Pupils put bushcraft skills to the test

Insect Meal or Pasta?

‘Bushcraft’ a term popularised by Ray Mears meaning surviving and thriving in the natural environment, and the acquisition of relevant modern and ancient skills and knowledge to do so. Pupils across the year groups have been learning these skills during the year and were keen to put them into practice.

So it was that a group of 8 children ventured into Ruthin forest, an ancient woodland to try their hand at living in the wild; after a diversion to the supermarket for essential supplies of course! Upon arrival they set to collecting firewood, making camp and exploring the forest. Tea consisted of a feast of fresh pasta, charred prosciutto and sweetcorn all cooked on an open fire with butchers sausages for supper. Who said bushcraft meant suffering?

The evening quietly died down with the embers of the fire and after an evening of relaxed conversation everyone headed to bed, after a session of star gazing for those who were interested. Jupiter, Venus and Mars were very bright and several students who had never seen a planet before were amazed.

Morning came unreasonably early as an impromptu game of hide and seek started backed by the early morning chorus of birdsong. Followed by a full English; once again prepared on an open fire. The main activity for the morning was a nature walk, where pupils tracked a set of badgers to their den. They saw and tasted some of the wild edible plants and those brave enough sampled the delights of an insect meal. We looked at other sights and signs to help the would be ‘bushcrafter’.

Return to school saw several tired, but enthusiastic pupils, full of thanks, with just one question: “when can we go again?”

Posted on : Mar 30, 2012