This weekend just gone (29th-31st July) I attended the Woodland Ways bushcraft weekend.
Having booked it early Id been mentally thinking over the kit list rather a lot and before I knew it the time to pack was upon me. If it helps any future attendees, I live about 15 mins drive from the M25 via the A10 in Hertfordshire and I allowed 3.5 hours to get there and after a couple of squeaky bum moments with the time courtesy of the M25 car park I arrived about 6.00 with the gate to the parking being opened at 6.30.
We were met by Chief instructor Jason Ingamells and our course instructors Ruth and Martin. All were very welcoming and after we gathered round and had a briefing we walked for about 10 minutes or so to our base during which time I had a long chat with Jason. I have to say, the setting is fantastic and it was great just taking it all in and getting a feel for the place that was home for the weekend. The site is big enough to run simultaneous courses and to move them around to allow an area to recover.
Our two instructors were joined by three others. I think one was a trainee instructor, one a part time student instructor and one a bushcraft assistant. Um...I may have got this wrong and its just what I've assumed as I never asked! Suffice to say, they rotated sessions and the cover was always good.
The instructors left us each night to our own devices to share a brew and whatever around the fire.
Bashas are provided but I took my own tarp & hammock and over half the other students asked me questions about it.
After prepping some Pigeons it was done sort of stir fry style. Id said on my booking forms that I dont do mushrooms and I duly had my own Dutch oven, minus the Devils work.
Ive only ever watched a ponnaced Trout prep so it was good to tick this off. This was Saturday lunch. My son reckoned hed done one better and pointed to some bones Id missed-Bloody cheek!
The finished trout made for an impressive sight and aroma.
Shelter building was the order of the day on Saturday morning. I went for it and got up to a foot and a half depth which I was pleased with in the time. I actually had a cracking nights sleep and a little bit of me would like to have seen some rain on it (maybe once Id got up).
Dampers for breakfast. The instructors supplied the ingredients, including some mixed fruit and I took some milk powder and cinnamon from home and added some foraged redcurrants. It made for a fantastic damper and I made a big one to eat on the way home.
Should I have taken something to clean my nails? Head says Yes, heart says Not likely, it shows how stuck in I got!
I think the course pretty much did what it said on the tin to the point where Ive ignored the multiple choice online feedback sheet and sat down and sent an email instead. I was worried about the food because I dont have a palate for gamey stuff but I ate everything that was put in front of me and all mat was prepped by the students. In particular I think the stir fry was a good idea to help mask the strong taste of the pigeon and the rabbit stew was fantastic on Saturday night.
One disappointment was that there werent any other students on the course that where into bushcraft and so there wasnt any sharing of knowledge on that level but theres not a lot that the school can can do about it :tong: . That said the instructors were knowledgeable (and good fun actually) and were always willing to answer questions. Another was that I was told Jason doesnt like Jaffa cakes...up that point he was a bit of a bushcraft hero of mine...
When we got back to the cars Jason was there to see us all off (he'd done the family weekend) and asked me how I was. I said that I could feel a bit of a downer coming on after being totally immersed in the wood. I wondered if some of this was partly tiredness but the next day I felt totally and utterly un-motivated with a large helping of couldn't be arsed on the side. That tells me I had a great weekend and would recommend Woodland Ways to any of you.
Having booked it early Id been mentally thinking over the kit list rather a lot and before I knew it the time to pack was upon me. If it helps any future attendees, I live about 15 mins drive from the M25 via the A10 in Hertfordshire and I allowed 3.5 hours to get there and after a couple of squeaky bum moments with the time courtesy of the M25 car park I arrived about 6.00 with the gate to the parking being opened at 6.30.
We were met by Chief instructor Jason Ingamells and our course instructors Ruth and Martin. All were very welcoming and after we gathered round and had a briefing we walked for about 10 minutes or so to our base during which time I had a long chat with Jason. I have to say, the setting is fantastic and it was great just taking it all in and getting a feel for the place that was home for the weekend. The site is big enough to run simultaneous courses and to move them around to allow an area to recover.
Our two instructors were joined by three others. I think one was a trainee instructor, one a part time student instructor and one a bushcraft assistant. Um...I may have got this wrong and its just what I've assumed as I never asked! Suffice to say, they rotated sessions and the cover was always good.
The instructors left us each night to our own devices to share a brew and whatever around the fire.
Bashas are provided but I took my own tarp & hammock and over half the other students asked me questions about it.
After prepping some Pigeons it was done sort of stir fry style. Id said on my booking forms that I dont do mushrooms and I duly had my own Dutch oven, minus the Devils work.
Ive only ever watched a ponnaced Trout prep so it was good to tick this off. This was Saturday lunch. My son reckoned hed done one better and pointed to some bones Id missed-Bloody cheek!
The finished trout made for an impressive sight and aroma.
Shelter building was the order of the day on Saturday morning. I went for it and got up to a foot and a half depth which I was pleased with in the time. I actually had a cracking nights sleep and a little bit of me would like to have seen some rain on it (maybe once Id got up).
Dampers for breakfast. The instructors supplied the ingredients, including some mixed fruit and I took some milk powder and cinnamon from home and added some foraged redcurrants. It made for a fantastic damper and I made a big one to eat on the way home.
Should I have taken something to clean my nails? Head says Yes, heart says Not likely, it shows how stuck in I got!
I think the course pretty much did what it said on the tin to the point where Ive ignored the multiple choice online feedback sheet and sat down and sent an email instead. I was worried about the food because I dont have a palate for gamey stuff but I ate everything that was put in front of me and all mat was prepped by the students. In particular I think the stir fry was a good idea to help mask the strong taste of the pigeon and the rabbit stew was fantastic on Saturday night.
One disappointment was that there werent any other students on the course that where into bushcraft and so there wasnt any sharing of knowledge on that level but theres not a lot that the school can can do about it :tong: . That said the instructors were knowledgeable (and good fun actually) and were always willing to answer questions. Another was that I was told Jason doesnt like Jaffa cakes...up that point he was a bit of a bushcraft hero of mine...
When we got back to the cars Jason was there to see us all off (he'd done the family weekend) and asked me how I was. I said that I could feel a bit of a downer coming on after being totally immersed in the wood. I wondered if some of this was partly tiredness but the next day I felt totally and utterly un-motivated with a large helping of couldn't be arsed on the side. That tells me I had a great weekend and would recommend Woodland Ways to any of you.
