Has the bubble burst?

[Woody girl]

I agree. It's nice to get likes and it kind of makes you feel good. But it's not the be all of this forum. I appreciate the wide range of skills and knowledge most of all.
If you are here just for likes..... perhaps your in the wrong place and Facebook is better suited to you.
I love the bits of banter and jokes too. I often fall asleep chuckling to myself over a witty reply to a post.
I won't go into it but the last few years have been a massive challenge to my health both mental and physical. There's not much I can do about the physical but this forum has certainly helped with the mental health, as I'm not always able to get out as much as I might want to.
I reckon without being super dramatic that it has helped save me from giving up.
I'm so glad I found you guys!

 

[Broch]

Well, there's a 'like' to help brighten your day

 

[Woody girl]

Well, there's a 'like' to help brighten your day

Aww bless you!

 

[GuestD]

the guys who are naturals in the woods are obvious.

To someone who has the ability to do so.

I've been lucky and lived and worked in the wilds all my life, so what you use to get about your business, evolves to suit you. Early last year, I got rid of all my old gear, and decided to use a tarp for the first time. I had absolutely no experience whatsoever in sleeping under a tarp, but I do now. I've had many enjoyable outings in all weather's, thanks to a YouTube video. I've made a few of my own alterations, and I'm more than happy.

 

[robevs73]

The bubble burst many years ago and I hope it never gets reinflated. You can then be sure that those people you see on here or those you see out practising are the dedicated core and the ones that really have it in their DNA.

I like this guy...

 

[Laurentius]

I am not even sure that what I do these days, or what I used to do was "bushcraft" I guess I would describe what I do nowadays as land management, not all of which is bushcraft at all, but a fair amount of it does include some of what you would call bushcraft. I don't think bushcraft involves long term strategic planning though.

 

[Robson Valley]

That was my point.
Your 'nature' has been so modified by human activities for thousands of years.
Added to that, you are denied access and activities, so unlike my place.
I admire how you can work with the restrictions.

Consider keeping your wild camping to a few sites. Really well-made stone fire rings are attractive.
They certainly are used for many decades here. Subtle means of directing the activities of others.
Human traffic, soil compression in particular, is very hard on a forest landscape.
Clean up after the ******** that trash the place. It happens here as well. You will never win.
They probably hatched in the sun, anyway.

Your "Moot" is a singular event. Never stop. Would be a "Summer Meeting" here.
They happened in paleo times on the plains here.
Mistaseni ( "Sleeping Buffalo") with early photographs of a hundred teepee.

Of course, we have hunting and fishing seasons to ensure sustained reproductive success.
Most don't apply to the First Nations in their traditional territories. They take what they need, all year long.
Otherwise, where do you want to go today? Need any wood or minerals?
The last serious modification to my environment was a bloody great Ice Age.
Paleo is not a thing of the past. Very much modern activity and nobody makes a fuss about it.
= = =
I like it when UK posters reveal where they go. Then I can use Google Earth with maps to follow you
and SatView to see the landscape. You can do the same over my place.
Thank you for your illustrated travels.

 

[GuestD]

Added to that, you are denied access and activities, so unlike my place.
I admire how you can work with the restrictions.

Could you elaborate on this please ?

 

[Janne]

I think Robson V assumed you had the same rules as England, and did not know you guys adopted the ancient Scandinavian ’Right to Roam’ rules, regulations and restrictions what, a decade ago?

In Sweden we were taught that the Right to Roam consists of a lot of responsibilites and a few rights!

 

[Robson Valley]

True Janne, thanks for pointing it out.

I am aware of the "Right to Roam" in Scotland. I didn't know that it needed to be enshrined in law.
I was dreaming of the situations reported from across England.
Do this, don't do that, no, you can't because I own it, right down to the crayfish in the creeks.

Here, we pack tools, toys and all sorts of foody things. Make a plan and leave a copy behind.
Dress accordingly. We go. Home at dark.

 

[GuestD]

I think Robson V assumed you had the same rules as England, and did not know you guys adopted the ancient Scandinavian ’Right to Roam’ rules, regulations and restrictions what, a decade ago?

Thanks, I thought maybe I'd missed something. This is what loosely applies in and around where I go.

https://www.scotways.com/faq/law-on...ctivities-are-not-covered-by-rights-of-access

https://www.scotways.com/faq/law-on-statutory-access-rights/230-where-do-access-rights-not-apply

Which leaves a lot of scope. North of Inverness, the area I originally come from, I have never encountered any problems in decades of wild camping. Being aware of what goes on, grouse/pheasant shooting etc helps, as does being polite when asked what you're up to. Scotland has its core path network, which I use for getting about on foot.

http://heritagepaths.co.uk/#zoom=10.443474609983296&lat=55.9633&lon=-4.1048

and for the coming year, I'll be spending some time in the North of Perthshire,

http://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/15439/Core-Paths-Plan-interactive-map

so there is plenty for me to do without restrictions.

 

[Broch]

To be honest, I have never had any problems wild camping in Scotland, England, Wales or Ireland and I've been doing it since the 70's. I was more concerned that any new access laws would result in loads of people tramping over the already strained countryside but it hasn't happened - at least not in my neck of the woods. However, one down side to the rights of way access law in England and Wales is that it explicitly says 'you cannot camp' so one cannot plead ignorance

 

[GuestD]

To be honest, I have never had any problems wild camping in Scotland, England, Wales or Ireland and I've been doing it since the 70's. I was more concerned that any new access laws would result in loads of people tramping over the already strained countryside but it hasn't happened - at least not in my neck of the woods. However, one down side to the rights of way access law in England and Wales is that it explicitly says 'you cannot camp' so one cannot plead ignorance

With the boom in tourism in the North of Scotland, North Coast 500 etc, some places have suffered, sadly. Restrictions at Loch Lomond were bound to happen, and Loch Earn has suffered as well. There are many places that have been "travellers howffs (shelters)" for centuries, that have been spoiled by idiots.

 

[warthog1981]

Life has a way of getting busy and we seem to wander away from the forum.
It did with me with one thing or another and I’ll admit the new forum took a fair bit to get used to the old one seemed so easy to use compared to this one but needs must and nothing stays the same. I never really left always check in every week or so I do miss the old Scottish meet ups it was always a really good bunch of guy willing to share what knowledge that they had.

Russ

 

[Wayland]

I miss the Scottish meet ups as well.

In fact the Manchester ones descended into drinking parties and the Rough Close near Coventry ones have dwindled away as well.

I just miss meet ups...

 

[John Fenna]

Organize your own meet ups
I hold small meets roughly every month... with a select few coming along...

 

[Wayland]

I do, It's called the Steam Tent Co-operative but it would be nice to go to meet ups organised by other people as well.

 

[MrEd]

It also depends on your definition of ‘bushcraft’

For me all ‘bushcraft’ has done is group together some common interests under one umbrella term.

Rural crafts, sustainable living, appreciation of nature, etc

I was doing all those things to a greater or lesser degree anyway - I remember watching my dad trap rabbits for the pot, and I vivividly recall him coming home with pheasants etc and his allotment, and him gathering stuff in the woods and having a vast knowledge of the outside world and ancient peoples and customs (he was an archaeologist and that was his specialism - ancient Britain and the movement of people)

Fast forward to my adult life and I enjoy the outdoors, nature and so on - and learning about natural ‘stuff’ and being more ‘close’ and respectful of nature and I am sure that has come from my father. All bushcraft has done for me is link it all together in my head.

I don’t describe myself as a bushcrafter though, just someone who likes the outdoors.

 

[MrEd]

YouTube bushcraft is also suffering a death by strangulation of its own. There are only a few select channels I now consider worth a look.
I won't get into the whole making a list nonsense, but it definitely needs a cull.
I think it's nice to be able to appreciate real outdoor skills as an 'old timer'.
the guys who are naturals in the woods are obvious.
To be frank, the fact we don't have proper access to 'the nature' in this country, probably accounts for the decline in popularity, and abundance of 'unskilled' so called experts...

Anyway, enough ranting. I'm off to film and upload a YouTube video of me doing a tutorial on 'How to use a firesteel, and a review of a Mora Clipper!

Quite a lot of the bushcraft channels have just turned into ‘gear review’ channels tbh

 

[uncleboob]

Quite a lot of the bushcraft channels have just turned into ‘gear review’ channels tbh

Things like FB and YouTube offer a way to monetise outdoor living and the knowledge stored on here...this forum is about sharing and learning, everyone has something to share everyone has something to learn.