Bushcraft & Survival Courses

(3-hours average)

On an evening's gentle stroll perhaps through a quiet wood or along a field edge our instructors will point out the abundance wild foods and resources available. We may also see Deer, Foxes, Badgers, Owls or perhaps a bat or two!

We offer walks in various locations all round the High Wycombe Area (Other areas on Request) to show the diversification of wild life and fauna in the area. The walks themselves are completely unscripted, we've no idea what we'll see or find - each walk is entirely unique and presents an completely new learning experience for everyone.

Suitable for all age-groups - family groups or Ramblers and other clubs especially. Walks can be conducted at any time of day, but the cool of a mid summer's evening has proven to be the most popular. (Surprisingly, our evening walks often end at a country pub !)

Great fun for everyone, learn more about the countryside that is all round you.

Guided Walks are run almost daily through the spring and summer months
You'll need:
· Comfortable walking shoes, ideally rugged trainers or walking boots/shoes.
· Binoculars if you've got them - or you can borrow ours
· A note pad is useful
· A basket or box in which to collect samples if you wish to
· A waterproof jacket is a sensible idea
Cost: £20 per adult / £10 per accompanied child

Call us now: 01494 481886 to register interest and for details of your nearest Guided Walk, dates times meeting points etc.
*If you are a club, a team or a school and would like to arrange a private Guided Walk or Talk & Slide Show please let us know - we'd be delighted to accommodate you.

(½-Day Duration)

This bushcraft course is ideally aimed at individuals or groups who have an interest in bushcraft and who want to take a first step toward learning more. On this course you will learn the core survival skills, you will be shown how to prioritise them and why:

· Shelter - how to construct basic shelter
· Fire - how to start fires, 3-methods of fire starting and the importance of fire
· Water - how to collect, filter and prepare water

Fundamentals courses are specifically designed to be easily understood during a relatively brief afternoon’s duration, run in the afternoon or in the evening depending on your requirement. The courses are not overly taxing nor physically demanding, but the skills you will learn on this course are essential to all bushcraft and survival techniques and will be of use to you in virtually any survival or outdoor emergency situation; these basic skills could one day save your life.

A lot of people like to 'dip their bushcrafting toe in the water' on our ½ day course before booking full or 2-day courses.

'Fundamentals' Courses are run twice-weekly through the spring and summer months
You'll need:
· Comfortable walking shoes, ideally rugged trainers or walking boots/shoes.
· A note pad is useful
· A waterproof jacket is a sensible idea
· A Therm-a-rest pad or similar to sit on is a good idea although not essential
Cost: £65 per adult / £25 per accompanied child

Call us now: 01494 481886 to register interest and for details of dates, times, meeting points etc.
*If you are a club, a team, school or company and would like to arrange a private Fundamentals course or a Talk & Slide Show on this subject please let us know - we'd be delighted to accommodate you.

½-Day Duration

This is a development of the Guided Walk/forage in which we will provide a more detailed basic introduction to Wild Foods, identification, seasons, their uses, and basic preparation. We will also discuss the law pertaining to wild plants, conservation (i.e. when and when not to harvest) and the use of wild plants for medicine and other useful purposes.
As important to understanding what wild plants and fauna can be eaten is learning which ones to avoid - a subject covered in this course including basic field 'toxicity tests'.

These courses are run in the afternoon or in the evening depending on demand and season. These courses are not overly taxing or physically demanding, but will involve some walking and searching.

'Wild Foods' Courses are run twice-weekly through the spring and summer months
You'll need:
· Comfortable walking shoes, ideally rugged trainers or walking boots/shoes.
· A note pad is useful
· A waterproof jacket is a sensible idea
· A Therm-a-rest pad or similar to sit on is a good idea
Cost: £65 per adult / £25 per accompanied child

Call now: 01494 481886 to register interest and for details of dates, times, meeting points etc.

*If you are a club, a team, school or company and would like to arrange a private Wild Foods walks or a Talk & Slide Show on this subject please let us know - we'd be delighted to accommodate you.

1-Day Duration

This course, although named 'Introduction to basic' looks in depth at the essentials of bushcraft and survival techniques. After a Red-Deer Bushcraft course, you may be able to find a great and end-less source of food and water, you may be able to build a shelter, but if you're ill through poor a hygiene regime, all is lost so we've added the very important and oft-overlooked module of hygiene in the field.

· Shelter - how to build various shelters and protection from the elements
· Fire - how to start fires, different kinds of fire, how to transport fire
· Water - how to collect and purify water, some water location techniques
· Hygiene - how to stay fit and healthy during survival & basic first aid
· Food - foraging for basic wild foods, gathering and preparation (Seasonal)

This is a full day, we don't like to skimp and so we pack a lot in. This course really gives a flavour of bushcraft and survival and hopefully will ignite passion in each student to learn more and start out on their own quests for knowledge. This course provides a good solid basic foundation for all bushcraft and survival skills.

These courses are run throughout the spring and summer season and are a full day. These courses will not be physically demanding and will involve only moderate walking and effort.

You'll need:
· Comfortable walking shoes, ideally rugged trainers or walking boots/shoes
· Comfortable outdoor clothes - dress in layers, poly cotton or similar trousers, t-shirt, shirt, jumper or fleece, outer shell of ideally Ventile or wool.
· A note pad is useful
· Waterproof jacket and trousers
· Day pack
· Water carrier/s -1L
· A Therm-a-rest pad or similar to sit on is a good idea
Cost: £120.00 per adult / accompanied child/ren by prior arrangement

Call now: 01494 481886 to register interest and for details of dates times meeting points etc.

*If you are a club, a team, school or company and would like to arrange a private Basic Bushcraft and Survival course or a Talk & Slide Show on this subject please let us know - we'd be delighted to accommodate you.

2-Day Duration

This is the quintessential bushcraft and survival course. Choose a good spot to camp, build a shelter, make fire, purify water and stay over night. Enjoy the sounds of the wood at night time, chat and exchange stories around the camp fire, wake up to the sound of birds and nature close at hand. A marvellous and invigorating experience, this will open new doors, thoughts and ideas for anyone - country-man or townie.

· Shelter - make camp & building a variety of shelters, makeshift(emergency) and permanent
· Fire - the collection, preparation and storing of fire materials, making fire, carrying fire, building a fire-place and cooking fires
· Water & Food - how, where and when to collect water & foods, basic methods of cooking, water and food hygiene
· Hygiene - how to keep yourself and your camp clean & tidy
· Signalling and basic navigation skills (night navigation if possible) - how and why to make a signal, use of compass, use of stars
· Clearing camp & making good- 'leave only footprints' is a basic tenant of good bushcraft

As you can see, this is a full agenda; two days packed with knowledge and learning. We'll give you a knife (yours to keep) and you'll learn its importance in your bushcraft kit, well even show you how to look after it - 'a blunt knife is a dangerous knife'.

You'll need to let us know when you're coming and we will send you a full and detailed packing list for your rucksack, but you'll need all the essentials; if you've been out with us before on one of our ½ or one days courses, you'll have a pretty good idea.
£200 per head

At the moment, we have places on several of our 2-day courses in 2007, Call now: 01494 481886 to register interest and for details of course dates and locations.
We will be running courses in Buckinghamshire, West Sussex and Herefordshire. (We hope to announce several new locations during the year).

5-Day Duration

Details to be announced 2008
Call now: 01494 481886 to register interest and to reserve a place.

Details to be announced in late 2008

We are pleased to announce this new course for 2008: a combined bushcraft and survival technique specific to Mountain environments.

Please call for full details.