Sorry Matey, only just seen your reply....

1) Any sort of place where you are allowed to camp and preferably have open fires, look up some camp sites or get to know a few landowners.
2) As long as you like, you're organising it but most run Friday evening to sunday lunchtime.
3) As it's a meet you need upwards of two people lol
4) Lower the better...campsite fee's are usually the only formal costs, then there's food and actually getting there.

Sorry, I know that's not a great amount of help but it's really and truely up to you how you run your meet ups. There are no hard and fast rules, just do what you want to do. If you have a place to where you go to camp and do bushcraft locally then just put a shout out when you're next going to see if a few people want to join you....hey presto, it's a meet up!

Cheers,

Bam.

 

[rich59]

Sorry Matey, only just seen your reply....

1) Any sort of place where you are allowed to camp and preferably have open fires, look up some camp sites or get to know a few landowners.
Bam.

Thanks Bam,

I did some searching and have now sent a message to the "Small Woods Association" to see if they can put me in touch with some landowners.