Bushcraft segment in new Country Tracks

[mayfly]

Thought this was worth pointing out. I'm split between two thoughts: a) a pretty meaningless clip making bushcraft seem like some sort of fashion statement and b) at least the notion of getting outdoors and doing stuff - especially for the young - is being promoted, plus the guy who did the teaching looks serious. Anyway...

On a journey through the Forest of Dean, Liz Bonnin meets bushcraft expert Alex McBarnet; who teaches her the skills needed to survive in the wild. This includes building a shelter called a 'one man kennel' using materials foraged from the forest.

I'm still pining for a full set of the original Tracks series! (Yes I have seen the 10 re-released programmes but that still leaves a lot I've not seen for 20 years or something.)

Chris

 

[Retired Member southey]

Hey, if you read the blurb on the spiderco bush craft knife, apparently bush craft, is a sport!?!

 

[Bluefrog]

Was there anything more bushcrafty to it than the 'kennel' and is this going to be every week because i suppose it could get better

 

[Dougster]

I was distinctly unimpressed by it. They didn't come across well.

 

[mayfly]

Agree with Dougster on balance. And not regular segments on Bushcraft as far as I can tell. Missed opportunity!

 

[BenCalver]

I'm still pining for a full set of the original Tracks series! (Yes I have seen the 10 re-released programmes but that still leaves a lot I've not seen for 20 years or something.)

Chris

If your on about the country tracks that have Ray Mears, I could send them to you

 

[tobes01]

Alex and his team specialise in schools and kids' camps, and they do a very good job of it - my lad's his number one fan, has been three times now. They're not competing with the sort of instructors most of us would go with, since so many of their 'clients' have spent very little time in the woods at all, let alone slept out or lit a fire. I guess it's fairer to compare him with other kids' activity holidays than the mainstream bushcraft 'industry'. You can't leave a bunch of 7-year olds in a forest with just a knife and a billy can and tell them to get on with their lives

There aren't many places where kids can run riot in the wild (without parents present) whilst learning something, and Alex has created an environment in which they can do just that. On his trips my son has built snares and traps, caught and cooked crayfish, swum in lakes, slept out in a tipi in the snow, learned fire by friction... more than some of us so-called armchair experts. And he's off to do it again with Alex this summer.

[No connection with the Bushcraft Company, just the dad of a very happy customer]