Sussex BCUK Meet for OCTOBER: weekend of 26th & 27th

Neumo

Full Member
Jul 16, 2009
1,675
0
West Sussex
Time for another meet thread, after last weekends event. This meet & the rest of the ones this year will be on pitches back up on the main track, now that the busy summer period is over. Most of the pitches down the hill from the wash block in the middle of the wood are going to be shut down for the winter, so the ones we have used over the summer are no longer available for the next 6 months.

The usual rules & regulations are here:

Pitch D13, which is along the main track on the opposite side from the main road.

General Details
Location of the Campsite & details of the Venue Broadstone Warren is a Scout site situated in the Ashdown Forest in the North of Sussex, midway between the South Coast and London. The site which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) comprises 386 acres of the Ashdown Forest with campsites situated throughout the woodland in many of the glades.

How to get there
http://www.broadstonewarren.org.uk/index.php/find_us/

By Road
From the M25 - Leave the M25 at junction 8 following the M23 southbound towards Brighton. Leave the M23 at junction 10, and take the first exit on the roundabout along the A264 towards East Grinstead. When you get into East Grinstead, follow the A22 southbound towards Eastbourne. Remain on the A22, straight through Forest Row. Broadstone Warren is on the left-hand side approximately 2 miles south of Forest Row.
From the South - Follow the A22 northbound crossing the crossroads at Wych Cross (just after the Roebuck Hotel). The main entrance is approximately 500 metres after the junction on the right-hand side.

SAT-NAV - If using Sat-Nav, the postcode for the site is RH18 5JS. As you get close to the site, you need to look out for the signs as the same postcode is used for a number of local properties.

By Rail: The nearest train station is at East Grinstead, which is approximately a fifty minute train journey from London Victoria. When arriving at East Grinstead Broadstone Warren is a bus journey or ten minute taxi ride away.

By Bus: Bus services pass Broadstone Warren from East Grinstead, Uckfield and Haywards Heath.

Times & Car Parking
You can stay the Friday night if you want, although the main meet starts on Saturday Morning & normally goes to lunchtime or mid afternoon on the Sunday.When you arrive on site you can drive to the pitch to unload but then please put your car back in the main car park; unless we have a pitch near the Ranger's car park at the end of the main dirt road in which case use that. Please be aware that you need to pay for each 24 hour period you are on site, so if you arrive at 12am on Friday & stay after 12am on Sunday then you need to pay for 3 days.


Fees
We have managed to get the discounted day rate of £4.92. Please note that this is charged on a 24 hour basis , so if you arrive on the Saturday & leave on the Sunday after being there for more than 24 hours then you need to pay for 2 days. Sorry but that is their rules. They like the organiser to collect all the fees & pay the bill, which Neumo normally does, but if he is not around then one of the regulars needs to sort this out.

You are welcome to come down for the day if you can't stay over, for which the site charges a day visit fee of £2.50

What we do at the meets
This is an opportunity to meet some local(ish) Bushcrafters, camp out with like minded people & practice/learn some skills. We have had a handful of these meets before, some at other venues, but they mostly follow the same pattern. We tend to do as much or as little as you want but try to have a few sessions where anyone can take part if they want; these are usually things like different ways to make fires, carving, tree id etc.. We cook on the shared fire, often having a communal meal & have tea on the go all the time. We have a few beers round the campfire in the evening but tend not to stay up too much past midnight as others are often asleep by then & we tend to get up early when you wake up in the woods, usually round 7 (although some sleep on for a bit).

What to bring & Food
We spend quite a lot of time sitting round the fire under the parachute or a tarp, so a CHAIR is a good thing to have. Tea/Coffee making stuff & a mug are the other essential things to have. People tend to self cater so bring enough food to feed yourself for the weekend. There are shops in Forest Row where you can resupply if needed.

The other important stuff

WATER: Standpipes are located at various points around the site. Sometimes in winter there is no water on a pitch but that is rare. Brining a water container is not a bad idea as sometimes we pitch up the hill from the taps.

FIREWOOD: There is ample wood for burning lying around the forest. Under NO circumstances is live wood to be cut or damaged. Chain saws are NOT permitted on the site. Some pitches are better than others but we always find enough wood. Brining a bow saw is a good idea if you have one.

PITS: Due to the nature of the ground on site NO pits of any type may be dug.

VEHICLES: NO vehicles are to be driven onto the camp sites or parked on the rides other than with the Duty Manager’s permission. On arrival you may be allowed to unload your equipment at your site after which you must park your vehicle in the car park allocated. At the end of your stay, after receiving the Duty Manager’s permission, you will be allowed to take your vehicle to your site to load up your equipment. Please note that if it has been raining a lot then the office may decide to close access to the pitches by locking the gates; this is done to protect the rides.

CYCLES: To comply with the Forestry Commissions Laws and Natural England, cycles are NOT permitted on the site.

DOGS: NO pets of any description are allowed on site. Sorry but that is the site rules.

NOISE / NUISANCE / Anti-social Behaviour: As the consideration for other users is paramount, music players, radios and the like must not be audible off your own site. Noise must be kept to a minimum between 11pm and 7.30am. Unacceptable behaviour by any users on site will not be tolerated. Unacceptable behaviour includes: Bad language that causes others to be seriously offend; Trespassing; Vandalism; Consumption of alcohol by minors/excessive consumption by adults; Illegal substance use; Setting fires (with the intent to cause damage); Acting in a way that may cause danger to self or others.

Verbal, Emotional, Physical or Sexual Abuse etc... will not be tolerated, neither will people who constantly bring these topics up in conversation. This is a scout site full of children so participants need to realise that what they say round a campfire may be overheard & reacted to in a very different way from how they think their 'banter' will be recieved by the people they are talking to. We are not trying stop people enjoying themselves but some topics of conversation are not appropriate for a scout camp, so we are asking that common sense be used here. Please see the disclaimer below. We will be keeping an eye on this from now on.

SECURITY: In the interest of security we would recommend that you do not leave any valuables in tents or buildings.

RUBBISH: Recycling facilities for glass, cans and tins are located at Camp Centre. Please clean all glassware, cans and tins before disposal. All combustible rubbish, where practicable should be burned. All other rubbish should be brought to camp centre and placed in the bins provided, or taken home for disposal.

FIRE: Fire is to stay within the main fireplace, unless people are being taught how to make fire under appropriate adult supervision. This is mainly aimed at kids, as we need to be careful where embers land away from the main fire for obvious reasons. This excludes personal hobos, gas cookers etc.. which are the owners responsibility when operating.

Bringing Guests: If you bring a guest to a meet or invite them then you are responsible for them until they become an established member of the group, which will be after 2 visits. We have been asked to add this rule in by BCUK. This especially applies to bringing other peoples children. The person who brings the children to the meet are responsible for them & their safety at all times.


Disclaimer:
In the highly unlikely event that we need to make use of this ... we reserve the right to stop any individual(s) from attending a Meet.
Any individual(s) who we feel endanger our future use of the site will be required to leave the site; outstanding fees will still be owed. This also applies if the site staff have problems with an individual. This is needed to protect BCUK, the organisers and the other attendees of these meets if someone does something that is felt to be dangerous to the any of the above groups or could stop us using the site in the future. If someone is banned then please respect the decision, even if you do not agree with it, as it will be have been discussed with the Mods whose decision is final.

* Forum members are responsible for themselves, the kit they use and their own actions (and any non member accompanying them) at the Meet.

* Under 18's must be accompanied by at least one parent (or appointed guardian).


Hope to see you round the campfire soon
 
Last edited:

Neumo

Full Member
Jul 16, 2009
1,675
0
West Sussex
As per usual, please add your name to the list after you have copied the last version:

1 Neumo
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
 

Shadyady

Tenderfoot
Aug 21, 2013
63
0
Brighton
Just noted that D13 is right at the other end of the site from reception but is just the other side of the rangers car park/Visitor's centre as it happens.

Does anyone know if there is an option to drop off kit here and bring it in through their car park or is it strictly via reception only ?

Adrian
 

Neumo

Full Member
Jul 16, 2009
1,675
0
West Sussex
You will be able to drive to the pitch from the main car park and maybe the rangers car park. They used to open up the ranger car park gate & close it at night but have not been doing that much this year, with the odd exception. Officially they dont open it. But yes, you can drop your kit by the pitch by car.
 

Neumo

Full Member
Jul 16, 2009
1,675
0
West Sussex
ARCHERY

I asked about us doing some archery at the next meet, as some people were interested. We can rent the range for a half day but there are 2 rules:
- bows have to be locked up by them overnight in their office i.e. we are not allowed to have them on a campsite. That is a pain but doable.
- there needs to be a qualified instructor present. That can be one of us if they can show a certificate for GNAS Archery Leader, GNAS Instructor or similar. If none of have this then we would have to 'rent' one of their staff.

If you would be interested in an afternoon of archery, which would probably be Saturday afternoon, then can you let me know + say if you have the instructor badge. Thanks. I don't know costs yet but will find out if there is enough interest.
 

Leather Owl

Full Member
Jan 7, 2013
38
0
Arundel, West Sussex
Thanks for looking into the archery Dave. I am happy to bring along two bows and let them lock them up. Unfortunately I do not have my instructors certificate.

1 Neumo
2 Adrian
3 Jo
4 Bill
5 Tony
6
7
8
9
10
 

mutineer

Full Member
Apr 30, 2013
80
1
Hampshire
Hi all,
I am hoping to make my first meet up soon. I attended a couple of courses this year and would like to find a more affordable and frequent way to practice bushcraft. I can't make the 26th because I am doing a mountain marathon.
Is it possible to be put on an email circular so that I don't miss the next opportunity?
 

Wayne

Mod
Mod
Dec 7, 2003
3,787
676
52
West Sussex
www.forestknights.co.uk
Hi all,
I am hoping to make my first meet up soon. I attended a couple of courses this year and would like to find a more affordable and frequent way to practice bushcraft. I can't make the 26th because I am doing a mountain marathon.
Is it possible to be put on an email circular so that I don't miss the next opportunity?

The Sussex meets are held on the last weekend of the month throughout the year.

Neumo is the organiser and is the liaison with the site.

We welcome everyone as long as you can adhere to the terms at the beginning of the thread. Which is basic good manners. You do not need any previous bushcraft skills to enjoy a relaxed weekend camping in the woods with like minded people.
 

Neumo

Full Member
Jul 16, 2009
1,675
0
West Sussex
The best way is to keep a lookout in this 'England South East ' section of the meet ups section. as Wayne said, there is a meet every month & it is usually on the last weekend of the month, with the odd exception like at Christmas.
 

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE