Cornish crab pot
woven birch bark

Bushcraft Containers

£200.00 – £495.00

2022 TBC
The Lakes
Easy
Containers from: bark, plant-fibres, willow, bone
6-10 Places

Immerse yourself in making a selection of beautiful, practical containers. On this four day course you will be focusing on ‘bushcraft’ containers with specific traditional uses.  Our projects have been inspired by anthropological finds and archaeological discoveries as well as skills learnt from other crafts-people both locally and further afield. It will be a calm and creative course with a small group of like-minded people, in a peaceful young woodland in the stunning Lake District National Park.

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Description

Immerse yourself in making a selection of beautiful, practical containers. On this four day course you will be focusing on ‘bushcraft’ containers with specific traditional uses.  Our projects have been inspired by anthropological finds and archaeological discoveries as well as skills learnt from other crafts-people both locally and further afield. It will be a calm and creative course with a small group of like-minded people, in a peaceful young woodland in the stunning Lake District National Park.

We will be working entirely with natural materials using traditional techniques, although we do have modern tools available to borrow. We will be covering the harvesting, preparation and working of each material to ensure a thorough knowledge for you to build on after the course. We will also teach a number of associated skills required to complete these projects – from the preparation of root bindings and  natural cordage to natural glues. The course is suitable for beginners as well as those with some experience. We will guide you through the learning process at every stage and there will be plenty of time to complete and refine projects in the evenings around the campfire.

All of the containers you make will have a traditional use steeped in history such as willow crab-pots or birch bark containers for boiling water. There will be numerous smaller projects over the four days to ensure you return home with a collection of functional natural containers that you have made yourself. Most importantly you will gain a working knowledge of the techniques needed to enable you to continue to practice and make more items using your new skills.

  • Days: Sun PM – Thurs PM (4 Nights)
  • Location: Lake District, England
  • Food & Accommodation: Fully catered and includes camping fees
  • Activity: Containers from: bark, plant-fibres, willow, bone
  • Group Size: 6-10
  • Physical Rating: Easy
  • Date: 2022 TBC
  • Venue: Lyth Valley, The Lakes

 

Highlights

  • Peeling bark
  • Bark containers
  • Flat woven baskets
  • Rush work
  • Willow crab-pot
  • Flat weaving
  • Coiled basketry
  • Bone containers
  • Sami needle case
  • Simple leatherwork
  • Natural glue
  • Natural cordage

Inclusions

  • This course is fully catered throughout – we do our best to source food that is wild, local, organic, seasonal and nutritious. (This negates the need to buy food and bring stoves, fuel and cooking gear – it also maximises your learning time with us).
  • All fibres and course materials are supplied.
  • Camping fees are included.
  • We offer a complimentary pick-up and drop-off service from and to the nearest railway station at set times.

General Information

We will aim to cover the following –

Please click on the + symbols opposite to read about what you will learn each day.

DAY 0- Arrival

  • Arrivals
  • Food
  • Health & Safety
  • Introductions

 

DAY 1- Bark work

  • Flat weaving
  • Folded vessel
  • Interlocked or stitched
  • Natural glues
  • Root bindings

 

DAY 2- Willow crab pot

  • Willow lobster/crab pot based on the Cornish design

 

DAY 3- Plant fibre containers

  • Rush
  • Reedmace
  • Coil basketry

 

DAY 4- Bone

  • Sami needle case or simple bone pot
  • Other projects if time permits

 

Accommodation – On this course you will be wild camping, either in your own tent, under a tarp, in a hammock or in a natural shelter you have built.

Travel & Transport – A detailed set of arrival instruction will be emailed about a month before your course start date. A complimentary pick-up and drop-off service is provided at the beginning and end of the course at a specified time for those arriving by train. This will either be from Windermere or Oxenholme station, depending on the specified course location.

*Very Important – Do not book any trains, transport or other accommodation until given the go-ahead by Wild Human, as the course needs a minimum number of participants in order to run.

Meals & Drinks – This course is fully catered and all meals will be provided whilst camping in the woods, from a light supper on the first night to lunch on the final day.  Mains water is provided in clean jerry cans and are always available. At our Oak Howe site, disinfected water is pumped directly from the river.

Duration – 4-day workshop (arrive 19.30 on Sunday and depart 16.00 on Thursday)

Minimum Age – 16, but must be accompanied by an adult.

Insurance – Whilst not essential, it is recommended that you have simple adventure travel insurance to cover yourself and your possessions whilst on this trip. No outdoor activity is entirely without risk, as you may be using sharp tools or walking across uneven terrain – accidents can happen.

Wild Human has very comprehensive public liability cover.

Difficulty Rating / Health Requirements- This course is rated as ‘Easy’ due to the basecamp / short hike elements of the experience. Our bushcraft courses should be viewed as being a wilderness education experience and not as an ordinary holiday. They are educational courses, but just as importantly, they are a ‘hands on’ experience and at times can be quite challenging. If you have any concerns about your personal fitness or physical capabilities, then please contact us.

Max / Min Numbers – This course requires a minimum number of 6 to go ahead. The maximum number is 14. We will inform you 8 weeks before the start date whether the course will be going ahead to allow time for you to book any transport. The balance of payment is due 8 weeks prior to the start date. If you book less than 8 weeks before the start date please pay in full.

Covid-19 Regulations – We will make a decision 8 weeks before the start date as to whether the expedition is able to go ahead due to current Covid-19 regulations. if the course cannot go ahead at this point, we will refund monies paid in full.

Special Requirements – If you have any special requirements, please contact us prior to booking and we will do our best to accommodate them. Pescatarian / Vegetarians are well catered for, but can Vegans and those with serious food intolerances (like celiac disease) please contact us to discuss your requirements, as you may be asked to bring some specialist food to supplement your diet.

Complaints – We are able to consider complaints within 6 months from the date of the conduct complained about.

Course variables – The outline itinerary needs to remain flexible to take into account inclement weather conditions and other unexpected events.

Clothing:

Sensible outdoor clothing is essential for all of our courses.

We recommend that you bring:

  • A hat
  • A waterproof and windproof Jacket
  • Wool jumper or fleece top
  • Several long and short-sleeved T-shirts.
  • Cargo/combat trousers are ideal; as they are strong, light and fast drying (do not bring denim jeans).
  • Sturdy hiking boots are a must, as some of the terrain is steep and rocky.
  • We also recommend that you bring a pair of old trainers for the evenings
  • And spare changes of clothes stored in a plastic bag to keep them dry.

Equipment checklist:

  • Small day-sack
  • Sleeping bag, preferably 3 season
  • Self-inflating or closed-cell foam sleeping mat
  • Tent, or fly-sheet & bivy-bag
  • Torch and spare batteries
  • Small first aid kit, including plasters, blister kit, tweezers, foot powder and any personal medication
  • Sun block and lip balm
  • Good insect repellent
  • Wash kit and towel, preferably containing biodegradable soap
  • Knife, fork and spoon
  • Mug, bowl & plate
  • Water bottle
  • Notebook and pencils
  • Ziploc bags

For weeklong courses you will also require:

  • 10 meters of parachute cord, swimming costume and large towel

Optional extras:

  • Camera
  • Binoculars

Spending money: 

It is not unusual for students to get together for a well-earned pint at the end of a course.

Tampons:

It is not uncommon for a sudden change of environment to start an unexpected period.

Please note:

Please bring your favourite knife and saw if you have one.

Prior Experience – You do not need prior experience to attend any of our courses. On some of the more advanced craft workshops, it is advantageous to have experience with safely using sharp tools.

Solo / Group Bookings – Our courses are aimed at individuals who have a passion for the outdoors, a desire to learn and reconnect with nature. Although some people attend in pairs or small groups, the vast majority of our groups are made up of individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Course Location – This course in run at Oak Howe, a young woodland in the Lyth Valley, not far from Kendal. Please ensure that you have received and printed the correct arrival information!

Parking – Courses are conducted on private land, with limited access to the general public. There are parking facilities provided within the estate grounds, and whilst we cannot guarantee the safety of your vehicle, there have never been any incidents of theft. We would recommend that you keep any valuable personal belongings in your day sack. 

Climate & Weather – The Lake District weather is notoriously fickle, so please ensure that you have brought all of the equipment listed in the Kit List. It is always better to pack warm. It is better to have and not need, than to need and not have. Courses will run in all but the most extreme weather conditions. Bad weather makes learning the skills more challenging and harder to master, but you will be rewarded with a higher level of ability and a greater sense of achievement. The unpredictable weather in Britain makes it one of the best training grounds in which to learn bushcraft. 

On Arrival – Please already be wearing outdoor clothing and footwear on arrival, and have a head-torch handy. From your cars, you will walk and your kit will be driven to our base-camp location, therefore it is not essential that you pack all your equipment into one rucksack, you will not be required to walk more than 200m with kit to the camping area.

 Late Arrivals – Late arrivals will have to make their own way to the course venue. Wild Human will not be responsible for any costs incurred by late arrivals or late returns that are outside of our control.

 Course 1st Aid & Medical Care – All Instructors carry valid outdoor first aid certificates. There is always a well-stocked and comprehensive first aid kit on hand. Risk analysis and management systems are in place for each course and course venue. The nearest A&E department for all locations is in Kendal.

Sanitation & Hygiene – Toilets are simple earth screened, covered latrines. Toilet paper is incinerated at the latrine. We have used this system for the past 20 years of our teaching experience and find it to be the cleanest, most environmentally friendly and hygienic system. Hand washing stations are always available, as are hand sanitation dispensers. Personal washing is in a stream or nearby lake, only biodegradable products are to be used. The biggest risk to your welfare on any outdoor UK activity is from ticks, but through good bite avoidance measures they should not present any problems – you will be well briefed at the start of each course.

Course Cancellation – If, for any reason you wish to cancel your course, please refer to our Terms & Conditions. You will not be offered a refund for any money for late cancellation, neither will you be offered a transferral of your money to another course. Please seek appropriate insurance against late cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances!

Pre & Après Course Accommodation – If you are interested in spending some time enjoying the stunning scenery of the Lake District, either before or after your course, you can contact Windermere Tourist Information via their website.

Personal Communications – All of our sites have reasonable 4G coverage. Please be discreet when using your phone so that it does not impinge on anyone else’s experience. We would encourage you to switch it off, and bring a notebook and camera to record your experience. 

Power & Charging – There are no mains charging facilities available. Please bring a power bank. If you ask really nicely, you may be able to charge from the Wild Human vehicle, but you may need to supply your own cable. 

Pets – Unfortunately pets are not allowed on any of our courses.

 

2 reviews for Bushcraft Containers

  1. duncan.gray519 (verified owner) –

    Excellent course. Top quality instruction and materials. Great venue and good food. My first time trying the skills we learnt and surprised myself with what I could do. Now I’m hooked on weaving which Ive wanted to try for years. I felt that I totally “got it” with the weaving, made sense to me. Good to meet the other interesting course students, one of whom gave us a demonstration of wool spinning. Travelled home happy on the train with my crab pot and containers. Impressed others with what I brought home and can see that I could now make the birch bark containers for presents.

  2. pedmartin01 (verified owner) –

    I attended this course with curiosity, but with little hope of achieving much as my fingers are all thumbs.
    However the quality of instruction was above and beyond, all aspects to were explained and demonstrated in such a manner that even the most ham fisted (like me), could produce baskets and bark pots of surprising utility.
    I feel anyone with even a passing interest in weaving or bark working, would really appreciate the skills introduced on the course. For those with some experience in the field, I believe this course would allow them the chance to fine tune their craft.
    Thank you Wildhuman for putting this course on, and for controlling the chaos in my creations.

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