Tarn & Wood

30/08/2026

This week, learn from some experiences in making and using full thickness natural rope - simply made from whole brambles. Incredibly strong and relatively quick to make - bramble rope can even pull a vehicle.

Learn from some experiences in making and using full thickness natural rope - simply made from whole brambles. Incredibly strong and relatively quick to make - bramble rope can even pull a vehicle.

13/08/2026

This week, learn how to process Elm bark for use in cordage and other craft projects. Elm bark is a beautiful material, remarkably similar to leather in terms of appearance and pliability. Find out how to strip the bark with an axe and rive the layers with a knife.

This week, learn how to process Elm bark for use in cordage and other craft projects. Elm bark is a beautiful material, remarkably similar to leather in terms of appearance and pliability.

07/08/2026

This week in the Journal it is time for plant knowledge and so we are looking at Rosebay Willowherb. An incredible plant for all sorts of reasons. Not only is it useful for humans for its edibility, use in fire and as a natural cordage, it also quickly colonises an area of disturbed soil and rejuvenates the land. Follow the link to read the full article in our Journal, found on the website.

Rosebay Willowherb - an incredibly useful plant in wilderness living. Discover some of its attributes from its edibility, use in fire, cordage potential and how it regenerates the soil.

02/08/2026

I’m thrilled to be delivering skills workshops at this event. It will be a must attend weekend for both forest school practitioners and outdoor enthusiasts alike. There will be a huge amount of workshops and learning opportunities with a fantastic collective of high level providers. Hopefully see you there in September!

🌲 DISCOVER THE VILLAGES OF THE FOREST SCHOOL SHOW

**Village 2 of 14 – The Bushcraft Village**

Curated by Mr Dave Watson

**Why do practical outdoor skills still matter in today's world?**

For thousands of years, people have relied on the knowledge and skills of the natural world to live, travel and thrive. Long before technology, bushcraft was simply a way of life—understanding the landscape, working with nature and passing practical knowledge from one generation to the next.

Today, those traditional skills are more relevant than ever. Bushcraft teaches self-reliance, resilience, confidence, creativity, patience and problem-solving. It encourages us to slow down, observe the natural world, work safely with tools, respect our environment and discover just how capable we really are.

That is why **The Bushcraft Village** deserves its own dedicated place at **The Forest School Show**.

Throughout the weekend you'll discover inspiring demonstrations, practical workshops, interactive experiences and opportunities to develop essential woodland skills. Learn about fire lighting, green wood carving, shelter building, safe tool use, natural cordage, campcraft, woodland crafts and much more from some of the UK's most experienced bushcraft instructors, woodland craftspeople and outdoor specialists.

Whether you're taking your very first steps into bushcraft or have years of outdoor experience, you'll leave inspired, more knowledgeable and ready to continue your own journey of outdoor discovery.

Over the coming days we'll introduce the wonderful contributors, demonstrators, workshop leaders and specialists who will make **The Bushcraft Village** such an inspiring place to explore, together with their demonstrations, workshops and specialist woodland skills.

**Every skill learned outdoors becomes a skill for life.**

**Come and discover what you're truly capable of.**

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🌲 The Forest School Show 2026

📍 **Walesby Forest Activity Centre, Nottinghamshire**

📅 **Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 September 2026**

🕙 **10.00am – 5.00pm each day**

Explore all 14 themed villages

🌳 Storytelling Village
🪓 Bushcraft Village
🔥 Fire, Food & Cooking Village
🎨 Natural Arts & Crafts Village
🌼 Forest School Village
🌿 Nature Connection Village
💚 Wellbeing Village
🎭 Performing Arts Village
🍽️ Food & Drink Village
🛍️ Traders Village
⭐ Special Guest Village
🎓 Training Providers Village
🤝 Supporting Organisations Village
🏡 The Meeting House

✨ **Over 100 specialist contributors • Live demonstrations • Inspiring speakers • Hands-on activities • Bookable workshops • Family experiences • Outdoor adventure • Woodland skills • Nature connection**

🎟️ **Book your tickets now:**
https://buytickets.at/creativitydesignandproductionltd

🌐 **Discover more:**
https://www.theforestschoolshow.com

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**Next in our series...**

🔥 **Village 3 of 14 – The Fire, Food & Cooking Village**

**🌲 Explore. Connect. Grow in Nature.**



Photograph of David Peg one of our amazing Bushcraft Specialists

31/07/2026

This week, learn how to craft an adjustable cantilever pot hanger - an elegant contraption which although seems complicated is actually incredibly simple when you know how.

This week, learn how to craft an adjustable cantilever pot hanger - a brilliant way to use simple physics to boil water or cook efficiently over a fire.

24/07/2026

This week, join us on a brief encounter with Silver Birch (Betula Pendula) - a truly incredible tree for an abundance of reasons. Learn about its place in the world, how to spot it and some of the ways in which it can be used.

Find the article on the website here:

A brief dive into Silver Birch (Betula Pendula) - an incredible tree for abundant reasons. Learn a little about its place within the world, how to spot it and some of the ways in which it can be used.

17/07/2026

Although using a knife is such a fundamental part of practising bushcraft, unless you have undergone formal training it seems to be something where most people are left to figure it out for themselves. This week’s Journal entry shares some useful tips about using a knife in this context.

Find the full article here:
www.tarnandwood.co.uk/journal/knife-use-tips

10/07/2026

We have exciting news. Sharing skills and knowledge is such a passion for us but so often we find that due to the deep nature of bushcraft and wilderness living, there is always more to share. Clients have frequently asked if we could direct them to places to further their knowledge or simply to help them remember things they have already learned.

With this in mind, we have decided to start writing a weekly journal. Cycling through four subject areas - Skills, Tree Identification, Crafting and Plants/Funghi - over time this will build up a resource that people can tap into to help them on their developmental journey through this complex field. Obviously, the intention is not to replace in-person teaching, direct learning will always be unrivalled in effectiveness, but as a tool this journal will help support people as they progress.

It is important to us that the journal will be completely free to access, enabling people from all walks of life to gain a better understanding about the world around them, hopefully inspiring them to appreciate and care for the natural world and our place within it.

The journal will be available on the website www.tarnandwood.co.uk and will be signposted each week on social media platforms.

07/07/2026

Hi Everybody, after finally getting around to verifying my google business account, the review function for Tarn & Wood is now active. Having taught bushcraft to so many of you fine people over the years I would be infinitely grateful if you would be able to leave me a review (link below). 5 Star reviews are one of the best ways of upping the search rankings on google etc and would be a hugely beneficial way to share Tarn & Wood with the masses.

To leave a review, either follow the link or use the QR code. Both will take you straight to the google business page. If you want to get really fancy, consider adding an image too!

Thank you so much, hope to see you soon.

https://g.page/r/CSWwUYwFEf64EBM/review

18/05/2026

Windermere Science Festival is always a highlight of the year. In addition to the amazing surroundings and inquisitive atmosphere, having done this for the past three years, it’s so exciting to see familiar faces who are always wanting to learn more about this deep, complex subject matter.

If you came and enjoyed yourself this year, be sure to fill in the survey where you can also win £50 for your trouble!

Hopefully see you next year!