nT organised Hatfield forest wild camp

[Mang]

Earlier this month I went on a national Trust wild camping weekend in Hatfield Forest, Essex. I’d seen an A5 flyer up on a previous visit and thought it would be good to take my two boys. It was supposed to be Friday and Saturday night but as I was also due at the bushcraft base at Gilwell24 and heading off to a Woodland Ways bushie weekend at the end of July I only did one night to keep in with SWMBO. £16 pp whether man or boy, two nights or two hours there.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Mang1967/escouts/hatfield_5.jpg

Plenty of space to pitch a tent or tarp up in.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Mang1967/escouts/hatfield_6.jpg

Whilst there I asked Pablo from www.woodlife.co.uk to check over my tarp & hammock setup to see if it passed muster (it did). Pablo also offered me some hints and tips too.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Mang1967/escouts/hatfield_3.jpg

This is Les from www.wildcrafts.co.uk/ Very good with the kids and easy going generally. Here he is prepping a trout with my eldest to ponasse by the fire.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Mang1967/escouts/hatfield_8.jpg

My youngest had a good time too. If he was in my hammock once...

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Mang1967/escouts/hatfield_4.jpg

Dinner could be cooked on an open fire or via a trangia etc. In the background is Brett from Essex Wildcrafts.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Mang1967/escouts/hatfield_1.jpg

JP browning some chicken joints for a curry

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Mang1967/escouts/hatfield_2.jpg

The finished article. The curry sauce is his little secret apparently ;-) The team had some left over and it was delish.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/Mang1967/escouts/hatfield_7.jpg

Shot of the parachute in the very early hours of Sunday morning with me having sorted the fire using the old fire dogs and got the kettle on.

The national Trust are going to run some more with the next one (I think) in late August. The adults attending could be counted on one hand with more kids camping than grownups, but it’s early days and for me it was a great ratio and I reckon I was the only guy there with a bushcraft angle. It wasn't a course so much as an informal wild camp with instructors around to do bushcraft and tracking. Recommended.

The only down side was nearby bloody Stanstead airport kicking off at just after 06.00 on the Sunday which spoils the at one with nature feel somewhat!

[Martin]

Seems like a great little find. Amazing what is going on around the country if you look hard enough. Down here, Cornwall Council used to do bushcraft courses in Tehiddy Woods. Not many people attended but that's mainly because they were so badly advertised. Glad you had a great time. :)

Martin

[jonajuna]

looks good, they are doing lots more by the looks of it.. http://www.nationaltrust.org_event.htm?propertyID=45 (http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-events-find_event.htm?propertyID=45&Period=Three+months)

need to find whats on round me and make use of my family membership! :)

[J_P]

It was a good weekend that buddy, and it was great to meet you ;)

[paul22]

Hi, i would like to know more about your group (pretty new to bushcraft) how can i make contact?

[Mang]

I guess this will be the place to find future ones http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-events/w-events-find_event.htm?c=1 I saw it on a small A5 poster whilst on a day out there.