Will I need specialist kit?

Please do not go out and spend a fortune on equipment as you probably already possess most of the things you need and if not, most things can be bought cheaply at an Army Surplus store. We offer the use of hammocks, flysheets, sleeping mats and bivouac bags if you don’t want to bring a tent. You will have to supply your own sleeping bag and we do recommend one that is 3 season or more. Silk liners can also make your bags considerably warmer. For more information, see our general KIT LIST we require you to bring on our courses. For some of our courses you will be required to bring additional bits of kit which are also found on our kit list page.

What will I be eating?

All of our non accredited courses are fully catered with breakfast, lunch and evening meal. There is always a fire in camp and so the kettle is always on providing hot drinks on demand. Alcohol is not permitted on our courses for obvious safety reasons. Where possible, we try to use locally produced food, game and fair trade products but it does depend on the time of year and we do try to stay as seasonal as possible. Vegetarian and vegan diets are catered for but please remember to inform us prior to the commencement of your course. If you have any other specific dietary issues, allergies or requirements we also need to be informed well in advance of your course.

Will we be hunting and trapping?

There will be game and fish preparation on our wild food courses and foraging for coastal edibles, and we never miss a chance to introduce our clients to the culinary delights of wild plants. We do not however teach methods of hunting and trapping birds and mammals on any of our courses.

Additional Information

Course meeting times

Unless specified, our courses start at 7pm on the start date (5pm for the Bow Making) and end at 4pm on the last day when you will be taken back to the local train station or returned to your car. Cars are parked within a relatively short walk of the main camp behind locked gates and are regularly checked by our staff. Although we cannot guarantee the safety of your vehicle we have never had an issue of theft or damage to date.

Tools

All the tools needed for our courses will be loaned for the duration. Unless specified on joining instructions or previously agreed by our staff, please leave all other cutting tools, such as axes and large knives at home. Many tools specified for outdoor use are often unsuitable, unsafe or require specialist training to become proficient with.

Sanitary and course facilities

Sanitary and course facilities - An expedition type camp does not have flushing toilets or running water, but we try to make life's necessary functions as comfortable as possible. We offer an open shower and composting toilet, although it's basic, you might just learn to love it!

We also have a heated round house which should make any inclement weather much more bearable if we notice it at all!

Course cancellation and variation

We will always endeavour to stay as close to the course programme as possible and will only cancel or change a course should the natural world throw something unexpected our way. This usually means severe weather, some deviation in this respect can be beneficial to learning and we would only consider cancelling a course should the conditions compromise safety. Please ensure you are kitted out as per our Kit List.

Peace of Mind
All our instructors are fully trained and qualified in Remote Response First Aid. There is a Paramedic Pilot station in Midhurst (5 miles) and the nearest Casualty/A&E is in Chichester which is about 20 minutes drive. Most basic medical conditions can be dealt with but if you have any queries concerning your health and your preferred course please contact us for a confidential discussion. If you do suffer from any life threatening illnesses then you may be asked to provide a doctors note and we ask that you inform us before booking so we can ensure your safety is catered for.