UKC

If I could scoop into UKC's collective wisdom.

I'm interested in improving my skills and knowledge in the above. But if I do an internet search for any such words then the sorts of things I get are Bear Gryllsy courses aimed at stag do weekends. Obviously I am wary of these, suspecting that as an already outdoorsy person they might not quite be levelled at the likes of me. Perhaps this is arrogant, but humour me.

Does anyone have any direct experience or knowledge of good resources, including books I guess, for this sort of thing?

In reply to Andy Moles:

I've never done any courses or anything, but these youtube channels are quite good:

https://www.youtube.com/user/MCQBushcraft

https://www.youtube.com/user/ThePKirt

In reply to Andy Moles:

I think the Ray Mears courses are pitched at a more sensible level and won't require you jump out of a helicopter, or sleep in a 5* hotel.

there are others

or http://www.wilderness-survival.co.uk/
https://www.woodland-ways.co.uk/about-us.html

In reply to Andy Moles:

Where are you in the country? I know of people in the South East who might fit the bill. These guys are based in Sussex: http://www.forestknights.co.uk/

The Bushcraft UK forum is also reasonable: http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/forum.php

For myself, I've got a copy of Ray Mears' Bushcraft book, but I'm very much just a dabbler as "bushcraft" goes so well with canoe camping wild.

In reply to Andy Moles:

Bushcraft UK is the place to go for advice.. plenty of experienced and friendly folk willing to share what they know with others.

In reply to Andy Moles:

I won't spam it directly but a link to my business page is on my profile. Feel free to email or ring (mobile is best) with any questions or to ask for specific advice. No obligation, just happy to steer people in a sensible direction...

What you have listed is pretty much my day job - I teach 'survival' skills to military, SAR, emergency services, production companies, individuals; i run foraging workshops and courses, write about foraging for a few places, and also have a book out next month; I run 'bushcraft' courses but hate the name really. It's become a weird quasi-pasttime involving sitting by a fire carving a spoon - i prefer 'wilderness skills' as it covers more of what folk can actually go and learn to do, not just copying what Ray did on telly 20yrs ago...

In reply to Andy Moles:

Watch the Bush Tucker Man, awesome but only likely relevant if you get stuck in the outback: youtube.com/watch?v=02eQszDVC5o&

In reply to Andy Moles:

I went with a mate on a course a couple if years ago for my 40th.
I am pretty experienced in the outdoors with lots of time spent under bashas, cooking on campfires, etc so I was worried the pitch of the course wouldn't be right for me but I'd have a jolly with a mate. I couldn't have been more wrong. I learned loads and had a fantastic time despite torrential rain and thunderstorms all weekend. I'd heartily recommend one.
I did this one:
https://www.survivalschool.co.uk/bushcraft/weekend-bushcraft-level-2-course...
I didn't pick it (my mate did the groundwork) but it was ace and we ate like kings.

In reply to Andy Moles:

Could look at Woodsmoke.co.uk

Not done their courses as such but went on a wolf tracking trip a few years back and both Ben and Lisa are very knowledgable and fun.

In reply to Andy Moles:
Food for free is a good book. There seem to be 3 versions of it, a mini guide, paperback and hardback. https://www.waterstones.com/author/richard-mabey/53244

Song of the Paddle forum seems to be somewhere with bushcraft even if you are not a Canoe type they might have helpful stuff.

A 1950s Scout booklet with cooking ideas and methods http://www.thedump.scoutscan.com/backwoodscook.pdf

Here is the 1980s version http://www.shurdington.org/Downloads/BackwoodsCooking.pdf

Some of it is not very traditional, for example the cardboard box oven, but it is fun and it does work as long as you have a lot of foil.

In reply to Andy Moles:

Thanks for all the advice, I don't have time to follow up on it at the moment but I will refer back to this thread when I do.

In reply to Andy Moles:

What about this range of films youtube.com/watch?v=rrlr02YDr5A&