Sussex Bushcraft group meet for March: 24th/25th at Broadstone Warren
It's time to set up another meet, so I am starting off a new thread. At this weekend's Feb meet we settled on the weekend of the 24th/25th of March. The usual rules & regs are below:
Location of the Campsite & details of the Venue
Broadstone Warren is a Scout site situated in the Ashdown Forest in the North of Sussex, midway between the South Coast and London. The site which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) comprises 386 acres of the Ashdown Forest with campsites situated throughout the woodland in many of the glades.
How to get there
http://www.broadstonewarren.org.uk/find_us/
By Road
From the M25 - Leave the M25 at junction 8 following the M23 southbound towards Brighton. Leave the M23 at junction 10, and take the first exit on the roundabout along the A264 towards East Grinstead. When you get into East Grinstead, follow the A22 southbound towards Eastbourne. Remain on the A22, straight through Forest Row. Broadstone Warren is on the left-hand side approximately 2 miles south of Forest Row.
From the South - Follow the A22 northbound crossing the crossroads at Wych Cross (just after the Roebuck Hotel). The main entrance is approximately 500 metres after the junction on the right-hand side.
SAT-NAV - If using Sat-Nav, the postcode for the site is RH18 5JS. As you get close to the site, you need to look out for the signs as the same postcode is used for a number of local properties.
By Rail: The nearest train station is at East Grinstead, which is approximately a fifty minute train journey from London Victoria. When arriving at East Grinstead Broadstone Warren is a bus journey or ten minute taxi ride away.
By Bus: Bus services pass Broadstone Warren from East Grinstead, Uckfield and Haywards Heath.
Times & Car Parking
You can stay the Friday night if you want, although the main meet starts on Saturday Morning & normally goes to mid/late afternoon on the Sunday.When you arrive on site you can drive to the pitch to unload but then please put your car back in the main car park; unless we have a pitch near the Ranger's car park at the end of the main dirt road in which case use that.
Fees
We have managed to get the discounted day rate of £4.74 (which is £3.95 + VAT). Please note that this is charged on a 24 hour baises , so if you arrive on the Saturday & leave on the Sunday after being there for more than 24 hours then you need to pay for 2 days. Sorry but that is their rules. They like the organiser to collect all the fees & pay the bill, which I normally do.
Pitch: To be decided. Wont be D1E again, as it is booked
What we do at the meets
This is an opportunity to meet some local(ish) Bushcrafters, camp out with like minded people & practice/learn some skills. We have had a handful of these meets before, some at other venues, but they mostly follow the same pattern. We tend to do as much or as little as you want but try to have a few sessions where anyone can take part if they want; these are usally things like different ways to make fires, carving, tree id etc.. We cook on the shared fire, often having a communal meal & have tea on the go all the time. We have a few beers round the campfire in the evening but tend not to stay up too much past midninght as others are ofetn asleep by then & we tend to get up early when you wake up in the woods, usually round 7 (although some sleep on for a bit).
The other important stuff
WATER: Standpipes are located at various points around the site.
FIREWOOD: There is ample wood for burning lying around the forest. Under NO circumstances is live wood to be cut or damaged. Chain saws are NOT permitted on the site. (NOTE: I have not yet verified the availability of wood, so if you have access to any, it may be worth bringing some wood or charcoal with you)
PITS: Due to the nature of the ground on site NO pits of any type may be dug.
VEHICLES: NO vehicles are to be driven onto the campsites or parked on the rides other than with the Duty Manager’s permission. On arrival you may be allowed to unload your equipment at your site after which you must park your vehicle in the car park allocated. At the end of your stay, after receiving the Duty Manager’s permission, you will be allowed to take your vehicle to your site to load up your equipment.
CYCLES: To comply with the Forestry Commissions Laws and Natural England, cycles are NOT permitted on the site.
DOGS: NO pets of any description are allowed on site. Sorry but that is the site rules.
NOISE / NUISANCE: As the consideration for other users is paramount, music players, radios and the like must not be audible off your own site. Noise must be kept to a minimum between 11pm and 7.30am. Unacceptable behaviour by any users on site will not be tolerated. Unacceptable behaviour includes: Bad language that causes others to be seriously offend; Trespassing; Vandalism; Consumption of alcohol by minors/excessive consumption by adults; Illegal substance use; Setting fires (with the intent to cause damage); Acting in a way that may cause danger to self or others; Verbal, Emotional, Physical or Sexual Abuse etc...
SECURITY: In the interest of security we would recommend that you do not leave any valuables in tents or buildings.
RUBBISH: Recycling facilities for glass, cans and tins are located at Camp Centre. Please clean all glassware, cans and tins before disposal. All combustible rubbish, where practicable should be burned. All other rubbish should be brought to camp centre and placed in the bins provided, or taken home for disposal.
FIRE: Fire is to stay within the main fireplace, unless people are being taught how to make fire under appopriate adult supervision. This is mainly aimed at kids, as we need to be careful where embers land away from the main fire for obvious reasons. This excludes personal hobos, gas cookers etc.. which are the owners responsability when operating.
* Forum members are responsible for themselves, the kit they use and their own actions (and any non member accompanying them)at the Meet.
* Under 18's must be accompanied by at least one parent (or appointed guardian).
* In the highly unlikely event that I need to make use of this ... I reserve the right to stop any individual(s) from attending a Meet. Any individual(s) who I feel endanger our future use of the site will be required to leave the site; outstanding fees will still be owed. This also applies if the site staff have problems with an indevidual. Nothing like this has ever happened but we need to have the standard disclaimer, like those found at other meets.
Hope to see you round the campfire soon
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Originally Posted by spandit
Now I've got to decide whether to be chilly in a hammock or on the ground...
