Discover Bushcraft at Redbridge Lakes this year

We’re delighted to be returning to Redbridge Lakes again this year, with our bushcraft and plant craft activities for families and adults.

Family Bushcraft

A family introduction to the foundations of bushcraft. Think fire lighting, shelter building, campfire cooking, knifework, survival skills such as water
purification and seasonal activities.

We will forage around the lakes, cook snacks, get to know the plants and creatures that live by the Lakes. Each day will have a different focus.
For children aged 7yrs+ and accompanying adults

10.30am to 3.30pm

When: Saturday 7th June, Tuesday 12th August and Saturday 18th October 2025.

Price: £35 per person

Archery at the Lakes

Come shoot some arrows with us. No previous experience required.

Full instruction with a GB Archery qualified instructor with all the gear and lots of ideas.

Ages 7yrs to adults (for under 16yrs an adult must be on site)

11.00am Introduction to Archery
1.00pm Returners – you have completed the introduction and/or have some experience of recurve bow archery.

When: Saturday 3rd May 2025 or Saturday 20th September 2025

Price: £20 per person

Coil Basket Workshop

A complete introduction to this ancient and universal craft.

Everyone will complete a basket and takeaway the skills and know how to
complete your own at home.

Adults and accompanied young people aged 12yrs+

When: Tuesday 8th July 2025

Price: £60 each

More Info and To Book

For more information and to book:
https://bookwhen.com/discoverbushcraft

Members of Redbridge Lakes get 10% discount

More questions? Please email helen@discoverbushcraft.co.uk

Sunday archery in Thaxted is back for 2024!

All our dates up to summer are now confirmed and available to book online at: https://bookwhen.com/discoverbushcraft

Sunday 25th February 10am 11.45am 1.30pm
Sunday 24th March 10am 11.45am 1.30pm
Sunday 21st April 10am 11.45am 1.30pm
Sunday 19th May 10am 11.45am 1.30pm
Sunday 16th June 10am 11.45am 1.30pm

Beginners sessions are at 10am with returners from 11.45 am. All sessions £18 per person. All equipment provided. Pre-booking essential.

Clarence House Conservation Gardens

Thaxted

CM6 2QN

Free parking 2 minute walk from our venue.

Sessions are led by GB Archery qualified instructors.

We hope to see you soon!

Nature, Wellbeing and Bushcraft for Families

A family activity day in the beautiful Harts Grove Woodlands, near Thaxted, Essex.

Wednesday, 2 August ’23 10am – 3:30pm BST

Harts Grove, Thaxted, Essex, CM6 2NN

Details

Nikki and I are very pleased to provide a wonderful mix of nature-based wellbeing and bushcraft. Nikki will lead us through sensory, grounding activities to help our busy brains actually relax. Helen will get you involved in lovely bushcrafty activities that will let you forget the hubbub of our busy world for a small while.

Based in beautiful wild woodlands, we will help you and your children immerse yourselves in nature and connect to each other. Good news is the kids cook the lunch over the fire whilst the adults kick back with some relaxation in the hammocks. We’ll also provide teas and coffee, snacks and all the equipment you will need. We hope everyone will go home with something they have made, as well as lovely memories draped in dappled sunlight and young green leaves.

The session is available to any combination of family; grandparents, aunts, uncles, carers, mums and dads along with your tribe of children (or child!). We recommend the minimum age for youngsters is 7 years.

Booking is essential as the group will be kept small with a maximum amount of adults.

Both Nikki and Helen are experienced practitioners working in the outdoors with adults and children.

Full Enhanced DBS checked. First Aid trained.

For more information about Nikki please visit her website http://www.nikkisammons.co.uk/

Instructions

Arrivals:
Nikki and I will be waiting for you at the wood’s entrance, we hope to walk in all together at 10am, so maybe worth arriving a bit before 10 so that we can all be ready together. The session will finish at 3.30pm and we will walk you all back to your cars.

Our base camp is about a 5 minute walk through the woods, the ground is fairly flat but can be muddy and as it is an unmanaged woodland there are branches and brambles we need to be mindful of. (Our path is well trodden, don’t worry, we won’t be hacking our way through the undergrowth!)

Parking:
We have to be clever with our parking to tuck into the laybys – Nikki and I will be there to help. Please do not park in the layby closest to the junction as this is a passing space for some of the big lorries that turn into the lane.

What to wear:
Weather appropriate clothes and closed toe boots or shoes. Things you don’t mind getting a bit muddy. It can be cooler in the woods so always worth bringing an extra layer. If it is raining we will rig up our parachute so we can all keep dry and cosy. (I think laying in a hammock under a tarp listening to the
pitter patter of rain is one of life’s delights) If the weather has been wet the woods can be muddy (I am writing this as we hopefully emerge from a soggy April) so wellie boots are good.

What to bring:
Just yourselves – our aim is to make this as hassle free for the grown ups as possible. We will have plenty of snacks and drinks and we will (with the help of the children) provide a tasty, campfire cooked lunch.

Please note: We aim to be a phone free zone for the day, we hope that everyone is happy to work with this idea. Nikki and I will have our phones for emergencies and we will bring a camera for photos.

Adult carers will be responsible for their charges, though we will hope to provide you with some ‘me’ time through the day.

Booking

https://bookwhen.com/discoverbushcraft/e/ev-s0x3-20230802100000