View Full Version : S.Wales meetup anybody ??????
As there are are so many of us in S.Wales how about a S.Wales meetup sometime? (Yes I know most there is the get together at M Mawr and most of us will probably be going along but it doesn't have to stop us getting together on other occasions)
ED, Stuart, - Any thoughts?
the problem is that myther mawr is the one of the few areas which allows properly managed fires etc and therefore a good area for bushcraft meetups in the south wales area.
but due to the cost of renting the woodland for a weekend it is only worthwhile with large groups.
Good point Stuart.
If overnight camps / meetups are out of the question how would people feel about getting together for a day meetup?. This wouldn't necessarilly have to require a place to be hired out but could be a get together for a walk / discussion about various bushcraft topics / or just a social get together. :hug: :uu:
Paganwolf
09-02-2005, 12:09
As there are are so many of us in S.Wales how about a S.Wales meetup sometime? (Yes I know most there is the get together at M Mawr and most of us will probably be going along but it doesn't have to stop us getting together on other occasions)
ED, Stuart, - Any thoughts?
Great idea, isn't there any other places in s/wales you can do a weekend other than M Mawr :?: Jakes (Rollnik) from cardif he may know of some whare you can go, but you can still get alot from a walk and a pub lunch :wink: :biggthump go for it....
there are other places but they come with a lot of restrictions no fires, no camping etc etc
and there are few areas of nice woodland with sympathetic landowners.
M Mawr is great because it is sympathetic to the needs of bushcrafters, the only thing I cant do at M Mawr is bring Torin along.
day meets would be possible though
The offer of a guided walk aroung MMawr is always there for anyone, especially if it can be done as a group. Great for me as I'd be getting paid to do it :naughty:
There are plenty of other places nearby for walks which could combine bushcraft topics along the way. If they happen to pass a pub or other similar establishment along the way all the better!
Hi Wolfie, I hope you're doing well, long time no talk :wave:
It might make things a bit clearer if you explained a bit about who you are!
I expect that there are enough people down that way to get together and you don't have to have fires, you can wander about, eat sandwiches, forage and make spoons, or fishing hooks and the like......Loads of scope.
I have little meet ups in my back garden!
Thanks Tony....I'm still here. Just lurking in the shadows.
For those who don't know me (which is probably everybody) I'm the Reserve Manager for Merthyr Mawr Warren NNR. I'm not responsible for the campsite at MM but for the sand dunes, all 360ha of it. I'm lucky in that I'm paid not only to look after the reserve but I also to show people around.
I've been thinking about suggesting the arrangement of day meetups for a while. To me they offer great scope for those of us who have families and / or responsibilities and are not able to go to overnight or longer gatherings.
Such meetups could be used for a range of purposes;
1 - just to get together and meet other like minded people
2 - day walks are a useful way of exploring an area in the company of someone who already knows the area well
3 - to look at different items of kit. Everyone could be asked to bring along a certain item, be it a compass, possibles pouch etc. This would then give everyone present a chance to compare the different bits of kit.
4 - To have a day looking at a certain topic and comparing techniques with other people.
5- Slide shows / talks. If people have been somwhere interesting it would be great to hear about it.
Venues don't have to be a problem. Day walks obviously need no venue apart from possibly a place for liquid refreshment. If its just a social get together, looking at kit or chatting about a certain topic a pub can be used. Most landlords won't mind as long as drinks are being bought. Not forgetting peoples houses / gardens.
I guess I'm just old fashioned. Finding out things on the computer is great, but actually meeting people and seeing peoples enthusiam and knowledge of a subject face to face, for me anyway, is so much better.
So how about it! Anybody in S.Wales up for getting together sometime pre-Bushmoot.
Wolfie,
I know a site that’s pretty good for over night camp, walk etc not so far either. I use it most weekends, never had any problems in all the time I’ve used the site. If you are interested PM me.
Frogo
I'd be up for that, it would be good to get together and wander :biggthump
Ed
Justin Time
09-02-2005, 21:52
count me in!
beach bum
09-02-2005, 21:59
Sounds very interesting, I'll need some tuition in the finer points if I'm to come to the MOOT :o):
regards
beach bum
lyndonwest21
09-02-2005, 22:39
i chatted to ed about group in the south wales area the other day. sounds really good. count me in
I know a couple of members locally that would be interested....... I think we have enough for a mini meet..... all we need now is a date???
Ed
a day wander around the dune at MM is always intresting, the sand shows clear tracks of all the animal that cross it and the wind wipes the slate clean every morning.
at the right time of year there are also a great deal of edible fungi on the dunes.
this is the mushroom harvest from Myther mawr dunes last year:
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/518/98P1010064.JPG
and tracking on the dunes:
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/500/98tracking1.jpg
I know a couple of members locally that would be interested....... I think we have enough for a mini meet..... all we need now is a date???
Ed
To quote John Inman "I'm free!" most weekends :shock: , especially if it would be at M Mawr. Doesn't have to be there though, plenty of other places it could be instead. How does sometime in March sound?
M-Mawr would be great for a first meetup :-) and I can keep free anyweekend in march as long as it is arranged soonish.....
We can all have a chat when we get together about other venues and the possibility of a weekender.
Ed
I like the sound of this...
MM would be my first choice, but there is also a spot i use regularly nr Rhudry. I'll have to find the farmer to see if it is possible...
I should be able to make it, but im unsure of my next practicals or exams so pencil me in!
:biggthump
If people are OK with a meeting and walk around M Mawr how about the first weekend in March on Sunday the 6th?.
March on Sunday the 6th?.
Karen and I are free :biggthump
Ed
Not sure, i'll check :biggthump
I usually got stuff I do on Sunday, can you give us some idea of the times for the meet…
Cheers.
Frogo
I usually got stuff I do on Sunday, can you give us some idea of the times for the meet…
Cheers.
Frogo
10am start? :?: Meet at Candleston Car Park. Finish when we finish!
Which one is the Candleston Car Park?
Ed
Justin Time
11-02-2005, 17:31
me too Mrs Slocombe :wave:
Is that the main car park?
10am start? :?: Meet at Candleston Car Park. Finish when we finish!
Cheers Wolfie,
If anyone needs a lift down just give us a shout.
Frogo
Which one is the Candleston Car Park?
Ed
It's the main car park next to the entrance to the campsite at M Mawr. I havn't got a map to hand but I'll try and sort out a grid reference as soon as I can.
I'll be there in a white van with " WARDEN" on the side.
Any ideas about what people want to do during the day? It'll give me an idea about where to take people on the Reserve, or shall we meet up and see how things go?
The GR is:
SS 87170 77230
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=51.4806&lon=-3.6287&scale=25000&icon=x
Another cool map of the area - an OS 1:25000 with aerial overlay.
http://www.multimap.com/map/photo.cgi?client=public&X=287000&Y=177000&gride=&gridn=&scale=25000&coordsys=gb&db=freegaz&lang=&mapsize=big
The GR is:
SS 87170 77230
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=51.4806&lon=-3.6287&scale=25000&icon=x
Cheers Adi007 :super:
Just to let everybody know what will probably be happening on the meetup. Generally it'll most probably be a meet and greet kind of day with most things arranged on the day.
Depending on the weather :roll: and what people feel like we should have time to walk over pretty much all of the site and have a look at most of the different habitats (sea shore to woodland and a lot in between)
Ed has offered to do a friction fire lighting demo :biggthump
Tracking will no doubt rear its addictive head at some point, as will the subject of edible and medicinal plants (the reserve has examples of approx. 300 different plant species - should be enough to keep us going).
I'm thinking of bringing my bushcraft book collection along (30 or so different titles). I know it can be difficult deciding on whether a particular book is any good without seeing it first and hopefully this may be of use to someone. I may even be persuaded to bring along my copy of Ray Mears' first book :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy
I've got a few other things at the back of my mind that could also be thrown in depending on how the day goes.
If people were wondering about lunch, stoves are fine, but unfortunately open fires are not :cry:
If anyone else has got any ideas let me know and we'll see what can be done
outdoorgirl
16-02-2005, 18:29
******. I'm already booked up that weekend. In fact I don't have a free weekend until the middle of May now!
Still, I'm sure there will be more of these! :)
See you later in the year, hopefully!
Ed has offered to do a friction fire lighting demo
Actually dean offered.... but he can't make it now so it looks like I'll be doing it ;-) I'll bring a few different sets down for people to try and have a go themselves if they want.
Ed
Brynglas
16-02-2005, 23:27
I'm not too far from Merthyr Mawr, unfortunately I haven't been able to make it to the previous meets due to work comitments however I'd be interested in getting accross for a day out. I'll do my best to get there.
Further to this, I'm aware of a first class bit of (free) accomodation in Mid Wales, which is not only remote, but has access to a huge expanse of woodland and upland moor (and it's possible that camp fires can be accomodated). The bonus with this spot is that it can be used comfortably when the weather is bad and is reasonably placed for those from both the North and South of Wales to use.
If anyone would be interested in a get together sometime just PM me and I'd be happy to look at sorting something out. :o):
Sounds interesting tell us more, I have to catch a flight but I'll PM you when I get back