I moved to the New Forest when I was 4, my Dad took myself and my brother out first of all until he was certain we could look after ourselves. My mother jokes today about standing on the step ringing a school hand bell to let us know tea was ready. A couple years later, when I was 9 I bought 'How to Survive' from the Puffin book club at school and only threw it out this year as the binding had totally gone, it lived most it's 26 years in a sac or bergen.
Those were the days when an 11 year old could be alone deep in the forest until 10pm without his parents worrying. I had a WWII gas mask bag, penknife I found at Poole Quay, home made catapult, matches, magnifying glass, empty jam jar, 2 lids (one with holes in), string, candle and cagoule. Every enclosure, clearing and trail has a memory that brings back a wry smile.