Suffolk Bushcraft Group

[SJStuart]

I'm after a canoe for me and my boys I'm thinking of a stearns back country off eBay. It's inflatable, I know some of you have experience of canoeing, any advice?

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 4

Whatever inflatable canoe you end up getting, it's a good idea to get a skeg (or at least trail a length of rope behind you, though that can get tangled) because inflatables tend to sit pretty damned high in the water, and like to turn with wind and current.

Just make sure that your choice isn't well known for puncturing

 

[SJStuart]

2 Night Monthly Suffolk Bushcraft Group Meeting September 6th and 7th 2013

All Welcome, Newbies, all levels of experience, Tree and Ground Dwellers.

This may be a nice one to bring the Family along so they can see what we get upto when we are away...But please be aware of the Toilet situation, of cause unless some one has a Chemical one we can set up for the weekend.

Location
A 10 Acre mixed Woodland that is very quiet and secluded, and lends itself to wild camping, both in Hammocks and Tents/Tarps, just outside of the village of Stansfield,

Regulars that have been to the Site before - 12:00 onwards - report at Office before going to the woods, No arivals after 9:30pm please.....

New commers to Site - Meet at Compasses Pub, Stansfield, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 8LN. 13:00 hrs, normally finishing about midday on the Last day. Please be on time as the Woodland is hard to find, For those that can not make it to that meet and would like to come please PM me and I will arrange another time, (Please be be aware that due to the location of the parking/site being next to House's the Very Late 9:30pm arrival will not be available as we like to keep traffic to a minimum,)

Cost
The Camp Site charge is £10 per person for the weekend, fees for the site to be paid to me (Big Stu) as you arrive, this will have to be in cash.

Under 10's there is no charge.

Under 18s
Are welcome to attend, they are the responsibility of the Parent/Guardian that they came to the meet with, also please keep children under control.

Behavior
Our meets, are good natured and light hearted, with safety in mind, we aim to carry this on with self regulation, if it does not then the offending person will be asked to leave immediately.

Facilities
This is a very wild site...The nearest Toilets, Shower are back at a Farm Yard about 1km away, the nearest Tap is about a 600m from the Woodland.

Personal Hygiene - there is NO toilets in the woodland, apart from the ones at the Farm, please bring your Hygiene kits (loo roll ect), there is a Group Latrine that is to be used in all cases, it is a requirement of the Landowner.

The Communal Area has a number of seat/ small tables, a rustic bushy Table seat next to a clay oven to make food prep a bit easier then doing it on your lap, during meets a Tarp will be put up over the fire area, The fire pit has a concrete base, with a Tripod and Extension with a griddle over the fire for everyone's use.

There is also a Shave horse for use as well that was made as a group project.

There is a lean to one man natural shelter that can be used, in a secluded area, if you would like to use it for a night, that would be on a first come, first serve basis, it may need re-roofing prior to use.

Housekeeping
There is no Facility to leave rubbish on site or at the farm, please bring a Rubbish Bag for your waste and take it home; we have had occasions were other peoples pitches have been cleaned up by others, You Carry In – You Carry Out.

Fire Places and Fire scar’s to be kept to a minimum, this will depend on activities, if you make a Fire Scar for any reason, other than communal one, then it is your responsibility to clean it up, The Main communal Fire is Everyone’s responsibility to clean up after.

Vehicles and Access and Parking to site
Due to the amount of cars and access being required by the landowner, cars can go to the woodland to drop off and pick up kit, then back to parking area for the duration of the stay, the Car Parking for the woodland will be about 800m away from the woodland in a Working Farm Yard, please do not block Gates and Barn doorways.

If the ground is too wet then, most of the gear will have to walked in, I can arrange for help for people that cannot walk that far due to a health reason, I need to know this in advance. At the last meet the ground was a bit Tacky over the field, we will post a notice at the parking area to say weather cars can venture down to the Woods due to Mud please look out for this and respect it.

Group Meal,
This is still open for anyone to do...

(The Group meals are supplied but the person making them, then the cost is divided between the participants, please remember Cash is required).

In case of Unforeseen events that may cause there to be no group meal, please allow in your catering for that emergency meal.

Air Guns
From this meeting as a Bonus for the Regular Attendees to Monthly Meets will be able to use Air Guns (Non FAC - under 12flb only) for Target use only in a designated area, they will be subject to Chronograph before use by the Range Control Officer, (this will be Carl), and any decision on the use of Air Guns and Range that he makes will be final, and has the right to refuse the use of the gun or any person using a gun.

IF YOU ARE NOT A REGULAR ATTENDEE TO THE MONTHLY MEET PLEASE DO NOT ASK IF YOU CAN SHOOT... IT IS ONLY FOR THE REGULARS.

Please inform myself or Carl (mitch66) if you intend on bringing an Air Gun prior to arrival.

Any person not adhering to these conditions will be asked to stop the activity.

Other Info
We are still on probation at this site, so please keep to the simple rules and treat it with respect.

I will be taking the normal, Griddle, and tripod, Coleman Lamp, also a couple of Tarps, for a group shelter,

Wood can be gathered from around the site, Dead Wood only to be used.

Of course Micky being taken is compulsory....

I know people Like taking Photo's and sharing experiences, and some do not like the Photo's on the Internet, so Please bear this in mind when posting after the event,

Slippers are welcome.....

Also don't forget, people do bring swaps and items for sale, so a meet can be a great place to get some kit.. reason to bring a little bit of cash with you.

All Attendee's, attend and take part in any activities at their own risk....by attending you agree to this term.

First Aid
There are no First Aid facilities on site, so you will need to bring your own suitable First Aid kit, not just some plasters.

The nearest A & E is 20 minutes drive at;

West Suffolk Hospital
Hardwick Lane
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk IP33 2QZ,
Switchboard: 01284 713000

If you plan to attend, then Paste and Copy the Attendance List and place name on bottom of list, I will add to the Main Post and how many nights you’re staying,

From Now on there will be a limit of 15 persons, and only two New/Non Regular attenders in that 15.

List of Attending
1. Big Stu
2. tim _n
3.
4.
6.
7.
8.

Other Dates
September 20th and 21st 2013 - TBC- Daniel Boone Challenge -See http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=110217
Friday 4th and Saturday 5th October-TBC - Monthly Meet
Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd November-TBC - Monthly Meet
Friday 6th and Saturday 7th December-TBC - Monthly Meet - Christmas Meal !!!!!!

 

[ozzy1977]

Simon I think Stu started a new page for the monthly meet http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111661&highlight=suffolk

 

[SJStuart]

Simon I think Stu started a new page for the monthly meet http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111661&highlight=suffolk

Thanks, mate... didn't notice!

 

[Big Stu 12]

A good weekend, we had some rain but for most of it it was dry even sunny , I turned up early evening to meet Dave and Geoff at the compasses to show them the way to the woods, to find John and Simon and Mike, there, Mike had brought a Chemical Loo for the group, thank you very much for that Mike, I did find it strange sitting down in the woods......they guys will love it thank you,.. we pitched and set to in getting up the Group shelter, then to coffee and chat.., and an early night was had by me,

Saturday I woke later then I normally do to find the fire lit, by Dave and Geoff, later that day Carl turned up, and so did Nick, with his little pressie for the site... a Pole lathe.. he set it up had a little play and then made his way home and to work.... A GREAT BIG THANK YOU FOR THAT NICK, its very much Appreciated, you did not need to just turn up to bring it.



The afternoon, was filled with some turning, a spoon was carved by John , some cattie's, repair of a few cracks in the clay oven, and some seat repairs..



BTW the turned chair leggy type thing was made by everyone having a bash and turning it over the afternoon... think we all run out of puff in the legs.. lol

Dave brought some knives he had made for trade, some nice shiny sharps there Dave, I used the Oven to cook some Baked beans with Bacon, Mike used it to cook his steak,



It as good to meet Dave and Geoff, thank you for visiting our site.

 

[Big Stu 12]

On the site check walk round to make sure things were in order and clean, we did notice that there did seem to be quite a few new cut branch's there was even on of the stools that had 3 branches removed.........each one of these was 2" ish in Diameter, we also found a 1 1/4" branch cut down and just a small amount of 1/2 to 3/4" removed the leaves were still on the remnants left on the ground, under the fresh cut

We had a walk round and found in excess of 10 fresh cuts in Green Wood.. and an other three damaged whilst cutting a branch that looked like it was cut to be used as a hook

Last meet an attender was cutting green wood for what he considered was a good reasons, and did not listen to request to stop using green wood, for these reasons from now on NO green wood will be cut......... one spoon, a tripod, a peg or a pot hanger is not a good reason for cutting new wood.

We are still on probation here, up until now the Land Owner is happy with what we have done, and how we have treated the woods, the last thing I want to do is lose it.

 

[SJStuart]

On the site check walk round to make sure things were in order and clean, we did notice that there did seem to be quite a few new cut branch's there was even on of the stools that had 3 branches removed.........each one of these was 2" ish in Diameter, we also found a 1 1/4" branch cut down and just a small amount of 1/2 to 3/4" removed the leaves were still on the remnants left on the ground, under the fresh cut

We had a walk round and found in excess of 10 fresh cuts in Green Wood.. and an other three damaged whilst cutting a branch that looked like it was cut to be used as a hook

Last meet an attender was cutting green wood for what he considered was a good reasons, and did not listen to request to stop using green wood, for these reasons from now on NO green wood will be cut......... one spoon, a tripod, a peg or a pot hanger is not a good reason for cutting new wood.

We are still on probation here, up until now the Land Owner is happy with what we have done, and how we have treated the woods, the last thing I want to do is lose it.

Couldn't agree more. It was weird standing next to the fire, looking around at 360 degrees to see lots of cut stumps on the trees. I am more than slightly concerned knowing that the land owner will absolutely notice the rough cutting around our communal area... and I seriously hope he doesn't decide to kick us out for it!

This is why Kirkland and I were so selective when locating a suitable ailing live tree to "harvest" for the lean-to shelter's cross beam. We picked the least "live" piece of wood in the most remote area we could find, knowing it wouldn't be missed (and wouldn't be damaging anything in the process).

Given the sheer number of rough cuts, it makes a lot of sense to put a halt to any and all arbitrary cutting.

 

[Big Stu 12]

New thread up for October meet ..........

with up dates to some Items, please read all post...

 

[ozzy1977]

Gutted I could not make it this time but sometimes life gets in the way of having fun. At least I managed to have a bonfire and rearrange my workshop.

 

[crosslandkelly]

Looks like a great meet Stu, and a pole lathe, brilliant!! Can't wait to see the site when I get there for the challenge. Shame about the wood carnage, don't blame you for the no green wood rule.

 

[ozzy1977]

It is great shame that people cant respect the woodland as well as others, and we are still in an early relationship with the landowner.

I do have a set of chisels for the pole lathe we can use, which I will bring along next time

 

[Big Stu 12]

Thank you for your support in this matter, I am not one for rules as you know, and like to give people freedom to do as they please, we do have very few rules, and most of them are in place by volantray consent of the attenders to the meets and have come about through, them just happening.

I wish to keep an easy going group into the furture, and look to going forward from here

 

[Big Stu 12]

I do have a set of chisels for the pole lathe we can use, which I will bring along next time

Thats Great Chris... things are comeing to make this a nice little set up we have there ,

By the way I have left the Tarp for the group shelter under the plastic, also under that is some dry wood, and the Loo/chemical. As we head in to winter can those that arive in the afternoon, after pitching their kit, set up the Group Tarp and the toilet before it get dark.. this this may well be prudent...

Also the last one's left on the last day please leave a stack of dry timber under the plastic ready for next time

 

[Big Stu 12]

Looks like a great meet Stu, and a pole lathe, brilliant!! Can't wait to see the site when I get there for the challenge.

yeah its a nice bit of kit that Nick Donated, we are lucky we have guys in the group like that, along with the loo from Mike,

 

[Damascus]

It would be nice to have a bit of self honesty, who did cut down the green wood. I understand why the blanket ban, why should the majority suffer for the inconsiderate actions of another!

 

[mitch66]

when in rome. 100% behind you stu, did see one or two new cuts around the camp but didnt want to seam grumpy and moan again, you know how i feel about cutting live wood. could be my age maybe. later lads

 

[Big Stu 12]

It would be nice to have a bit of self honesty, who did cut down the green wood. I understand why the blanket ban, why should the majority suffer for the inconsiderate actions of another!

I would of hoped that things like this did not happen, but there you go... it an other reason wild campers are not well liked..

 

[ozzy1977]

Anyone with half a brain knows to cut as low as poss and to use as much as poss, not to shows no respect for the woodland, owner of the woodland or those using the woodland and are not fit to be called bushcrafters, vandals would be more suitable

 

[Cromm]

Here are some of the spare 3d targets I have if the group would like one? Some will need a bit of a fix but mend and make newish. Let me know.

 

[Cromm]

Same target.