2023 Winter Moot - Festival of Outdoor Cookery

tim_n

Full Member
Feb 8, 2010
1,730
130
Essex
Hi all, being a new site I don't really know the layout very well, and it's handy to get an idea what's going on and where.

This is the site map.

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Wayne mentioned our camping area would be left of the main road, with mods in area 2 and activities between the rifle range and the campire circle. 'Thar be dragons' area be out of bounds.

Questions:
1. Is the road suitable & can we drive up the road, if road isn't suitable and we aren't allowed to drive up, is it passible by festival wagon?

2. a) If camping out in the woods, are their slabs all over the shop or just in the marked & numbered areas?

b) I am assuming we need to bring altar fires if we did want to cook in the woods and there aren't slabs.

3. Does the scout site have wood on site or do we need to bring/buy our own? I know a lot are struggling for wood supply.

4. Any idea why 5 is closed?

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Mesquite

It is what it is.
Mar 5, 2008
28,213
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~Hemel Hempstead~
Hi all, being a new site I don't really know the layout very well, and it's handy to get an idea what's going on and where.
Hey Tim

Here's the answers to your questions
1. Is the road suitable & can we drive up the road, if road isn't suitable and we aren't allowed to drive up, is it passible by festival wagon?
Yes, the road is suitable for driving on and there's places for cars to pull up and park. Site rules state that once you've unloaded your kit can you please park in the main carpark unless you're a group leader who's booked a pitch or blue badge holder

There's also a number of large sturdy trolleys on site you can use for transporting kit

2. a) If camping out in the woods, are their slabs all over the shop or just in the marked & numbered areas?
There aren't any solid slabs on the site that's been allocated for the winter moot but each pitch has a dedicated fire spot which are pretty obvious. You can see some in the pictures I posted seperately

b) I am assuming we need to bring altar fires if we did want to cook in the woods and there aren't slabs.
Yes, the site prefers you to use firebowls, altars etc if you aren't using one of the dedicated pitch fire circles

3. Does the scout site have wood on site or do we need to bring/buy our own? I know a lot are struggling for wood supply.
There is a very limited supply of wood on site none of which is really seasoned and will be rather damp being it's a winter moot so it's best you bring your own supply which is what we do for the Steamtent meets.

4. Any idea why 5 is closed?
The site did a lot of maintenance on pitch 5 including reseeding it . They want time for the renovations to settle and I believe they are only planning to open it up during the drier months as it was a fairly boggy pitch. The wooded area around pitch 5 is open for use

Some of points to note are:
1. In case people ask, the site is very well wooded so no issues find suitable pitches for hammocking and smaller tents. Large sized tents might struggle in the area for the wintermoot unless it's in one of the marked pitches such as pitch 4. I'm not sure if Tony's booked either the main field or top field for the moot but he can confirm if has and which one.

2. There is a strict no harvesting of green wood rule on the site apart from the area under the pylon line which I've marked in blue

3. There's also a ban on fireworks on the site so no firing of blanks and other loud explosions.
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Mesquite

It is what it is.
Mar 5, 2008
28,213
3,192
63
~Hemel Hempstead~
Here's some pics of the area for the wintermoot taken Spring 2022

Main Drive looking south towards the George Shepheard Cabin
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Campfire circle
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Mods Corner
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Pitch 3
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Pitch 4 (I'd forgotten about this pitch so larger tents ought to be fine in this area)
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Pitch 5
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Pitch 6
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Pylon area for green wood harvesting
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Tony

White bear (Admin)
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Here's a slightly more detailed map showing where we can camp of the WinterMoot, where the main workshops areas are, Van parking.

Any questions ask away.

WinterMoot Map.jpg
 

tim_n

Full Member
Feb 8, 2010
1,730
130
Essex
ah that's very helpful thanks Tony - so we don't have the fields for camping just the woodland?
 

Tony

White bear (Admin)
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ah that's very helpful thanks Tony - so we don't have the fields for camping just the woodland?
That's correct, no fields, I didn't think we'd need them.
We have some field space at the Summer Moot and most of woodland area, so a good amount of space.
 

Hodge

Nomad
Aug 3, 2018
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West Midlands
Got home safe and sound from the Wintermoot. A big thank you to everyone who made it happen. Very good atmosphere throughout. Steve Crumps peasant was the highlight of all the delicious food on offer. I wish you all a safe and speedy journey home.
 

bearbait

Full Member
Got home safe and sound from the Wintermoot. A big thank you to everyone who made it happen. Very good atmosphere throughout. Steve Crumps peasant was the highlight of all the delicious food on offer. I wish you all a safe and speedy journey home.
I'm pleased to hear that there were open-minded omnivores at the Moot. I assume that the cannibalism was consensual?
 

John Fenna

Lifetime Member & Maker
Oct 7, 2006
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I too have made it safely home - vastly overweight and with a face hurting from too much smiling....
A great week - thanks to all those (old hands and new faces) who combined to make it all so good :)
 

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We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

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