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Coastal Wild Food Course West Sussex dawn
  • 5 day course

    23-27 July 2024

    New-Foundational Ethnobotany

    Based on the utility of plants and trees

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  • DSC01053

    Europe & The UK

    Dates now available for 2024

    Tracker Evaluations

    Trailing and Track & Sign evaluations

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Combined Tracking Workshop & Evaluation

Course Content

Our tracking workshop combined evaluation covers general track and sign or trailing principles in a 3 day workshop prior to a CyberTracker evaluation and are delivered as separate disciplines.

Track and sign

This programme covers the recognition of the track and sign left behind by the passing of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians and even on occasion insects, The course will include foot morphology and identification of tracks, feeding signs, droppings, beds and resting areas, skulls bones and feathers. We mix theory with practical and visit several venues to cover as many of species as possible.

The evaluations are a stand alone assessment of the trackers ability and are held in a different location to the training so keep in mind there is no guarantee that you will be evaluated on exactly the same items covered during the workshop! A track and sign evaluation is a great learning experience in its own right and as such can be treated as a continuation of the workshop.

Details of the evaluation process can be found here.

Trailing

The programme covers the techniques needed to trail or follow an animal in the wild. The learning outcomes therefore follow the assessment criteria of the evaluation covering in detail the elements of spoor recognition, spoor anticipation, anticipation of dangerous situations, alertness and stealth with each of these main headings further broken down into sub categories leading to what we we believe is a most in-depth and thorough trailing criteria.

We prefer to teach trailing in a realistic scenario and so after a fairly brief introduction the course will take place entirely on the trail. We tend to focus on ungulates which are usually fallow deer, to maximise our chances of trailing to a satisfactory conclusion.

Details of the evaluation process can be found here

If this course is full please contact us to be placed on a waiting list for cancellations.

Should enough people express an interest we may run extra dates. We can also run these events at a location of your choosing. 

Course Dates 2024

  • Trailing TBC
  • Track and sign 1-5 July

Course Dates

Combined Tracking Workshops And Evaluations

Please read the following information before booking:

Please note that these events are self catered.

Track and sign workshop/evaluation

Please note this is a self catered course and although it is non residential you are welcome to camp at our site if you prefer. There will be some travel to other venues although we will endeavour to car share as much as possible.

NB: Camping is not integral to these programmes, it is something we offer for the convenience of our students it is not part of the course fee. With this in mind please be aware that should you choose to stay on site you will be expected to help with the small tasks, that facilitate the smooth running of the camp.

Trailing workshop/evaluation

We regret we are unable to offer camping for this programme as we use large stretches of land which lend themselves to the uninterrupted following of animals

You need to be over 18 years of age to attend these programmes.

Track & sign workshop/evaluation Places

Course: Track and sign workshop/evaluation

Training: 1-5 July 2024

Location: Nr Midhurst, West Sussex

Time: 08.30 - 16.30

Course Leader: John Rhyder

Course size: 11 (maximum)

Cost per person : £550

Course Reviews

Rosemary Thomas

I just wanted to say what an absolute pleasure it was to be a part of the course last week. I learnt so much and loved the format and the style of teaching. I really loved the detail and time taken to discuss all the track and sign we found and especially hearing the thought process behind ascertaining what everything was.

The evaluation process was also such a great learning tool. I was worried it would just be about testing knowledge and not about a continuation of learning. The whole experience was wonderful  and added to by the enjoyment of camping up at the woodland camp with others on the course.

Mike Collins

Many many thanks for a superb learning experience. I found last week very demanding but also absolutely fascinating. It raised my tracking skills to a whole new level. It was a bonus to scrape level1 especially as I made several mystifying decisions! Your course has actually increased my enthusiasm for learning more so I shall keep my eye for further courses.

Thanks again for a very worthwhile 5 days.

Gavin Chambers

The Track and Sign workshop and Evaluation course. Another top course from the Woodcraft School. It shows how good they are by the number of people who like me were returning students. John and David were great teachers with loads of knowledge and experience.The whole Cyber tracker set up is straight forward and the amount of stuff you learn is amazing, definitely worth every penny.