BushMoot FAQ (updated for 2013)

[Ahjno]

Please have a look at the General BushMoot Information Thread, here​

• General info

1. What is it like?
2. When is the 2013 BushMoot?
3. Duration
4. B&B accomodation after the Moot
5. Knives, axes, saws and other sharps
6. Children?
7. Pets?
8. Mobile phone reception?
9. Lost items
10. Bushy bags (goodie bags)

• Tickets

1. Price and where to get them?
   Full Members & Normal Members

Availability
Tickets for the 2013 BushMoot (Full Members) are available.
Tickets for the 2013 BushMoot (non-FM's) are available.

See www.bushmoot.com for tickets.

• Location

1. Where is it?
2. Map
3. Site info

• Transport, how do I get there?

1. Where is it?
2. Car (parking)
3. Trainstation?
4. Airport?
5. Taxi
6. Lift

• Accomodation

1. Camping (tent or hammock?)
2. Am I allowed to camp anywhere?
3. Fires (small, don't cut whole trees, clear all evidence)
4. Toilet & showerblock
5. Garbage

• Food

1. Do I need to bring my own food?
2. Will there be a communual meal? (Hangi – taster)
3. Where’s the nearest supermarket?

• Workshops

1. I want to run a workshop!
2. What kind of workshops can be expected?
3. Timetable
4. How do I show interest?

 

[Ahjno]

General info

What is it like?

A short impression, made by Ashley (NaturalBushcraft):

[video=youtube;sfEg1Aooi4Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfEg1Aooi4Q[/video]

When is the 2013 BushMoot?
This year (2013) the BushMoot will run from Monday 6th to 16th August 2013.

Full Members: 5th to 17th 2013.

Costs: see last post in this thread.


Duration
The BushMoot is approximately 12 days long, depending on your memberstatus (Full Member, Maker or [not subscribed Member) and your diary; 1-day tickets are available. If you can't make it for the full duration, but do want to pop by, send an e-mail to Shelly (shop [at] bushcraftuk [dot] com) and let her know the days you want to meet us and we try to help you out with the right ticket.


B&B accomodation after the Moot
A list of nearby accomodation can be found here.


Knives, axes, saws and other sharps
You can bring any of the above mentioned sharps. Though, as is a basic rule in bushcraft, if you carry a knife or the like, you (whether you are an adult or child) carry a First Aid Kit (FAK) - containing the basics, like some plasters, antiseptics, etc.

Basically you take care of any small cuts yourself, but in case of serious injury - there is medical qualified staff on site with a big FAK.

Be responsible when you use a knife (etc.). Check your surroundings for any obstructions or people that might get in your way and could get hurt.

Each morning there will be a short (5-10 minute) workshop on knife safety, please attend them if you want to know more or refreshen your knowledge.


Children?
The BushMoot is child friendly. The woods and dunes are great to play in - if they're not playing with new made friends at the Fort or Pirate Ship.

Note there's no creche available. You are solely responsible for your children. Don't leave them unsupervised at any activities (insurance technicalities).

Whether or not your children carry a knife is up to you when they are with you, if they are not with you they cannot carry a knife unless they are over 16 years old. Please take a moment to teach them basic knife safety skills (cut away from any bodypart, don't run around with a knife, carry a FAK) and be responsible for it. Each morning there's a workshop 'Knife safety' especially aimed at children.

Also take care with children around fire, don't leave them unattended. The Mods will have first dibs on burned kids for their breakfast or tea, be it they're not overdone.

An interesting read is this thread.

Pets?
Pets (in any shape or form) are not allowed on site (site policy).


Mobile phone reception?
On site you will have no mobile phone reception. To get any, you're advised to go up the road to get some decent signal. Though on occassion you might get some near the toilet / showerblock, albeit very weak.


Lost items
If you've lost something, or found an item that's not yours - bring it to the reception where it can be collected by its rightful owner. Subsequently, let us know (Morning Meet) you lost something and it's not showed up yet (i.e. not been found / brought to the reception).


Bushy bags (goodie bags)

BushyBags are given away to each attendee of the Bushmoot in August, inside you'll find a map, itinery and content of events, Bushmoot guidelines, a black bin liner for all your rubbish, and a few small items you may find useful over your stay. The bags are re-useable and last year we managed to include a selection of items such as pens, notepads, emergency ponchos, boot polish, sun block sticks or lip salves, keyrings, badges and, well you get the idea.

 

[Ahjno]

Food

Do I need to bring my own food?
Yes, up to you what you bring. Some take boil-in-the-bag meals, freeze dried food or army rations. Others cook their food as like they where at home.

Will there be a communual meal?
There will be one communual meal at the Fort (see map): a Hangi (a big hole in the ground, with fire heated stones, food (either lamb or goat) and covered with sand). Please note this is a taster and not a full meal. The Hangi will be announced on the white board at the reception.

Where’s the nearest supermarket?

Shopping park: CF31 3SQ with 24hour shop and Lidl and the like nearby.

[Contact me if you have more (detailed) info]

 

[Ahjno]

Location

Where is it?


Map

The site is located at the south end of Merthyr Mawr Rd, that runs from Bridgend through Merthyr Mawr to Candleston Castle (bottom left hand corner in the pic, marked with a 'C').

In more detailed:

And the map, as drawn on the white board:

Site info

The estate has an incredibly varied mixture of terrain with: 300 acres of forest including broad leaf coppice and ancient woodland, 5 square kilometres of sand dunes (the second largest and highest in Europe), 4.5 kilometres of coastline (with the second largest tidal change in the world), 6 kilometres of river, an estuary, 3 natural springs, 2 castles, numerous streams and pond.

 

[Ahjno]

Transport, how do I get there?

Where is it?

Grid Ref: SS 872 773, Bridgend (UK)

The BushMoot is at Merthyr Mawr, near Bridgend (Wales).

Take the M4 to Junction 35.
At junction 35 take the A473 towards Bridgend.
At the 3rd roundabout go straight over, heading Northbound on the A48.
At the 2nd roundabout turn left onto the B4265, sign posted to Ogmore-by-Sea.
Take the next proper right hand turn sign posted to Merthyr Mawr.
Take next proper left hand turn again sign posted to Merthyr Mawr.
Follow the road into Merthyr Mawr village and at the junction in the village stay to the right.
Follow the road out of village until it ends in a car park.
At the entrance to the car park go through the left hand gate (it may be shut - if so just open it, and close it again behind you) into the forested area.
Drive along the left hand track until you reach the event parking area. Halfway you might come across 1 or 2 BushMoot Staff. They'll point you where to park your car.

They also might tick your name on a list, or show you the Reception for check-in.


Car (parking)
Please park your car at the car park only or at designated spots along the road. Please follow any pointers from the BushMoot Staff. Keep road and entrances clear from obstruction.

Also note, you can't take your car upto your camping spot, even if your car is suited for off road driving.


Bus & Trainstation?
The nearest bus and trainstation is located at Bridgend.

Airport?
The nearest airport is Cardiff Int'l Airport (CWL).

Airlines flying to and from CWL:
Air Lingus, Air Southwest, BMIBaby, Eastern Airways, Flybe, Fly Thomas Cook, KLM, Manx2, Thomson Airways

Click here for destinations to / from CWL

Taxi
There is a cab office within 100 metres of Bridgend station. Alternatively, try:
Allwhite Taxis: 01656 660155
Cresta Cabs: 01656 767571
Radio Cars: 01656 655766
K Cabs: 01656 655233

Please note, due to the lack of mobile phone reception (and lack of payphone or landline) and in case you need a taxi back to the station at the end of the BushMoot, remember to book it in advance.

Lift

 

[Ahjno]

Accomodation

Camping (tent or hammock?)
Whether you camp out in a tent or hammock is up to you, there are plenty of spots to put your tent down, or trees to sling your hammock. Please note the site has a sandy soil, that might be abrasive to your groundsheet.

Am I allowed to camp anywhere?
Yes, you are allowed to camp anywhere within the campsite area but please leave the pathways and Mods Area clear. Most people stay near the main campsite, but there are a few who camp deep in the woods. Please note that camping is not permitted on the National Nature Reserve (sand dunes).

On site there are several areas to be found, each with their own characteristics:

- The Naughty Corner:
This is where people keep the party going late on, if you camp near there, no one will apologise for any disturbance. The lay of the land means that the noise from that area doesn't travel through the rest of the site, so elsewhere people are asked to be considerate of their neighbours as the evening wears on. You can camp anywhere and just take your socialising to the Naughty Corner though.

- Scottish Corner:
This is where most Scots hang out. Quieter than the Naughty Corner, with folklore music in the evenings.

- Mods Area:
This is where the majority of the Mods & Admin camp. Some others are based at the Scottish Corner or Naughty Corner.

- Main Chute:
This is where each morning Tony will hold the Morning Meeting (10 AM).


Fires
You are allowed to start a campfire. Please light it on sandy soil, keep it small and don't leave it unattended or go out and cut trees or branches etc. yourself. If there's a need for more wood, please let us know at the Morning Meet.
When you leave (at the end of the Moot), be a responsible bushcrafter and please clear all signs of your campfire.


Toilet & showerblock
On site there are seperated toilets and showers. Please leave them as you would like to find them: clean and tidy.


Garbage
When you are on site, you'll be given a Bushy Bag. In this bag you'll find a bin liner, please use it to put in any garbage / litter you have during your stay, or whatever you find lying around on site.

 

[Ahjno]

Workshops

I want to run a workshop!

That's great!!

You can let Tony, or any Mod or Admin know you will attend the Moot and want to do a workshop. Please let us know on what topic you want to run a workshop.

If you decide during the Moot you want to do a workshop on a particular topic, let us know at the Morning Meet under the main chute.


What kind of workshops can be expected?

In the past we had Flintknapping, net making, snares, shelter building, knots, cordage, fire by friction with bowdrill and handrill, tool sharpening, plant walks, tracking, woodcraft skills, leather working, carving, wilderness cooking, basket making, Atlatl, Tarpology, wet tinder firelighting, butchering, etc.

For some workshops you need to sign up and/or pay a small fee to cover materialcosts. Normally this will be announced on the forums by the person who leads the workshop.


Timetable

Each day there will be a timetable on the white board across the reception. This shows what workshops will be given that day at a certain time, who will lead the workshop and where the workshop will be held on site (see sketched map on the other white board, above in post #4).

How do I show interest?

You made a choice on what workshop you want to attend. How do you show interest? Simple, if it's not a pre-booked workshop, you can just show up.


Last but not least:

Some of the workshops incur a small fee to cover materials, if you are not asked to contribute to the materials you use then please make the kind gesture of offering or just giving something to help cover the costs incurred by those providing workshops.

Just because the person instructing you is not being paid, do not assume that they are not a professional, or that what they are showing you is somehow of less value because they are giving it freely. People who volunteered to run workshops have mentioned about people either openly questioning what qualified them to teach the skill, or to come straight out and tell them they were doing it wrong. There are often more than one way to do things, just because what is being shown does not match what you were expecting does not mean that it is wrong. People will show you how they do things, evolved techniques like this are generally a better/easier way for the individual, this may not be the only way and it may not be the best way for you. It should always be a safe way, but it is up to you to discern what is most applicable to you and adapt as necessary. If you want to be instructed in the textbook method, then you would be best advised to attend a course.
'Please try to exercise some diplomacy and respect. Quite a few of the people who run workshops are full or part time instructors and are very well practised in what they are demonstrating/teaching.

 

[Ahjno]

2013 BushMoot ticket prices, please note below prices are for adults (16 and older).

OK, this is what's going on in 2013

Whole event is Full Members 5th - 17th (13 days)
Regular Members 6th - 16th (11 days)

Core Moot days are 9th -13th August (5 days)

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

11th

12th

13th

14th

15th

16th

17th

Camping

Camping

Camping

Camping

Core

Core

Core

Core

Core

Camping

Camping

Camping

Camping

FM's only

£10

£10

£10

-

-

£85

-

-

£10

£10

£10

FM's only

You can buy camping days individually at the above prices.


For those just doing Core days

9th	10th	11th	12th	13th
Arrival / Setup	Workshops	Workshops	Workshops	Trader day / Evening Communal meal / Depart

The Core Moot (5 days) costs £85 and camping days either side of the core dates are £10 a day (£145 for the whole lot)

This year (2013) the FM's will only pay a discounted price of £145 for the whole event giving them the 5th and the 17th for free as part of their FM status.



Obviously these are the adult prices, children's prices are a lot cheaper anyone up to age 4 is free, I'll get those prices sorted very soon.

Any questions ask Shelly by emailing shop@bushcraftuk.com

 

[Ahjno]

Tickets for the 2013 BushMoot are now available!!

Get your tickets here:
http://www.bushmoot.com/shop/

Full Members info here:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=105168

 

[Ahjno]

Heads up!!

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=102108&page=2 Post #51:

Last 48 hours to purchase tickets. We will be closing down the payment area Saturday evening. Anyone still wanting to attend after that date just turn up and see me at reception, you can pay me there. Thanks, see you all there.