Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum and pretty new to bushcraft. Although I've always been an outdoors person. Spending my youth in woods or fishing and a bit of hunting. And I've found I know more from these days than I realised. But still very much lacking knowledge and skills I'd like. Having just had a son a few weeks ago, attending an over priced bushcraft course isn't really an option. I thought I'd give " bushcraft and survival skills magazine" a go. So went to my newsagent asked if they could get it. Next day I got it. When I went to collect it I had £4 change in my pocket. Surely enough for any rag?. Not this one. £5. A diver for a magazine! Unbelievable. Anyway the newsagent let me off the extra pound after I said I'd call back. He had read it I think and realised it's content. Which, surely is what amounts to a catalogue. There really is nothing of worth WHATSOEVER. advert after advert. With plenty of other adverts by the way of reviews thrown in. To be fair there was a story on stalking grey squirrels. Which was infact just how to spot a squirrel drey. Now, I'm no grizzly Addams. But if you have trouble spotting squirrels, they might aswell remind me grass is green. Another article how to attach 3 pieces of wood to make a backpack that would ruin you. And my favourite article. The plough drill. Which they could only manage with American wood brought in especially. Another high point was in the Dutch oven article. The chicken and chips recipe that said and I'll quote this. "Step 4. You can either cut your chips from fresh spuds But to be honest, a pack of frozen spuds saves alot of time". Are they just taking the ****? Really? Can I legally get my money back? I feel like the highwayman saw me coming. I genuinley could do a better mag. Fair enough if they don't have skills enough. Get people in that do. It was basically £5 for adverts. That were no better value than anywhere else. Another high point was some fool trying to sell a fish knife ad a military knife. I could have brought a decent book for a fiver. Robbing b******s. So everyone where can to look for information I might need? Cheers all
Bushcraft and survival skills magazine!
- Thread starter Raybennett
- Start date
Hi
Welcome to the forum, Tony (the forum owner) managed to produce a very good magazine for about seven issues, it was really very good, I think there are still some back issues available, worth a look I'd think.
PS no swearing is permitted on this forum.
Welcome to the forum, Tony (the forum owner) managed to produce a very good magazine for about seven issues, it was really very good, I think there are still some back issues available, worth a look I'd think.
PS no swearing is permitted on this forum.
Thanks alot. I'll try to look them up. And I actually put the * in myself for emphasis. Is there any groups in the staffs/Cheshire area anyone knows of?
Most magazines earn the bulk of their revenue from advertising.
Comparatively few earn their keep from cover sales alone.
I've not seen the issue in question but perhaps if you go and have a cuppa and revisit the articles you may read them slightly differently ?
Perhaps the "... pack of frozen spuds ..." crack was meant with tongue very firmly in cheek ?
The written word can very, very easily be misinterpreted or read in a way the author did not intend.
Research suggests that around 90% of meaning is, in fact, conveyed through voice inflection, facial expression and body language during conversation.
Take that away and you are left with the remaining 10% that, through no fault of the reader, can sometimes be taken to mean something it is not.
Please don't think I am an apologist for the magazine in question - I have no connection at all. I have had a lot of work published though and I am well aware of how something that you think is as plain as day can be taken entirely out of context, which is right about when you wish you'd stuck an extra word or two in, or left one or two out...
Pick up any magazine these days and you are basically reading a catalogue/brochure where the adverts are spaced out with (hopefully) informative and (even more hopefully) well written articles. Product reviews are inevitable since the advertiser is interested in pushing that product and the product is (hopefully) of direct interest to the reader base.
I'll get my coat...
Comparatively few earn their keep from cover sales alone.
I've not seen the issue in question but perhaps if you go and have a cuppa and revisit the articles you may read them slightly differently ?
Perhaps the "... pack of frozen spuds ..." crack was meant with tongue very firmly in cheek ?
The written word can very, very easily be misinterpreted or read in a way the author did not intend.
Research suggests that around 90% of meaning is, in fact, conveyed through voice inflection, facial expression and body language during conversation.
Take that away and you are left with the remaining 10% that, through no fault of the reader, can sometimes be taken to mean something it is not.
Please don't think I am an apologist for the magazine in question - I have no connection at all. I have had a lot of work published though and I am well aware of how something that you think is as plain as day can be taken entirely out of context, which is right about when you wish you'd stuck an extra word or two in, or left one or two out...
Pick up any magazine these days and you are basically reading a catalogue/brochure where the adverts are spaced out with (hopefully) informative and (even more hopefully) well written articles. Product reviews are inevitable since the advertiser is interested in pushing that product and the product is (hopefully) of direct interest to the reader base.
I'll get my coat...
Hello and welcome!
I understand your feelings about the mag - the triumph of Style over Substance. They have the occassional good article but they never justify the cover price IMHO.
Tonys mag was much better (I used to write a bit for it )
The "The Bushcraft Magazine" (www.bushcraft-magazine.co.uk ) is usually a good read. Quaterly, for £14 per year (inc P&P), slim but usually very interesting and far from "all advert"
I understand your feelings about the mag - the triumph of Style over Substance. They have the occassional good article but they never justify the cover price IMHO.
Tonys mag was much better
(I used to write a bit for it )The "The Bushcraft Magazine" (www.bushcraft-magazine.co.uk ) is usually a good read. Quaterly, for £14 per year (inc P&P), slim but usually very interesting and far from "all advert"
Thanks john I'll check it out. But xunni, I'm sorry but I disagree with you totally. I used to box in my youth, and would read boxing news. A fantastic mag if you like boxing am or pro. Then I wanted to fish the fly I read trout fisherman and total fly fisher. They taught me to the extent that I often outfish seasoned gents. Much cheaper than a guide/instructor. So I feel most specific interest mags are great sources of knowledge and indeed find products. I just don't think this mag is. I've read it cover to cover a few times. Even the reviews had adverts in to. I just didn't get a sense of getting any depth of knowledge of any kind. I also feel there is so much that could go into it. I shall not be getting it again. It's basically the price of a book.
Fair comment, however, if you go and pick up any issue of Trout and Salmon, Airgun World, or any photography, computer, mountain biking magazine or whatever, there are loads of ads. Granted, in your case you seem to have picked a particular issue where the articles are found wanting as well which illustrates that, these days, if you tag the word "bushcraft" onto almost anything, you can sell it.
If you don't already have it I have a spare copy of Ray Mears Bushcraft Survival that you are welcome to on the condition that you hand it on to someone once you've read it.
Although not a 'how to' manual it does contain a lot of useful information. Worth the time to read...
Most magazines try to balance the content/ad ratio as best they can but this is a very common topic which crops up again and again and it demonstrates that, in some cases at least, the magazine in question is getting that balance wrong. Perhaps if the same number of ads were interspersed with better articles the issue would not be as great ?
Like I say, I am not excusing it.
If you don't already have it I have a spare copy of Ray Mears Bushcraft Survival that you are welcome to on the condition that you hand it on to someone once you've read it.
Although not a 'how to' manual it does contain a lot of useful information. Worth the time to read...
Most magazines try to balance the content/ad ratio as best they can but this is a very common topic which crops up again and again and it demonstrates that, in some cases at least, the magazine in question is getting that balance wrong. Perhaps if the same number of ads were interspersed with better articles the issue would not be as great ?
Like I say, I am not excusing it.
Thanks alot xunii, I'd really appreciate that. I'd not only pass the book on. I'd glady pass on the knowledge gained also. Also let me clarify that I'm not knocking the amount of ads. It's the lack of other content. Indeed it was one of the reasons I decided to buy the mag. But I didn't see the good deals I've found in other specialists mags. I have though, really tried to gain some information from it. I started my first fire by friction last year, and all the information I used to be able to do this were gleamed from forums and YouTube. It's a shame really that the magazine wasn't better. But I'd be really interested in Reading your book. Thanks xunni
Sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy the issue you purchased but to say it's pants on the evidence of one issue...? Get people in that have the skills if 'they' don't? Let's see...
The Dutch oven piece was done by Dave Craze owner of Ronnie Sunshines and runs regular outdoors courses.
The wooden frame piece was done by Jason Ingamells from Woodland Ways and he's based the frame on a wooden structure found with Otzi that could have been a rucksack (and if you don't make you can't say that it would ruin you!)
The Fire Plough piece was by Dale Collett from British Bushcraft School. He actually said that the US wood helped him crack it and that he got the makings of an ember from Clematis and wondered if it was his technique.
All three were at the magazine's stand at the Outdoors Show at The ExCel and where great to see demonstrating and to talk to, along with Perry McGee and professional forager Fergus Drennan (both also article contributors, the latter in this issue)
The squirrel piece is written by Pablo from Woodlife, he's a trained Shadowhawk tracker and blow me Ian Maxwell-Shadowhawk Track School founder has a piece in there too.
There's a short piece by Tristan Gooley (The Natural navigator), a feature by knife and tool maker Ben Orford and his wife Lois, John Ryder from Woodcraft School, Annette Stickler from Camp Fire Skills and as you've touched on fishing there's a feature by Coastal Survival's Fraser Christian on Rod & Line Fishing for food. Add to this the usual diy bushcraft feature and, as they say, much, much more.
It isn't a cheap purchase but find a glossy mag that is! Just to get W H Smiths to stock costs an eye watering amount, The Outdoors Show is a mind melting £278 + vat on top per sq. metre (and it was the best stand by a mile at the show for free stuff happening). Why not write to them constructively with your comments and suggest how they could produce this magazine without advertising?
I'm a subscriber & I accept that the magazine can never hope to get all the features spot on for every reader. The subject matter for Bushcraft is as broad as it is long and I can look back over a years worth of issues and find those that yank my chain more than others. I met Simon and Olivia at the show and both are very genuine.
Oh, and don't forget they are doing the Bushie Show in the Lake district with the likes of Gransfors and Lars attending...a risky venture to bring a Bushcraft Show to the North in a beatiful setting by the edge of Lake Windmere.
The Dutch oven piece was done by Dave Craze owner of Ronnie Sunshines and runs regular outdoors courses.
The wooden frame piece was done by Jason Ingamells from Woodland Ways and he's based the frame on a wooden structure found with Otzi that could have been a rucksack (and if you don't make you can't say that it would ruin you!)
The Fire Plough piece was by Dale Collett from British Bushcraft School. He actually said that the US wood helped him crack it and that he got the makings of an ember from Clematis and wondered if it was his technique.
All three were at the magazine's stand at the Outdoors Show at The ExCel and where great to see demonstrating and to talk to, along with Perry McGee and professional forager Fergus Drennan (both also article contributors, the latter in this issue)
The squirrel piece is written by Pablo from Woodlife, he's a trained Shadowhawk tracker and blow me Ian Maxwell-Shadowhawk Track School founder has a piece in there too.
There's a short piece by Tristan Gooley (The Natural navigator), a feature by knife and tool maker Ben Orford and his wife Lois, John Ryder from Woodcraft School, Annette Stickler from Camp Fire Skills and as you've touched on fishing there's a feature by Coastal Survival's Fraser Christian on Rod & Line Fishing for food. Add to this the usual diy bushcraft feature and, as they say, much, much more.
It isn't a cheap purchase but find a glossy mag that is! Just to get W H Smiths to stock costs an eye watering amount, The Outdoors Show is a mind melting £278 + vat on top per sq. metre (and it was the best stand by a mile at the show for free stuff happening). Why not write to them constructively with your comments and suggest how they could produce this magazine without advertising?
I'm a subscriber & I accept that the magazine can never hope to get all the features spot on for every reader. The subject matter for Bushcraft is as broad as it is long and I can look back over a years worth of issues and find those that yank my chain more than others. I met Simon and Olivia at the show and both are very genuine.
Oh, and don't forget they are doing the Bushie Show in the Lake district with the likes of Gransfors and Lars attending...a risky venture to bring a Bushcraft Show to the North in a beatiful setting by the edge of Lake Windmere.
I agree with all you said except the last bit. I think bringing the Bushcraft Show to the north may be it's finest hour. Everything always happens south of Watford and why?? London and it's surrounds is an awful place and you'll go a long way to find a more beautiful setting than Windemere. The outdoor show is moving to London this year I believe so there's another decent show flushed down the toilet.
Whittler Kev
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Got to agree JohnThe "The Bushcraft Magazine" (www.bushcraft-magazine.co.uk ) is usually a good read. Quaterly, for £14 per year (inc P&P), slim but usually very interesting and far from "all advert"
. I am probably a litle naughty though and buy the back issues from them a little cheaper (£3 inc postage (must see a member on here to see if any are available 
uppy_dog - ??????? I'm coming)) and always find them a good read - Courses are cheap too at £25 Just been on there and bought one now
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If I can add my 2d, I bought the mag in the original post for the first 18 issues and found it to my mind at least reduce in quality of articles and increase in adverts and more general interest articles over that time when compared to Tony's mag (still got the back issues) and to the Bushcraft Magazine referred to by John in post #5.
I don't buy it now but do the surviving one of the other two, again to my mind, much better value for money. Can I start a petition for Tony's to be re-born?
I don't buy it now but do the surviving one of the other two, again to my mind, much better value for money. Can I start a petition for Tony's to be re-born?
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I can hear the screams of anguish now when they realise that up here folks actually get mud on their boots and go out in weather...
Seriously though, I think you'd be hard pressed to find a more suitable location for an event of this kind in the UK.
The Lake District never stops - it never matters what the weather is doing or the time of year, folks are always there doing one or more outdoors activity and this, coupled with its truly spectacular scenery and good road and rail links makes it a potentially great venue.
Imagine, a venue where you could actually go right out and use your latest purchase as soon as you leave the trade tent - there's a novel proposition...
Well at the end of the day. You can tell me all about everyones qualifications and authority. None of which I doubted, except maybe the frozen chips guy. But at the end of the day I found myself feeling ripped off. £5 is alot for a magazine, you could buy a wild food hand book for that. Which I would at least learn something from. It is also about the quantity of articles and information. I certainly won't be buying the magazine again. Although if they do a course for £25 that would be great. I guess I just expected more for a fiver
Hi.
I was interested to hear the feedback about my grey squirrel article in this issue of Bushcraft and Survival Magazine. Of course this is your opinion and I'm sorry you didn't seem to get much from the article.
I have to be conscious that I am writing to a wide audience including youngsters who are just starting to learn about wildlife. There are also some adults who are just starting out. There will be some like yourself who will obviously know exactly what a drey looks like - but in my experience, even experienced people get confused. To challenge one small paragraph about the home (which I cover in every issue when describing an animal) out of 2,200 words seems a little unfair in my opinion, especially when you say that the article was "just about how to spot a drey". I'm pretty sure there was something you learnt from the article if you're honest - but you didn't say.
I don't believe taking a more scientific approach or writing in more depth about any wildlife subject is in keeping with the magazine; however I did make an attempt to comment about the controversial subject of benefits or not of integrating the grey into the British countryside. I hoped you might at least have had a comment about this one way or another, but you seemed to have missed the point.
Of course, I'm defending the article - and I want to please everyone although I know this is impossible. It would however, be good that any comments are more constructive. Let me know what you want to see and I will do my best to adjust the style of writing as long as it remains informative and interesting to the majority of subscribers and those who are willing to pay for the mag.
Best regards to all.
I was interested to hear the feedback about my grey squirrel article in this issue of Bushcraft and Survival Magazine. Of course this is your opinion and I'm sorry you didn't seem to get much from the article.
I have to be conscious that I am writing to a wide audience including youngsters who are just starting to learn about wildlife. There are also some adults who are just starting out. There will be some like yourself who will obviously know exactly what a drey looks like - but in my experience, even experienced people get confused. To challenge one small paragraph about the home (which I cover in every issue when describing an animal) out of 2,200 words seems a little unfair in my opinion, especially when you say that the article was "just about how to spot a drey". I'm pretty sure there was something you learnt from the article if you're honest - but you didn't say.
I don't believe taking a more scientific approach or writing in more depth about any wildlife subject is in keeping with the magazine; however I did make an attempt to comment about the controversial subject of benefits or not of integrating the grey into the British countryside. I hoped you might at least have had a comment about this one way or another, but you seemed to have missed the point.
Of course, I'm defending the article - and I want to please everyone although I know this is impossible. It would however, be good that any comments are more constructive. Let me know what you want to see and I will do my best to adjust the style of writing as long as it remains informative and interesting to the majority of subscribers and those who are willing to pay for the mag.
Best regards to all.
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woodspirits
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Hi pablo. I understand you have a wide range of people. And indeed I'd have to say yours was the one I read most thoroughly. And you know, with more articles on campcraft, or maybe a different fire with different pros and cons each issue. It could be a good mag. There are a million and one things to write about, and I feel like there just isn't enough content in the magazine. I guess I was venting a little. It genuinley felt like a catalogue to me. And I'm sorry if it felt like an attack on your writing. It's the price and value for money.
