The first Tamarack Bushcraft Course of 2015 took place over the chilly weekend of 25th & 26th April. It's always interesting on the Friday evening to watch the students arrive into the woodland, get an awareness of the surroundings and set camp. A mixture of tents and tarps sprang up quickly before people began gathering around the warmth of the fire in the fixed camp for a brew and introductions.

The course began in earnest on Saturday morning at the fairly civilised time of 9am, for a day of knife work, tarp & hammock pitching, fire lighting, campfire cooking and spoon carving. Right on cue the rain coincides with wilderness fire lighting... I'm convinced Mike somehow arranges that just to make it more difficult !! Everyone got stuck into the task undeterred and we had three small fires crackling away in no time drying out damp legs - impressive stuff. A quick demo of Bannock making and within the hour we had hot bannocks, tea and improving conditions. The weather repaid us with a beautiful sunset, so we set a long fire and sat around until late under clear skies, great day.

Sunday started slightly earlier - no rest for the instructors, keen as mustard this group. Really pleasant day covering, hunting techniques, wildlife observation and plant & tree identification. Everyone still having the energy left to help me and Mike carry the equipment back to the vehicles... bonus!!

A big thanks goes out to all the students who attended the course. A mixture of people we've seen before and new people we also hope to see again.

I managed to grab a few clips with the camera between the rain -  my excuse for hiding under the big tarp !!!