bushcraft courses bushcraft courses

All our courses on one page

Our tropical and essential fire courses will be run by request only, please go to the relevant page by following the links below:

Tropical and foreign fire by friction course

Essential fire course

 

THE BUSHCRAFT TASTER COURSE

 

 

This is a 2 day weekend taster giving you the opportunity to see how rewarding bushcraft can be with a moderate level of training. This short survival training course gives you the chance to experience the pleasure of living with nature and also teaches some essential bushcraft and survival skills, equipping you Bushcraft instruction

with some useful firelore and Plantlore to carry with you throughout your life.

 

The skills covered:

  • Use of a Tarp
  • Bow drill fire by friction as a team
  • Flint and steel to create fire
  • Essential fire nurturing and campfire skills
  • Bushcraft cooking
  • Tree identification
  • Plant identification
  • Edible plants
  • Simple traps
  • Simple wood carving and tool selection

 

 

This is a two day course run from a central basecamp in gorgeous bluebell filled ancient coppiced woodland surrounded by wildlife such as Bushcraft instructionbuzzards, deer and badger. The course runs from 9am on Saturday and finishes at about 4pm on the Sunday.

Max group size: 5

Duration: 2 days

Cost: NOW £170 (was £190)

pre-requisite bushcraft courses: none

To book contact us on learnbushcraft@gmail.com or 07952683383.

Dates 2011

29th - 30th October (available)

Dates 2012

11th - 12th Feb (available)

4th - 5th May (available)

12th - 13th May (available)

23rd - 24th June (available)

If you can't make any of these dates please call us and we can arrange a time that suits you for the same cost.

 

THE ESSENTIAL BUSHCRAFT COURSE

This course gives a firm grounding in the knowledge and skill required to pursue bushcraft to its greater potential. The syllabus has been designed to take the novice with no experience to a level of competence with which they could enjoy the outdoors environment and life with greater confidence.

The training of each bushcraft skill is carefully explained and demonstrated by nationally PGCE qualified teachers and experienced bushcraft instructors before you are given the chance to practice the skill under the watchful eye of the British bushcraft team.

At the end of the training course there is a certified test for those who wish to take it giving you the chance to put all that has been learnt into practice.

The skills covered

  • Equipment selection and what you should carry
  • Bow drill fire by friction
  • Natural and woodland constructed shelters
  • Man-made shelters including tarp use
  • Flint and steel
  • Swedish fire steel use
  • Carving techniques
  • Trapping
  • Fishing
  • Spears and harpoons
  • Simple containers and the bush cup
  • Preparing game and fish
  • Pot hangars and bushcraft cooking skills
  • Fire management
  • Knots and rope throwing
  • Navigation
  • Edible plants and tree identification
  • Water sources and purification
  • Breads and stews
  • Lashings and cordage
  • Sharpening
  • Backcountry hygiene
  • Outdoor safety
  • Learning to track
  • Leaving no trace

This is a six day course run from a central basecamp in gorgeous bluebell filled ancient coppiced woodland, surrounded by wildlife such as buzzards, deer and badger. The course runs from 9am on a Sunday and finishes at about 4pm on the following Friday.

Cost: NOW £390 (was £490)

pre-requisite bushcraft courses: none

To book contact us on learnbushcraft@gmail.com or 07952683383.

Dates 2012

9th - 13rd April (available)

11th - 15th June (available)

20th - 24th August (available)

If you can't make any of these dates please call us and we can arrange a time that suits you for the same cost.

BOW DRILL BUSHCRAFT COURSE

To attend this course you will learn far more than just the bow drill.

The Bow Drill and Hand drill training courses could be the most rewarding one day bushcraft course you attend.

We provide free instructional aftercare and advice via email, phone or in person to anyone attending our fire by friction courses. If you're still having problems and are nearby we endeavour to spend a little more time with you, free of charge, to iron out any further problems.

There's something truly magical about gently coaxing a smoldering ember from seemingly inert materials and blowing it into a flame. It's a wonderful skill to have and one that is almost as enthralling to watch as it is to perform.

The bow drill is viewed by many as the quintessential bushcraft skill, giving the master of its use a feeling of freedom and self reliance that is rivalled by few other survival skills.

See the following video to gain an idea of what you will be taught...

On this bushcraft course you will learn the very best ways of achieving success in that ultimate goal - making a fire by friction.

Your instructor for this course; Dale, is one of the UK's leading experts on fire by friction, who with his ten years of experience has tried and tested many different methods and materials. As such, by attending this bushcraft course you are ensured the very best possible chance of succeeding in creating your first friction fire.

During this training we cover the main elements

  • Carving techniques
  • Wood types and selection
  • Techniques and skills involved in the fire making process
  • Position and stance
  • Location
  • Ember to flame
  • Fire management
  • Knots

Also covered in this bushcraft course

  • How to make a fire from a bow drill kit recently soaked in water.
  • A wealth of information on different types of tinder and their uses will also be provided.
  • Types of cordage that can be used, wild and man made.

There is also another advantage to studying this skill with us; we always throw in lots of other bushcraft knowledge and skills training thoughout the day. During this last year of teaching the participants to both this course and the handdrill course have learnt many other differrent aspects of bushcraft from wild edibles, cordage and carving, to trapping and tracking to name just a few.

We currently teach bow drill and hand drill in a completely differrent way to most approaches. We feel our method is better suited to giving the greatest chance of success whilst also teaching some important skills that are essential to bushcraft and the survival art of fire by friction.

We are also keeping the numbers lower to improve instructor to student ratio and therefore heighten your chances of success.

This bushcraft course focuses strongly on ensuring participants succeed in making that first friction fire and leave with the confidence and knowledge necessary to practice and refine their skill until to they have fully mastered the bow drill.

A midday meal, drinks and snacks will be provided as will all the equipment needed for the course.

To book contact us on learnbushcraft@gmail.com or 07952683383.

Max group size: 5

Duration: 1 day

Cost: NOW £90 (was £100)

pre-requisite bushcraft courses: none

Dates 2012

26th Feb (available)

18th March (available)

22nd July (available)

If you can't make any of these dates please call us and we can arrange a time that suits you for the same cost.

 

HAND DRILL BUSHCRAFT COURSE

The Bow Drill and Hand drill courses could be the most rewarding one day bushcraft course you attend.Hand drill bushcraft course

To attend this course you will learn far more than just the hand drill. 

We provide free instructional aftercare and advice via email, phone or in person to anyone attending our fire by friction courses. If you're still having problems and are nearby we endeavour to spend a little more time with you to help you achieve competance in this survival skill.

 

 

There's something truly magical about gently coaxing a smoldering ember from seemingly inert materials and blowing it into a flame. It's a wonderful skill to have and one that is almost as enthralling to watch as it is to perform.     

The hand drill is viewed by many as the quintessential bushcraft skill, giving the master of its use a feeling of freedom and self reliance that is rivalled by few other

Hand drillsurvival and native living skills.

See the following video to gain an idea of what you will be taught...

 

On this bushcraft course you will learn the very best ways of achieving success in that ultimate goal -

making a fire by friction.

Your instructor for this course, Dale is one of the UK's leading experts on fire by friction, who with his ten years of experience has tried and tested many different methods and materials. As such, by attending this bushcraft course you are ensured the very best possible chance of succeeding in creating your first friction fire.

We cover the main elements

  • Carving techniques
  • Wood types and selection
  • Techniques and skills involved in the fire making process
  • Position and stance
  • Location
  • Fire management
  • Knots
  • How to make a fire from a hand drill kit recently soaked in water.
  • A wealth of information on different types of tinder and their uses will also be provided.

There is also another advantage to studying this skill with us; we always throw in lots of other bushcraft knowledge and skills training thoughout the day.  During this last year of teaching the participants on this course have learnt many other differrent aspects of bushcraft from wild edibles, cordage and carving, to trapping and tracking to name just a few.

We currently teach bow drill and hand drill in a completely differrent way to most approaches. We feel our method is better suited to giving the greatest chance of success whilst also teaching some important skills that are essential to bushcraft and fire by friction.

We are also keeping the numbers lower to improve instructor to student ratio and therefore heighten your chances of success.

This bushcraft course focuses strongly on ensuring participants succeed in making that first friction fire and leave with the confidence and knowledge necessary to practice and refine their skill until to they have fully mastered the bow drill.

A midday meal, drinks and snacks will be provided as will all the equipment needed for the course.

To book contact us on learnbushcraft@gmail.com or 07952683383.

Max group size: 5

Duration: 1 day

Cost: NOW  £90 (was £100)

pre-requisite bushcraft courses: none

Dates 2012

25th Feb (available)

17th March (available)

21st July (available)

If you can't make any of these dates please call us and we can arrange a time that suits you for the same cost.

 

THE SPRING EDIBLES BUSHCRAFT COURSE

This is the must attend bushcraft training course for learning the bounty of wild edibles that grace our fields hedgerows and verges during the months of Spring. Foraging course

This is a one day course that will show you many of the wild plants and roots on offer and will guide you through safe and reliable identification. You will be shown the plants and tested to ensure that you have retained the information and therefore will be well on the way to starting your own foraging.

You will also get to sample many of the wild plants shown and a tasty meal will be cooked using them.

We strongly suggest you bring a notebook and pencil on this course and take as many notes as possible. A digital camera is also useful (but not essential) to record the species that you'll learn.

A midday meal, drinks and snacks will also be provided..

Duration: 1 day starting at 9am and finishing between 3 and 4 pm.

Cost: NOW £90 (was £100)

pre-requisite bushcraft courses: none

To book contact us on learnbushcraft@gmail.com or 07952683383.

Dates 2012

Sunday 27th May

If you can't make any of these dates please call us and we can arrange a time that suits you for the same cost.

 

THE KNIFE MAKING COURSE

This is Our new one-to-one knife making course run by Dale; who has been making bushcraft knives for over 4 years. Dale will be on hand throughout the day with demonstrations, help and guidance as you go through the entire process, including manufacturing the blade. This is a full on training day giving you full and total insight how to make a fully functioning bushcraft knife.

Why spend over £100 on a bushcraft knife that will just be delivered by post. When you can make it yourself and take an active part in it's creation! You can knife making courseeven make it to your own design if you wish and craft your most treasured bushcraft tool with your own hands. This is a workshop based course where you will take a blank lump of steel, and through a process of cutting and grinding create a blade which you will then heat treat under close supervision. You will then fit and shape a handle of your own wood choice, then finally sanding and sealing the knife for use.

You will keep the knife you make! It will be razor sharp and correctly heat treated, so with care, will last for years. You can use the learnbushcraft knife template as the base for the shape or create your own design. There will be a range of finished knives to try beforehand so you can decide which is the best fit for your hand.

We cover all of the following elements:

  • Cutting and shaping
  • Bevel grinding
  • Polishing
  • Heat treating - hardening and tempering
  • Handle manufacture
  • Wood handle finishes
  • Knife shapening and care
  • You take your knife home with you

Bushcraft Knife

Max group size: 1

Duration: 1 day starting at 9am and finishing between 5 and 6 pm.

Cost: NOW £140 (was £150)

pre-requisite bushcraft courses: none

A video tutorial of Dale making a crook knife has just been uploaded so you can get a taster of what the course entails. NOTE: This course is aimed at making a fully functioning bushcraft knife and not the smaller crook knife although some input on this will also be given. To view the crook knife video click here.

To book contact us on learnbushcraft@gmail.com or 07952683383.

Dates 2010

Dates are flexible with this course so contact Dale to arrange a date that suits.

You will need a sheath for your bushcraft knife and unfortunately we can't fit this onto the day due to time limits. There are plenty of places to buy these from around £30 and made to fit your knife. More details and contacts are given on the day of the course. We will provide materials to safely wrap your knife for transport after the course.