Hi All,
Here's a few pics and thoughts on Woodsmoke's excellent 'Woodlander' course I attended (and passed with a merit!) 3rd-9th May
Myself and a bloke from work were using basha's - nearly everyone else was in a tent, that turned out to be a good idea (for them) as it rained a lot.
After getting set up we were treated to an excellent Langoustine and nettle soup, and sat around the fire getting to know the group and a preview of the coming week. The catering throughout the course was excellent.
One of the first things we started making was a pot hanger - this was required for later in the week. Simon is hard a work putting the cross cut upside down in this shot. oops.
We also started carving spoons - after I turned my first one into firewood by overcarving the bowl, I started on a spoon/spatula hybrid - the spootula
We also tried our hand at shelter building:
The main fire where we spent most of the time working on the craft projects or taking notes during teaching
The cooking area
After filleting trout we cooked them over the fire while boiling rice on the pot hanger
Some feathersticks and my knife (Graduate with oak scales, 3mm 01 by Paul Baker). The knife performed excellently all week and still had an excellent edge after a week of hard work.
My sycamore bow drill set, not long after successfully turning an ember into a fireball
We also learnt how to prepare rabbit and woodpigeon and then made game pie. There was plenty of meat left for a kebab.
Other topics covered included water purification, making cordage, star lore, plant identification, fishing, tracking and trapping.
Here's my figure 4 trap
On the final day we had a practical 'exam' where we demonstrated what we had made and learnt through the week.
Throughout the course the instructors were always on hand and were very approachable and knowledgeable. Although the weather was bad the excellent food kept everyone's spirits up and there was also a plentiful supply of tea and biscuits to keep us going up till 'cake' time in the evening
In addition to the confidence in living outdoors this course has given me, I have now developed an interest in plant id and woodcarving that I previously had little interest in. I can't wait to get outside again and practice!
Here's a few pics and thoughts on Woodsmoke's excellent 'Woodlander' course I attended (and passed with a merit!) 3rd-9th May
Myself and a bloke from work were using basha's - nearly everyone else was in a tent, that turned out to be a good idea (for them) as it rained a lot.
After getting set up we were treated to an excellent Langoustine and nettle soup, and sat around the fire getting to know the group and a preview of the coming week. The catering throughout the course was excellent.
One of the first things we started making was a pot hanger - this was required for later in the week. Simon is hard a work putting the cross cut upside down in this shot. oops.
We also started carving spoons - after I turned my first one into firewood by overcarving the bowl, I started on a spoon/spatula hybrid - the spootula
We also tried our hand at shelter building:
The main fire where we spent most of the time working on the craft projects or taking notes during teaching
The cooking area
After filleting trout we cooked them over the fire while boiling rice on the pot hanger
Some feathersticks and my knife (Graduate with oak scales, 3mm 01 by Paul Baker). The knife performed excellently all week and still had an excellent edge after a week of hard work.
My sycamore bow drill set, not long after successfully turning an ember into a fireball
We also learnt how to prepare rabbit and woodpigeon and then made game pie. There was plenty of meat left for a kebab.
Other topics covered included water purification, making cordage, star lore, plant identification, fishing, tracking and trapping.
Here's my figure 4 trap
On the final day we had a practical 'exam' where we demonstrated what we had made and learnt through the week.
Throughout the course the instructors were always on hand and were very approachable and knowledgeable. Although the weather was bad the excellent food kept everyone's spirits up and there was also a plentiful supply of tea and biscuits to keep us going up till 'cake' time in the evening
In addition to the confidence in living outdoors this course has given me, I have now developed an interest in plant id and woodcarving that I previously had little interest in. I can't wait to get outside again and practice!
