Ok, time is getting short and I would hate for people on here to miss out on a fairly rare opportunity just through me dithering!
I have contacted Tony Bristow in regard to these events and we are currently sorting something out re: working together i.e. BCUK & F.o.C.W. but I just thought that I should get moving, in order to give as many people on here the chance to attend, at least the first event, as possible.
So here goes:
The Friends of Chopwell Wood have looked after the conservation/recreation and education side of things here for about 14 years (I think!) in very close association with the Forestry Commission. They organise and run all sorts of activities involving maintenance, school groups, craft events, litter clearance, working with excluded kids, deaf awareness issues etc etc.
All funds raised, go back into helping maintain the wood, training, equipment, admin etc. it's all totally non profit, voluntary work. F.o.C.W. have no paid staff.
Myself and a small sub group ( which now includes Eric Methven!) have run bushcraft introduction sessions for about 4 years-basically; small "taster", 4 hr bushcraft events here at Chopwell wood.
These have been aimed at families and "joe public" they have been very popular when advertised properly, but have proved too popular at times, with over booking and groups of 25-30, including kids as young as three, being dragged along. These events have been enjoyable but not something I would now choose to do more than once or twice a year. You simply can't get any real teaching done and serious tool use is almost out of the question.
So,after quite a bit of chatter and persuasion, I have finally gotten through to both F.C. and F.o.C.W. that bushcraft is not just about "den building" and should be regarded as a more serious subject, at least as credible as a "fungal foray" or "food for free" event.
I have come up with a series of three events, of 7 hrs duration (all day) which offer the chance for folk who would like to sample some bushcraft related skills and activities, without the problems of large groups ( max 15 places) and also the chance to use some of the basic tools of bushcraft-knife, saw and firesteel, something we can't really do safely with kids running around.
The first event is:
02 March 2008 - Tenderfoot Day-(not very original title I know)- basic skills-shelter building, fire lighting, tool handling, simple tree and plant i.d., spotting and gathering useful materials from nature etc.
the cost is £30 per person-all funds go straight back into the F.o.C.W./ F.C. pot.
You MUST book in advance through Hamsterly Forest shop/office. details on focw website.
for details of the other events just Google or Yahoo focw and then have a look at the bushcraft page. ( design nothing to do with me!)
As I say, I hope this is okay to post and sorry for it being a bit long winded
best wishes
R.B.
I have contacted Tony Bristow in regard to these events and we are currently sorting something out re: working together i.e. BCUK & F.o.C.W. but I just thought that I should get moving, in order to give as many people on here the chance to attend, at least the first event, as possible.
So here goes:
The Friends of Chopwell Wood have looked after the conservation/recreation and education side of things here for about 14 years (I think!) in very close association with the Forestry Commission. They organise and run all sorts of activities involving maintenance, school groups, craft events, litter clearance, working with excluded kids, deaf awareness issues etc etc.
All funds raised, go back into helping maintain the wood, training, equipment, admin etc. it's all totally non profit, voluntary work. F.o.C.W. have no paid staff.
Myself and a small sub group ( which now includes Eric Methven!) have run bushcraft introduction sessions for about 4 years-basically; small "taster", 4 hr bushcraft events here at Chopwell wood.
These have been aimed at families and "joe public" they have been very popular when advertised properly, but have proved too popular at times, with over booking and groups of 25-30, including kids as young as three, being dragged along. These events have been enjoyable but not something I would now choose to do more than once or twice a year. You simply can't get any real teaching done and serious tool use is almost out of the question.
So,after quite a bit of chatter and persuasion, I have finally gotten through to both F.C. and F.o.C.W. that bushcraft is not just about "den building" and should be regarded as a more serious subject, at least as credible as a "fungal foray" or "food for free" event.
I have come up with a series of three events, of 7 hrs duration (all day) which offer the chance for folk who would like to sample some bushcraft related skills and activities, without the problems of large groups ( max 15 places) and also the chance to use some of the basic tools of bushcraft-knife, saw and firesteel, something we can't really do safely with kids running around.
The first event is:
02 March 2008 - Tenderfoot Day-(not very original title I know)- basic skills-shelter building, fire lighting, tool handling, simple tree and plant i.d., spotting and gathering useful materials from nature etc.
the cost is £30 per person-all funds go straight back into the F.o.C.W./ F.C. pot.
You MUST book in advance through Hamsterly Forest shop/office. details on focw website.
for details of the other events just Google or Yahoo focw and then have a look at the bushcraft page. ( design nothing to do with me!)
As I say, I hope this is okay to post and sorry for it being a bit long winded
best wishes
R.B.
