Medway Kent [Archive] - BushcraftUK: Community Forum

durulz

08-11-2008, 09:32

Hello Kris.
Capstone Park, eh? Are you thinking of using the park for bushcraft activities (or doyou have contacts there who may be willing to open it up to such things)?
My bushcrafting is generally done on an informal basis with friends. Generally, we go wild camping around the county (mainly North Downs because it's central and large enough for us to tuck ourselves in to). A place to go 'legally' bushcrafting would be highly desirable.

Tell us a bit more about yourself - what you do at Capstone, what you are looking for, what you want from it, etc? Are you asking from the position as a ranger at Capstone, or as a private individual who happens to be a ranger at Capstone? All those kinds of things. Be as verbose as you like.
Cheers.

chickenofthewoods

08-11-2008, 10:02

Hi Kris,

We're from around your way - I know Capstone reasonably well having used it in the past as a venue for activies when I ran a kids playscheme for Gillingham Council.

I agree with durulz, more info about your expectations would be helpful.

RangerKris

09-11-2008, 18:30

Hi Guys thanks for the warm welcome,
I have a big interest in both side of the whole bush craft thing. i have a pole lathe (that im having fun learning at the moment) set up in the garden and a range of woodland tools and knowledge.
I write our woodland managment plans and work the coppice on rotation.we hold a couple of survival challenges over the year for families to come along and take part. we do fire lighting, mallet, whistles and underground cooking.
It maybe possible to sort out something where we can use the site for a meeting a couple of times a year.

I have been working the woods at Capstone for the last 16 years and love every bit of it and still learning things on a daily basis we have just coppiced a small section of woodland and still have more to do.

It maybe be possible to set up something for a meeting im sure there would be a small charge for this tho as the council dont allow thing to happen for free but quite cheap.

look forward to meeting some of you if you fancy meeting up for a day in the wood im sure we can sort something for a few hours one sunday not to far away.
let me know

Kris

nickg

10-11-2008, 14:59

Hi Kris

I live very local to you in lordswood so I can help out with any setup etc. We have a Kent thread in this forum which gets us 4-5 good people at any given time when we meet at canterbury or orpington so a new site is always good for a change. PM me if you like any help or advice.
It would be nice to do a local day or weekend

Cheers
Nick

RangerKris

14-11-2008, 08:07

Nick sent you a pm about meeting up at some point

ocean1975

11-01-2009, 16:06

hi i live in rochester,and would love to meet up at capstone park i often spend time in the north downs mainly in the cuxton/cobham area practicing my limited bushcraft skills .Would be good to learn more in a local area.lets hope it happens.

Hammock_man

11-01-2009, 16:25

I live in thr dartford/gravesend neck of the woods and would be Most interested in any meets that close to home turf

nickg

20-01-2009, 13:51

Just to keep this thread alive kris COTW and I met and had a look of the site which has potential. Kris is checking out accessability, costs etc. with the authorities and when all is clear we will put together a date. Possibly a day meet for the first one and if all goes well well look to an overnighter etc.

Cheers

Nick

durulz

20-01-2009, 13:55

Well done Nick (and Ranger Kris).
Good for you for keeping things going behind the scenes - that's the spirit!
You can count me in and I know a couple of others who will definitely be up for it!
Once again, well done.

RangerKris

22-01-2009, 15:22

Im still working on things this end. I have some bits to clear before looking at setting a date.

RangerKris

21-04-2009, 07:54

Had the go ahead on a meet at Capstone will get some more details set in the week and then post here.

durulz

21-04-2009, 08:09

Fantastic news.
Look forward to it.

nickg

21-04-2009, 20:28

Well done mate - stay with it

Cheers
Nick

ocean1975

21-04-2009, 21:10

excellent news-well done.

RangerKris

22-04-2009, 06:38

Right there is a few things that might put people off but hopefully it wont,

There are costing's to cover the insurances and stuff like that will be £20 per head for the weekend. After speaking with other's i know this is pretty steep but thats the way its got to be from the green space's manager.

There can only be one fire on the fire site provided its a big fire site hahahahh then you can sleep in the woodland or make a shelter in the open field that's up to you.

On the other hand there is also some pole lathe's that can be used of the weekend and a set of chisels that can be used while in the field.

I do hope this has not put you all off and we can sort something out for a date soon i am thinking late may early june if thats ok with you all.

Let me know and i will see what date's the field is free for this to go ahead
Kris

chickenofthewoods

23-04-2009, 10:16

If you're willing to let me loose with one of your lathes & chisles all weekend for £20.00 including camping out I'd be be quite happy with that personally. Especially as I know you have half decent washing/toilet facilities available close by as well.

What date did you have in mind?

RangerKris

23-04-2009, 15:41

Being as tho you have had training im sure i can let you loose with a lathe and a set of chisel's hahahahahah im thinking mid end of may.

chickenofthewoods

23-04-2009, 22:30

:p

I'll be watching for a date to be posted then!

durulz

24-04-2009, 10:06

Twenty quid seems fine by me.
What kind of thing are you thinking of? Is it just to open the land to some camping or are 'activities/workshops' envisaged?

chickenofthewoods

24-04-2009, 10:12

Kris, I wonder if featherstick (Oscar) would be up for joining us? I know he hasn't posted here in a while but I still have his phone number knocking around somewhere.

NatG

24-04-2009, 20:08

i'd be up for a weekend, especially if there were lathes involved

Bardster

24-04-2009, 22:25

Nice one Kris, I should be up for that.

RangerKris

25-04-2009, 07:37

Twenty quid seems fine by me.
What kind of thing are you thinking of? Is it just to open the land to some camping or are 'activities/workshops' envisaged?

There is an open land area among some woodland, i think it would be a mix up of things going on i have nver taken part in a meet yet so not sure what happens. There is scope for a range of things to go on while we are there if people have something to offer to the group. The lathe's will be involved on this weekend for sure.

chickenofthewoods

25-04-2009, 14:24

If everyone just shared their individual skills and knowledge then there should be loads to keep folks occupied.

How about a list of stuff we each might want to learn alongside things we can offer? That way we should end up with a reasonable focus on activities plus you can tell us what is and isn't appropriate to the site Kris, so we avoid any misundersandings.

For example I can't offer knife skills but if anyone has even a passing interest in wild/foraged food I can happily bore them to tears for hours and there's plenty of scope to prep & cook interesting finds on the campfire. I would like to spend some time learning a bit more about spoon carving and if anyone can teach me how to handle an adze properly I'd be very grateful.

durulz

25-04-2009, 18:25

How about a list of stuff we each might want to learn alongside things we can offer? That way we should end up with a reasonable focus on activities plus you can tell us what is and isn't appropriate to the site Kris, so we avoid any misundersandings.

Now that is a good idea.
Personally, I would LOVE to learn more foraging/plant ID skills.
In return...well, modesty prohibits me saying what I'm good at. But I've got carving spoons down to pat. There may well be many others present who are better than me, but if not I'd be more than happy to share what I know.

RangerKris

26-04-2009, 07:06

Now that is a good idea.
Personally, I would LOVE to learn more foraging/plant ID skills.
In return...well, modesty prohibits me saying what I'm good at. But I've got carving spoons down to pat. There may well be many others present who are better than me, but if not I'd be more than happy to share what I know.

The area of open land is adount 3/4 of an acre we will be using, as to what can go on ermmm im happy to take on ideas from others as long as there related to the whole outdoor bushcrafty woodland thing.
Im looking at doing this as an enjoyable thing for me this time around as i run many events and tho they are fun there with me as lead on them so what to enjoy as much as possible. i will say i can help out on the lathes and provide the equipment and site.

Im happy to take part in spoon carving and foraging and can get some plant id books up there as well for the weekend i know bradster is looking at doing some leather work which he might be able to bring to the table i would like some sharpening skills to be shown also please hahahah for me. Ive never done one of these through here should i start a new thread and set the date or just carry on this one.

Im looking into the 6th/7th of June for this weekend i will confirm tomorrow.
Kris

durulz

26-04-2009, 08:32

RangerKris

26-04-2009, 13:53

A quick question.
You say there can only be one fire (which is perfectly understandable) but would we be allowed to have individual fires if they were in a fire bowl of some sort, and off the ground to avoid scorch marks if we brought our own firewood?

Durulz

I have a little fire wood hahaha on the site all ash laying ready for fire's ;) ermmm it would be ok to have fire in a fire bowl but i really dont want to much damage on the ground as its a country park and people tend to think they ca do as they please.

RangerKris

26-04-2009, 20:56

Oscar is at our allotment site quite often i will let him know if he does not post here about this.

Im picking up some diamond stones tomorrow and a few other knifes and draw knives to help us along the way with the pole lathe working's.

chickenofthewoods

27-04-2009, 09:28

Great.

I wouldn't worry about having to 'run' things as such Kris, just as long as everyone attending understands the ground rules for the use of the site in advance (when they can arrive, when to leave by, H&S, fires, etc.). Other than that and obviously being in charge of your own equipment & tools the rest is pretty free-form & social.

How would you want paying, beforehand, on the day, cash, cheque?

RangerKris

29-04-2009, 06:18

Hi Carol

It would be best if people can pay on the day it makes things easier for us at the park to makes sure all the names are down on paper before hand. This can be done through check cash or by popping in there and paying.

Im just waiting for confirmation on the date but it looks like the 6th 7th June.

chickenofthewoods

29-04-2009, 09:37

'K. I'll pencil that in.

Is anyone going down to the 3 day shindig in Ashford this weekend?

Hammock_man

29-04-2009, 09:56

6th / 7th June
Put me down for 2 places please, Both hammocks.
Might not have a special skill to teach but I can make tea for the knowageable folk while they are busy!!!

RangerKris

29-04-2009, 18:57

6th / 7th June
Put me down for 2 places please, Both hammocks.
Might not have a special skill to teach but I can make tea for the knowageable folk while they are busy!!!

Thats cool will be great to meet others for a bit of bushcrafting. This will be my first meet hahaha.

featherstick

15-05-2009, 21:02

Thanks for the heads-up PM Kris. I'll run it past SWMBO, we might come along. Under-fives go free, right?

THanks for organising, good on you.

Oscar

RangerKris

14-07-2009, 06:29

Any one interested in a meeting at some point.

chickenofthewoods

14-07-2009, 12:39

I'm always up for a forage if anyone fancies a nice walk. :)

SKI

14-07-2009, 17:42

Yeah, i'd be up for doing something. What you got in mind?

durulz

16-07-2009, 07:52

I'm always up for a forage if anyone fancies a nice walk. :)

Now, a foraging jaunt would be a FANTASTIC idea.
Foraging is one of the bushcraft skills I really wanted to develop this year. But still haven't.
It's something I know pitifully little about, so all I could bring is myself and enthusiasm.

chickenofthewoods

16-07-2009, 11:44

Foraging is one of the bushcraft skills I really wanted to develop this year. But still haven't. It's something I know pitifully little about, so all I could bring is myself and enthusiasm.

Ok then! I'm in the Medway area so know that bit best but don't mind a bit of travel - where would you like to go and when?

chickenofthewoods

21-07-2009, 12:28

Ah well, you're missing out chaps.

Dryad's saddle today, mussels and oysters yesterday (yeah yeah. I know about the 'r' in the month thing, I'll let you know if I'm still alive once I finish my wild seafood paella). Heaps of fat hen, good king henry and annual sow thistle (although that's going over now).

Been eyeing up the nut harvest and there's been an abundance of cherries and cherry plums hereabouts. A good year so far. :)

durulz

21-07-2009, 12:37

OK, let's combine the forage with some knapping as well.
What about a trip to the woods along Blue Bell Hill (the A229 between Maidstone and Medway)?
We can go foraging there and then stop for lunch and some flint knapping!
It would have to be a weekend for me.
If we can get maybe 4 or 5 of us then it should be a good day out.
How does that sound? I'm open to better suggestions.

chickenofthewoods

21-07-2009, 13:21

That's a good area.

We'd have to steer clear of the SSI on the hill for actual foraging, but otherwise there's plenty of scope up there & lots of footpaths. A weekend is likely to have more folk wandering about but that's no real biggie. Yeah. I'd be up for that, anyone else?

nickg

21-07-2009, 16:37

Depending on date I'd love to join you

Cheers
Nick

chickenofthewoods

21-07-2009, 17:59

Knowing how things generally go, do you have any free dates nick?

durulz

21-07-2009, 19:57

Yup - go on Nick, you suggest a date.
Would have to be a Saturday or Sunday for me.

RangerKris

22-07-2009, 06:50

I would be up for a walk around if the date fits

AndyW

26-07-2009, 11:43

Hey folks,

depending on dates, I'd be really interested in this too.

Cheers,

Andy

ocean1975

26-07-2009, 11:55

I would be up for this too,someone needs to set a date and off we go.

durulz

27-07-2009, 07:52

OK, these are dates I CAN'T do:

Aug 1, 2, 8, 9, 29, 30

Any other Saturday or Sunday in August is fine for me. I have no fixed plans for September, nothing that can't be moved, so any weekend in September is a goer for me (Oh, except Sept 19 and 20).