October Workshops with Discover Bushcraft and Billy Souter Primitive Living

We are delighted to offer these wonderful full day workshop with guest instructor Billy Souter of Primitive Living. Billy is quickly gaining an excellent reputation within the bushcraft world as a knowledgeable and talented craftsman and instructor – we’re very fortunate to have booked him in!

Friday 25th October 2024 – An Introduction to Flint Knapping and Primitive Glues

Saturday 26th October 2024 – Primitive Fire Lighting

Each course is £65 per person for a full day of learning and discovery. If you are booking both courses, there is the option of camping overnight at our woods too!

Courses are limited to small numbers and sure to sell out, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

For more information and to book visit:

https://bookwhen.com/discoverbushcraft

College Camp at Bishop’s Stortford College

A highlight of the Discover Bushcraft calendar each summer is the delivery of College Camp at Bishop’s Stortford College

During the holidays, the college offers a variety of camps ranging from College Camp and Swim School, which are run by College staff, to visitor-led workshops, courses, and experiences.

Discover Bushcraft is delighted to deliver the bushcraft activities during July and August, for children aged 7 to 13. Our programme gives children a change to rewild, unplug, and go back to nature for a week long adventure course.

If you’re interested in booking us to deliver fun educational activities for your school or organisation please give us a call on 07714 209384 or email helen@discoverbushcraft.co.uk

Discover Bushcraft will be at Wilderness Gathering 2024

Wilderness Gathering, a unique Bushcraft event, is the longest running and still the original festival of bushcraft, survival and primitive living skills

The Gathering has become a social event and brings together families and friends, all those interested in Bushcraft and Wilderness living skills to enjoy four days of knowledge sharing in a relaxed and family friendly atmosphere.

This year’s gathering is from Thursday 15th to Sunday 18th August 2024. Tickets are on sale now.

Discover Bushcraft is delighted to be attending the Wilderness Gathering this year and we will be at Hole Park Estate, Rolvenden from Friday to Sunday. Hope to see you there!

Summer Holiday Club – August Activities for Kids

It wouldn’t be the summer holidays without Holiday Club. We are super busy this summer but have carved out a couple of days for Holiday Club. Groups will be kept small (max 8) so do book to avoid disappointment. We have a nice range of activities available with something for everyone.

Tuesday August 13th – Woodland Crafts

We will be getting creative with plants (Plant craft!) to make gorgeous little fairy baskets and/or cordage jewellery and other items. Using natural materials such as bark, nettles, grasses and other plants we will make gorgeous things. This is a great introduction to weaving and the joy of harvesting, processing and making things from nature. I will have materials prepared so that young hands can have a go at successful weaving with natural materials. We will be based the woods around the campfire.

Book Now: Ages 7 to 10yrs – 10am to 1pm

Book Now: Ages 11yrs+ 2pm to 5pm

Tuesday August 20th Fire and campfire cooking

All things fire! A proper opportunity for children to experiment and learn about a range of fire lighting techniques (including the bow drill) and to cook something delicious on the fire. Everyone will be involved and have a go at laying, lighting and managing a small fire. Fabulous life skills and an enormous sense of achievement and satisfaction.

Book Now: Ages 7 to 10yrs – 10am to 1pm

Book Now: Ages 11yrs+ 2pm to 5pm

Friday August 23rd Archery and knifework

Based in the Conservation Garden in Thaxted we will have a packed session that includes a full introduction to the noble art of archery with lots of opportunity to shoot arrows until the arms can take no more, This will be followed by a whittling/knifework session. Using bushcraft knives we will learn the safe technique of knifework. (for those who have already completed the knifework introduction we will set up to be able to crack on with a project) Everyone should come home with a completed item.

Book Now: Ages 7 to 10yrs – 10am to 1pm

Book Now: Ages 11yrs+ 2pm to 5pm

Cost and Booking

All sessions are £36 per person. To book please visit our BookWhen page: https://www.bookwhen.com/discoverbushcraft – where you will also find details of our activities for adults and our wonderful bushcraft parties when we bring the fun to you!

Directions to the woods and garden for these Holiday Club sessions will be provided on completion of booking.

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to get in touch – helen@discoverbushcraft.co.uk

Discover Bushcraft at The Gardens of Easton Lodge

We had a fantastic day at The Gardens of Easton Lodge recently. A big thank you to everyone who stopped by for some cordage making. I was so busy I completely failed to get any action shots, but here are some from the beginning of the day.

If you are a nature reserve, local attraction or festival organiser and would like Discover Bushcraft to come along and deliver a range of activities for your visitors, please contact helen@discoverbushcraft.co.uk to discuss what we can offer.

Productive day in our woods near Thaxted

Brilliant day today at the woods, creating our sharp tools working area. Huge thanks to Joe Shanks for supporting with the build of this new educational activity space.

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

We are recruiting – Bushcraft / Outdoor Instructor

We are pleased to offer this exciting opportunity to work with Discover Bushcraft

In the first instance, this role will be to join our team at a residential education centre (at Stansted Mountfitchet) that provides residential and day visit experiences for primary school aged children from Tower Hamlets. We provide a range of activities including:

• Archery
• Cycling
• Campfire experience
• Nature walks
• Nature art
• Bug hunts
• Team games
• Shelter building
• Wide games
• Other bushcraft and nature based activities

Hours are: Mon to Thurs 9am – 4pm Fri 8.30am – 3.30pm during term time.
Occasional evening campfire / night walk.
Pay is £125 per day. (£17.86 per hr) You will invoice Discover Bushcraft monthly.

The amount of days each month will vary and average between 5 to 12 days a month depending on your availability and the bookings/school holidays in any given month.

This role would suit someone who is looking to gain more experience in outdoor education.

You will be:

• Self employed (so responsible for your own tax)
• Aged 21yrs+
• Experienced at working with primary school aged children (could include Brownies or Cubs etc for example)
• Confident in working alongside school teachers
• Happy to be working outdoors in all weather
• Happy to join in the games and be fit and able to lead walks in the surrounding countryide
• Happy to address large groups of children and adults
• Confident in being able to deliver the above activities (training will be provided)
• Approachable, patient, reliable, able to risk assess, be part of a team, a good communicator, a can do attitude, buckets of initiative and fun to be with.
• Enhanced DBS checked
• First Aid trained
• Have a good understanding of Safeguarding and good practice of working with young people.

To deliver archery you will be GB Archery Instructor Award qualified (this is not essential as we have qualified instructors within the team, however it will be helpful if you are).

Ideally you will:

• Have some basic bushcraft knowledge, particularly around fire lighting and nature identification although training can be provided.
• Be able to respond to changing schedules during the day
• Respond in a timely way to work requests and invoicing
• Be happy to be on a whatsapp group and have access to email
• Have a passion for nature and wildlife
You will need to be able to provide:
• Current enhanced DBS
• A full C.V that includes information on any employment gaps
• 2 referees, one of which includes previous experience of working with young people
• First Aid certificate
In return we offer:
• A wonderful work environment on a beautiful site with a great team
• Training
• Support and supervision as required
• The potential of developing skills and knowledge that can lead to other work with Discover Bushcraft
• All equipment and insurance cover

If you would like to apply for this position please email helen@discoverbushcraft.co.uk with a covering letter and your C.V. If we would like to pursue your application you will be invited along for a chat and a chance to shadow the team for a couple of sessions. This will be part of the recruitment process and feedback from the children / teachers / staff at the centre / Discover Bushcraft team will be considered.

We are hopeful for a September start.