One last fire maybe
- Thread starter Steve R
- Start date
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Hey Guest, Early bird pricing on the Summer Moot (29th July - 10th August) available until April 6th, we'd love you to come. PLEASE CLICK HERE to early bird price and get more information.
Thanks for the replies/advice/support folks.
Unfortunately, it's not gonna happen, I am partially disabled and so cant work (so no money for Scotland etc trip) and also cant walk too far so hiking/bushbeating etc is out.
I do have a mate who does a lot of beating and he has made enquiries for me on his name, but they won't even allow us to walk the woods,much less camp, too much money in shooting.
Not blaming them, its just how it is.
Unfortunately, it's not gonna happen, I am partially disabled and so cant work (so no money for Scotland etc trip) and also cant walk too far so hiking/bushbeating etc is out.
I do have a mate who does a lot of beating and he has made enquiries for me on his name, but they won't even allow us to walk the woods,much less camp, too much money in shooting.
Not blaming them, its just how it is.
Goose, wrote
pothunter wrote
But not interpreted by ME thats the problem.
I/we are at the mercy of someone else's interpretation.
pothunter wrote
But not interpreted by ME thats the problem.
I/we are at the mercy of someone else's interpretation.
Think about it: not too long ago, it was illegal for women to vote. It was also legal to own another human being as slave. It does no good to always accept laws as they are, thinking they must always be obeyed. If women had not pushed against the laws of their time, would things have changed? Would slavery be abolished, at least here, if people had not rebelled against these unjust laws?
Don't let the bustards (nice birds
) get you down, they'll always try in on, it's up to us to push against it.
Don't let the bustards (nice birds
) get you down, they'll always try in on, it's up to us to push against it.
I can see your point jojo, my problem there is I cannot afford to get a fine/court costs, that would really mess my life up.
I have no money of my own apart from my Disabilty Living Allowance (Motorbility Benefit) and that doesnt qualify me for Legal Aid, so I couldnt even get a solicitor.
Justice is very often for the wealthy.
Lots of things come down to money in some way, at least in part, don't they?
I hope my posts in this thread don't seem like whining, they are not intended to be, I am just very worried about any possible trouble I might get into unintentionally.
I have no money of my own apart from my Disabilty Living Allowance (Motorbility Benefit) and that doesnt qualify me for Legal Aid, so I couldnt even get a solicitor.
Justice is very often for the wealthy.
Lots of things come down to money in some way, at least in part, don't they?
I hope my posts in this thread don't seem like whining, they are not intended to be, I am just very worried about any possible trouble I might get into unintentionally.
Steve, s0rry to hear that you are so down about the stupid laws that we have in this green unpleasant land.
I've found the best way to get out and do some "bushcraft" (a catch all term for me that just covers everything I do whilst wild camping) is to go to a local meet arranged through here. You can be sure of a few things if you do this;
1. you'll have the land owners permission to be on the land.
2. no one will batter an eyelid if you spend half hour putting your knife collection on your belt.
3. you will be amongst like minded people.
4. you get to sit around a fire and learn new things or maybe even teach someone else something new.
I rarely spend nights out anywhere now unless it is an organised meet, and I don't miss the "freedom" of wandering by myself and constantly worrying that I'm going to get an earful for doing something I, in the eye's of the law, shouldn't be doing.
As for the benefits thing .. I'm on disability allowance too and know that planning trips away is all dependant on how long you save for .. but saying that, i recently went to Scotland (with another BCUK member) on a very tight budget and had a great time. That's the beauty of our hobby, the thing that costs the most (fancy new kit aside) is the travel, sitting in the woods quietly enjoying nature around you doesn't cost a penny.
Chin up mate and, like I said, get to an organised meet if you can
I've found the best way to get out and do some "bushcraft" (a catch all term for me that just covers everything I do whilst wild camping) is to go to a local meet arranged through here. You can be sure of a few things if you do this;
1. you'll have the land owners permission to be on the land.
2. no one will batter an eyelid if you spend half hour putting your knife collection on your belt.
3. you will be amongst like minded people.
4. you get to sit around a fire and learn new things or maybe even teach someone else something new.
I rarely spend nights out anywhere now unless it is an organised meet, and I don't miss the "freedom" of wandering by myself and constantly worrying that I'm going to get an earful for doing something I, in the eye's of the law, shouldn't be doing.
As for the benefits thing .. I'm on disability allowance too and know that planning trips away is all dependant on how long you save for .. but saying that, i recently went to Scotland (with another BCUK member) on a very tight budget and had a great time. That's the beauty of our hobby, the thing that costs the most (fancy new kit aside) is the travel, sitting in the woods quietly enjoying nature around you doesn't cost a penny.
Chin up mate and, like I said, get to an organised meet if you can
sitting in the woods quietly enjoying nature around you doesn't cost a penny.
I am sure they will soon find a way to tax peace and quiet. !!!
:yikes:
Feel the fear and do it anyway Steve!
I'm sure you'll find that just being out in nature will help you to see past those perceived
problems and you'll have a great time
I'm sure you'll find that just being out in nature will help you to see past those perceived
problems and you'll have a great time
hi againreference mobity and legal aid, not sure but worth checking at citiizens advice.. my wife recieves d.l.a and am pretty sure we once got advice from legal aid..is there nobody down where you live that are itobushcraft that help you find sonewhere to go /take care
xylaria
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
I have arthritis in both hips and I can do bushcraft, there is lots of us here have some knid of health problem, and we still do stuff without using it as an excuse.
You can do bushcraft without leaving your house, we even had one member who had tourettes syndrome who carved bone because it helped. dunno where they went i could do with some weaving tools. I had a bad couple of days this week, where walking isn't enjoyable, but I have knitted a mushroom bag from jute string. But i could of made a leather axe cover, and any numerable things, that native people do when its mid winter or bad weather.
I can walk 1/4 mile from the bus stop into my country park, and prefectly legally forage and fish. There is a cerabal palsy bloke that fishes there, so i have no excuse. i can also fish on my local river for few quid a year, and I take them away to eat.
If don't like fish you can eat insects. No I am not kidding. Garden snails are the one you get in posh restaraunts.
You are obviously in a big downer, yes the law is restrictive but you can still work around it. Your downer might be what is stopping you from approaching farmers to do rabbiting or simerlar. Bushcraft is too big a subject for it not have space for everyone.
Steve,
I've been in trouble with the mods for posting on threads to do with "the law" so I shall try to be very careful and discreet here:
The law exists to serve you and me - we are not servants of the law. The examples of good advice on this thread so far have been too numerous to quote any one - although "Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise (wo)men" is a great place to start.
Don't get get depressed or give up on society, nation, community and , most of all, something that you love doing - because of petty bureaucracy - if you want to exercise your outdoor skills and it is going to have no impact on others - then get out there and do it - I do!
I've been in trouble with the mods for posting on threads to do with "the law" so I shall try to be very careful and discreet here:
The law exists to serve you and me - we are not servants of the law. The examples of good advice on this thread so far have been too numerous to quote any one - although "Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise (wo)men" is a great place to start.
Don't get get depressed or give up on society, nation, community and , most of all, something that you love doing - because of petty bureaucracy - if you want to exercise your outdoor skills and it is going to have no impact on others - then get out there and do it - I do!
No excuse intended, just an explanation about why the lack of money for something like a Scottish trip as suggested as being the place where there are more freedoms for bushcraft activities, also about why the suggestion of walking and bushbeating would not be practical.
Not so, I have already mentioned that I have a friend who does a lot of bushbeating, he also shoots and is well known to local farmers, he has been making enquiries on my behalf for some time now, using his good name to recomend me, no joy.
We have even aproached a local farmer who has a small wood on his land, it is overgrown and has lots of fallen trees, it is shot through once a year that is all, we offered to clear it up in exchange for use, no joy there either.
I am not down and depressed, I just see things as they are. I do not see how anyone could argue against the fact that most things in bushcraft, at least in part, in this country, are, or can be percieved to be, illegal.
There is even a thread that talks about the probabilty of people having to have CRB's to hire a part of a scout camp, (the Midlands meetup thread), because of children (scouts) being on the site.
There's a saying that goes something like 'There is no such thing as can't do' and if you get yourself into the right frame of mind you most certainly 'can do'
That's the important bit............ The right frame of mind. Or as is often quoted 'Having a positive mental attitude'.
Are you unable to walk at all? Are you only able to get about in a mobility scooter?
If you can walk a little way you can still gather nettles for example and make nettle soup or cordage from the stems. Cook the nettles at home if you can't have a fire in your woods. No one is going to arrest you for picking nettles under the 'picking of wild plants act' . Why don't you have a go at Knife making or leather work. If you're short of cash why don't you have a go at modifying your SAK with a wooden handle (found in the woods) at home. No one is going to arrest you for taking a small piece of Birch to use for that. You can gather a whole host of plant leaves, roots, berries, nuts that no-one would bat an eyelid at you collecting. Blackberries, Hazel nuts, beech mast, silverweed/dandelion roots. Gather a few blackberries and blackberry leaves and make a tea. Make it a goal to be an authority on plants or trees. That alone would see you through the next 10 years. If thats what you really want to study. Carve a spoon at home whilst listening to the radio and having a couple of glasses of wine. Gather leaves from trees and put them into a collection in a photo album, and have a collection of as many different tree species as you can gather and make notes besides each leaf about the tree it comes from and it's bushy usues Carve a spatula, and then carve a pattern on it or your name. Make up a flask of soup and simply go and watch the wildlife in the woods or by the river. No great big walking, just get there and sit and watch. Join the library and get out a bird or plant ID book and simply learn about all our birds. Get a fishing license and take up fishing (can be done stationary and sitting down) or off a pier for the sea. Most piers have disability access, in fact I think it may be the law (see the law works for us too as well ) If you have a few posessions which you don't use or need anymore, get yourself on e-bay and sell the stuff and buy a digtal camera/fishing rod/binoculars etc with the proceeds and make a collection of plant photos or take up fishing or watch wildlife. Make some bannocks in your oven at home, or cook the fish you've caught. Pre- bait your favourite woodland spot with a few peanuts or vegetable peelings for a few days or a week and set a sand trap and study what tracks have been left behind and take pictures of them or draw them.
I don't mean all this in a bad way or to sound condecending, I'm just saying there is SO much you can do if you use your imagination and none of it illegal.
Having a fire will always be a problem whether your fully mobile or not, as it is with all of us but it's not impossible. There are lots of campsites that allow fires. Why don't you ask your beater friend to go on a camp with you. The moots and meet-ups always have fires. Ask someone local to you if they don't mind you tagging along in the car for a share of the fuel.
It's easy to get down when you've no job or money or arn't as mobile as you'd like to be, but you can make a plan each evening for the following day, and wake up with a purpose for the day ahead. The only hinderence is your own motivation and imagination.
That's why we all love this thing called bushcraft because it's so diverse with many facets (big word for me ) and we can do SO many things..............and above all, having not alot of money or being partially disabled or things being illegal is really no excuse unless you convince yourself it is.
If you fancy some pier fishing give me a shout by PM and i'll go over the ropes with you in the new year if you've never done it before. I've got all the kit to lend you hooks weights rod, reel and I don't need much of an excuse for some fishing. I can come up your way and drive us to the coast, and if you like it I'll help you choose a rod and reel. You can get combo deals for very good prices these days and you don't need expensive kit to catch fish just an idea of the behaviour and feeding habits and likes of different species
Chin up Steve, get a grip and get out there and DO stuff man
That's the important bit............ The right frame of mind. Or as is often quoted 'Having a positive mental attitude'.
Are you unable to walk at all? Are you only able to get about in a mobility scooter?
If you can walk a little way you can still gather nettles for example and make nettle soup or cordage from the stems. Cook the nettles at home if you can't have a fire in your woods. No one is going to arrest you for picking nettles under the 'picking of wild plants act' . Why don't you have a go at Knife making or leather work. If you're short of cash why don't you have a go at modifying your SAK with a wooden handle (found in the woods) at home. No one is going to arrest you for taking a small piece of Birch to use for that. You can gather a whole host of plant leaves, roots, berries, nuts that no-one would bat an eyelid at you collecting. Blackberries, Hazel nuts, beech mast, silverweed/dandelion roots. Gather a few blackberries and blackberry leaves and make a tea. Make it a goal to be an authority on plants or trees. That alone would see you through the next 10 years. If thats what you really want to study. Carve a spoon at home whilst listening to the radio and having a couple of glasses of wine. Gather leaves from trees and put them into a collection in a photo album, and have a collection of as many different tree species as you can gather and make notes besides each leaf about the tree it comes from and it's bushy usues
Carve a spatula, and then carve a pattern on it or your name. Make up a flask of soup and simply go and watch the wildlife in the woods or by the river. No great big walking, just get there and sit and watch. Join the library and get out a bird or plant ID book and simply learn about all our birds. Get a fishing license and take up fishing (can be done stationary and sitting down) or off a pier for the sea. Most piers have disability access, in fact I think it may be the law (see the law works for us too as well ) If you have a few posessions which you don't use or need anymore, get yourself on e-bay and sell the stuff and buy a digtal camera/fishing rod/binoculars etc with the proceeds and make a collection of plant photos or take up fishing or watch wildlife. Make some bannocks in your oven at home, or cook the fish you've caught. Pre- bait your favourite woodland spot with a few peanuts or vegetable peelings for a few days or a week and set a sand trap and study what tracks have been left behind and take pictures of them or draw them. I don't mean all this in a bad way or to sound condecending, I'm just saying there is SO much you can do if you use your imagination and none of it illegal.
Having a fire will always be a problem whether your fully mobile or not, as it is with all of us but it's not impossible. There are lots of campsites that allow fires. Why don't you ask your beater friend to go on a camp with you. The moots and meet-ups always have fires. Ask someone local to you if they don't mind you tagging along in the car for a share of the fuel.
It's easy to get down when you've no job or money or arn't as mobile as you'd like to be, but you can make a plan each evening for the following day, and wake up with a purpose for the day ahead. The only hinderence is your own motivation and imagination.
That's why we all love this thing called bushcraft because it's so diverse with many facets (big word for me
) and we can do SO many things..............and above all, having not alot of money or being partially disabled or things being illegal is really no excuse unless you convince yourself it is.If you fancy some pier fishing give me a shout by PM and i'll go over the ropes with you in the new year if you've never done it before. I've got all the kit to lend you hooks weights rod, reel and I don't need much of an excuse for some fishing.
I can come up your way and drive us to the coast, and if you like it I'll help you choose a rod and reel. You can get combo deals for very good prices these days and you don't need expensive kit to catch fish just an idea of the behaviour and feeding habits and likes of different speciesChin up Steve, get a grip and get out there and DO stuff man
Your so right.
Theres many things I cant do and others here do often, and Im so envious.
But I bet you have a lot of free time.
Come to a Moot and see me socialising (which is my main difficulty area; and if you cant do it you will see what a big thing it is.) which is one of the things that Bushcraft helps me with.
Theres many things I cant do and others here do often, and Im so envious.
But I bet you have a lot of free time.
Come to a Moot and see me socialising (which is my main difficulty area; and if you cant do it you will see what a big thing it is.) which is one of the things that Bushcraft helps me with.
WOAH!
Hang on a minute folks.
There seems to be the misunderstanding among some of you that I am complaining and moaning about being disabled and that prevents me from doing bushcraft.
This is not so.
The only reason for mentioning disability and money was in explanation about why I cannot do some of the things some kindly suggested (long nature walks, trips to Scotland etc).
If you look at the continuity of my posts in the thread, it is about my worries that many parts of bushcraft can be perceived by the authorities as illegal in some way and that this makes me consider giving it up as risky, (cant afford to get fined/court costs).
And that is ALL it is about.
Oh, Tengu,
You seem to be under the impression (from your fist post in the thread) that I get a Disability Pension, (which would be paid weekly), not so, I get Disability Living Allowance, paid every 4 weeks, to run the car.
I dont mind telling you how much it is (because its checkable to anyone who cares to look) £240 per 4 weeks.
As to the rest, I am in the same position as you state in your second post, (quoted).
BTW, have you tried the Disability Helpline? That is how I got my DLA, they were helpful.
Hang on a minute folks.
There seems to be the misunderstanding among some of you that I am complaining and moaning about being disabled and that prevents me from doing bushcraft.
This is not so.
The only reason for mentioning disability and money was in explanation about why I cannot do some of the things some kindly suggested (long nature walks, trips to Scotland etc).
If you look at the continuity of my posts in the thread, it is about my worries that many parts of bushcraft can be perceived by the authorities as illegal in some way and that this makes me consider giving it up as risky, (cant afford to get fined/court costs).
And that is ALL it is about.
Oh, Tengu,
You seem to be under the impression (from your fist post in the thread) that I get a Disability Pension, (which would be paid weekly), not so, I get Disability Living Allowance, paid every 4 weeks, to run the car.
I dont mind telling you how much it is (because its checkable to anyone who cares to look) £240 per 4 weeks.
As to the rest, I am in the same position as you state in your second post, (quoted).
BTW, have you tried the Disability Helpline? That is how I got my DLA, they were helpful.
falling rain
Thank you for your post, that has certainly given me something to think about.
s0rry to everyone, my writing style has obviously caused some confusion.
Thank you for your post, that has certainly given me something to think about.
s0rry to everyone, my writing style has obviously caused some confusion.
Having had the same kind of knock backs on obtaining the use of a woodland , i can see exactly where you are coming from . Walking away from some of the people i have asked for permission from , i have often wondered if prehaps i mistakingly asked them to use the woodland for the satanic sacrifice of small children !!!!!! A few places understood and were helpfull , a couple even pointed me in the direction of someone that might be able to help . Still nothing though ! Try driving different routes while you travel locally , its supprising what bits of woodland you will find/refind .
Something sounds amiss if all you are getting is your motability component . My wife was very ill and for the past 15 years i was her primary carer so i am only too aware of what the benifit trap is like ( still stuck in it now) .
Nearly everything that my wife was intitaled too , i had to fight for . Too give you an example , over the last 15 years , with the level of care that my wife needed . I saved my local authorities somewhere in the region of 5 1/2 million pounds . They even quibbled about paying the £300 towards her funeral and left me with a £1700 bill (whilst on income support only !) .
If you would like advise or just a chat about what a bottom feeder our government are , send me a pm . if i can help you out i will . That goes for anyone in a similar situation .
The C.A.B are definately worth seeing , they know the ins and outs of all the legislation that will cover you .
Most of all , dont give in . Getting out in the woods is what keeps me sane , if only for 5 minutes before someone else turns up and ruins my euphoria .
Take care
Pumbaa
A few places understood and were helpfull , a couple even pointed me in the direction of someone that might be able to help . Still nothing though ! Try driving different routes while you travel locally , its supprising what bits of woodland you will find/refind .Something sounds amiss if all you are getting is your motability component . My wife was very ill and for the past 15 years i was her primary carer so i am only too aware of what the benifit trap is like ( still stuck in it now) .
Nearly everything that my wife was intitaled too , i had to fight for . Too give you an example , over the last 15 years , with the level of care that my wife needed . I saved my local authorities somewhere in the region of 5 1/2 million pounds . They even quibbled about paying the £300 towards her funeral and left me with a £1700 bill (whilst on income support only !) .
If you would like advise or just a chat about what a bottom feeder our government are , send me a pm . if i can help you out i will . That goes for anyone in a similar situation .
The C.A.B are definately worth seeing , they know the ins and outs of all the legislation that will cover you .
Most of all , dont give in . Getting out in the woods is what keeps me sane , if only for 5 minutes before someone else turns up and ruins my euphoria .
Take care
Pumbaa
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