We have also ‘twinned’ our new toilet with a toilet in Nepal through Tearfund’s Toilet Twinning scheme, so a Nepali village has also benefitted from the installation of our loo! Rich and Elaine have a soft spot for Nepal, having spent some time out there in the early 2000s, so we loved to be able to support this brilliant scheme.

Mental Health Benefits

• Stress relief: Crafting can be a great way to relax and de-stress. The repetitive nature of many crafts can help to calm the mind and body.
• Improved mood: Engaging in creative activities can boost the production of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. This can help to improve mood and reduce anxiety.
• Increased self-esteem: Completing a craft project can give you a sense of accomplishment and boost your self-esteem.
• Cognitive stimulation: Crafting can help to keep the mind sharp and improve cognitive function.

Physical Health Benefits

• Improved hand-eye coordination: Many crafts require fine motor skills, which can help to improve hand-eye coordination.
• Reduced pain: Crafting can be a distraction from pain and can help to reduce its intensity.
• Improved sleep: Engaging in relaxing activities like crafting can help to improve sleep quality.
• Strengthened social bonds: Crafting can be a great way to socialise and connect with others.

Additional Benefits

• Creativity: Crafting can help you to tap into your creativity and explore new ideas.
• Productivity: Crafting can help you to be more productive by providing a focus and outlet for your energy.
• Mindfulness: Crafting can help you to be more mindful and present in the moment.
• Sense of community: There are many crafting communities online and in person where you can connect with other people who share your interests.

Why not come along to a Taleblazers session and try some of our crafting activities for yourself? 

The big task of the day was the tarp line and Karl and I arrived early to get the rope in place. We harvested some saplings from the newly-levelled car park area and the team got to work sharpening these into points to use as stakes. Chris meanwhile was salvaging some boards to build a raised fire pit, removing old nails and screws and working with Hollie to cut them to size. It was an amazing team effort with everyone chipping in and showing the children how to use the knives!

The results are fantastic, I can’t believe that this overgrown patch of woodland has become such a wonderful space in such a short space of time and I am so grateful to everyone for all their efforts.

Making wooden cookie figures

Using a saw and a drill, we made these charming wooden cookie people out of natural materials found in the woodlands, using some cut hazel and some bark shavings for legs. Aren’t they cute! Don’t be deceived by their name; they are sadly non-edible. A wooden ‘cookie’ is a round cross-cut of wood.

Making popcorn – Bushcraft style

Bushcraft popcorn: an open fire, some sieves lashed to some Hazel — and voila — popping popcorn! We have added some sugar, butter and cinnamon for a winning combination.

Looking for signs of wildlife

As we move through the woodland, we can look for badger sets, tracks, droppings, fur, or owl pellets to try and guess what might live in or visit the area. Sometimes, we’ve even spotted deer on our wildlife camera!

Making dens

As the old adage goes, we are estimated to survive for around 3 weeks without food, 3 days without water, and 3 hours without shelter (depending on conditions). In bushcraft, we practice our shelter building skills, letting the students lead and offering constructive feedback.

Hanging out in hammocks

With the trees above us, there’s nothing nicer than lying back and listening to the birds. On some sessions we’ve been more noisy, and played instruments (kazoos!) we’ve crafted, or bongos we’ve brought. We’ve meditated, we’ve cocooned, or swung gently in the breeze. And if we’re feeling a little more energetic, we might burn some of it off by tackling the slackline!

Slacklining is a great way to stay active while also improving balance, focus, and coordination. Plus, it’s just plain fun! It’s amazing how quickly they can make progress, developing confidence after a few turns up and down the line.

Students are encouraged to work together to figure out the best way to use the slack line and help each other out as they learn. It’s a great way to build teamwork and cooperation skills — all from just something so simple as two sturdy trees and a line.

If you visit us at one of our Earthworks community days, you’ll have to come and give it a go!

The journey to craft a kazoo out of natural materials was an adventure for Emily and the bushcraft students. With their knife, a saw, some coppiced Hazel, and a blade of grass they set off on a quest to make music!

We were thrilled at how engaged the students were as they tried different techniques and experimented with different blades of grass and ‘post-box’ sizings to produce different sounds.

It wasn’t an easy task, but our students worked hard and managed to produce a kazoo each. After some tweaking here and there (and quite a bit of laughter) they had perfected the art of making a sound that was a bit like a dying peacock.

Not only did they learn something new, but they also had a lot of fun doing it. Nothing beats hand-crafted music! Now, time to annoy some dogs…

Our modern world simply doesn’t require the study of basic survival knowledge; knowledge that was once essential to our ancestors. Yet this understanding of the world around us equips us not only with ways to survive, but it gives us a sense of the interconnectedness of all things, and their mutual interdependence. It starts by learning the name of things, and then the whereabouts of those things, and then the properties of those things. What they might thrive near to. What they might need to grow. And gradually, a relationship develops along with an understanding.

Bramble can be used for cordage.  King Alfred’s Cakes can be used to keep an ember. Dried fern is good to catch the first light of a fire.    

This is where bushcraft comes in – a set of skills and techniques that enables individuals to live and survive in the wilderness, using only natural resources.

Bushcraft also offers numerous benefits to our students and young people, from building confidence and self-reliance to developing leadership skills and fostering a sense of community. So, what are some of the other benefits that we have seen from facilitating bushcraft skills?

Developing Self-Reliance and Problem-Solving Skills

Learning bushcraft skills encourages young people to think critically and develop their problem-solving skills. For instance, they might learn how to find and identify the right of wood to use for a fire, how to start and maintain a fire safely, and how to build a shelter using natural materials.

These skills require a deeper understanding of the natural environment and the resources available. By learning how to work with what nature provides, young people develop self-reliance and the ability to solve problems creatively, which can be applied in many areas of life.

Building Confidence and Resilience

Bushcraft can be challenging and requires determination and perseverance. As young people overcome obstacles and master new skills, they build confidence and resilience, which can help them to tackle challenges in other areas of their lives.

Bushcraft activities also require teamwork and communication, which helps to build social skills and a sense of community. Young people learn to work together to achieve common goals, which is a valuable lesson in any setting.

Connecting with Nature and Learning Environmental Stewardship

Bushcraft provides an opportunity for young people to connect with the natural world and to learn environmental stewardship. As they learn about the plants, animals, and resources in their environment, they develop an appreciation for the natural world and often cultivate a desire to protect it.

This connection with nature can also have positive effects on mental health, reducing stress and anxiety and promoting overall well-being. Once students understand more about a wild place, they often begin to feel a sense of safety there.

“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks” – John Muir

Developing Leadership Skills Outdoors

Bushcraft requires young people to take responsibility for their own safety and well-being, which helps to develop leadership skills. By learning to navigate the natural environment and work together as a team, young people can develop the confidence and skills to lead and direct others.

By developing self-reliance, problem-solving skills, confidence, and resilience, young people are better equipped to face the challenges of life. By connecting with nature and learning environmental stewardship, they can develop a greater appreciation for the natural world and become better stewards of the environment. And by developing leadership skills, they can become better equipped to lead others in any setting.

To find out more about our Bushcraft programmes, please get in touch.