It has been a few weeks since much has been added to the Roundhouse down at Hams Hall however the team and myself got a fair bit done on Tuesday despite the heavy rain and the annoying biting insects. With two teams thatching and another team working on the daubed wall it was great to … Continue reading Roundhouse Update
Read the latest Woodlands Survival Crafts updates and news
Lime Bark Day
Despite being a very wet day the Lime Bark Day this year was an outstanding success. Most clients this year were Professionals in the Outdoors in some capacity with 3 who were on my Instructor Mentoring Scheme. The sheer delight from people was clear as they managed to slide off the bark to create cylinders … Continue reading Lime Bark Day
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Dave Watson
Hams Hall Roundhouse
One of the developments over at Hams Hall Environmental Centre is the construction of a 6.5 meter thatched round house. Each week I have been working with volunteers from the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust teaching them the skills to build such a structure. As you can see from the picture the main frame is more or … Continue reading Hams Hall Roundhouse
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Dave Watson
Industry Privileges
One of the great privileges of working in the Bushcraft world is when a couple of companies work together on a project. Last Monday I had some of the Woodland Ways Staff join with some of my staff to spend some time developing our understanding of less commonly used friction fire lighting methods such as … Continue reading Industry Privileges
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Dave Watson
Mentoring Scheme – String
This last weekend saw the Instructor Mentoring Scheme making String and rope out of a wide variety of materials and put them to a number of uses. Simple ties were made from Elm bark and quality string was made from Nettle, Lime, Reedmace, Horseradish and Palm fibers. It is interesting working with natural materials as … Continue reading Mentoring Scheme – String
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Dave Watson
Bushcraft in Switzerland
On Friday I returned from a few days in the mountains near Torgon in Switzerland. Such an incredibly beautiful place and for me such a privilege to have been asked in the first place. Camp Suisse (Swiss) is an international camp for schools mostly from Europe. The staff were very enthusiastic and eager to learn … Continue reading Bushcraft in Switzerland
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Dave Watson
Renewed Inspiration
I have just had a privileged/inspirational few days with a group of teenagers and young adults from the North East who came on an approved Bushcraft training course designed with professional Outdoor folks in mind. The weather last week was cold and damp in the woods and yet everyone of these fine folks just put … Continue reading Renewed Inspiration
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Dave Watson
Mentoring the professionals
It is an on going privilege to be able to support other outdoor professionals to take their skills and understanding to a much deeper level especially as we spend time on more demanding tasks such as Hand Drill fire lighting or winter tinder. I had my mentees for a second weekend of training and in … Continue reading Mentoring the professionals
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Dave Watson
Norwegian Bushcraft
Having just got back from Norway I thought I would write a few words to express how great it was to be out there training a very good bunch of Instructors from Adventure Norway as part of a project called Innovation Norway. The Centre is near Bjelland 50 minutes from Kristiansund. Training instructor staff from a … Continue reading Norwegian Bushcraft
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Dave Watson
Longest Days Highest Sap
This year the interest in the use of Lime has grown notably and I am so glad for not only has it given me some useful business it has stirred up a higher level of appreciation of this quite remarkable tree. At The Bushcraft Show I supplied Springfields Army Stores with 200 pieces of lime … Continue reading Longest Days Highest Sap
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