The Spirit of Bushcraft Course – £350

What is the Spirit of Bushcraft?

Learn the skills, knowledge and understanding to become genuinely comfortable in the woods.

The Spirit of Bushcraft is a three-day bushcraft course in East Sussex designed to provide a thorough grounding in the fundamental skills, knowledge and philosophy of bushcraft and outdoor living.

Whether you are completely new to bushcraft, an experienced outdoor enthusiast, an aspiring outdoor instructor, teacher or Forest School leader, this course provides a solid foundation from which to develop your practical skills and understanding of the natural world.

Bushcraft is about far more than simply surviving in the woods. It is about understanding the natural environment, learning to use simple and robust tools effectively, making good decisions and developing the practical knowledge that allows you to live more safely, comfortably and confidently outdoors.

Our philosophy is simple:

Know more and carry less, while using simple yet robust tools.

The Spirit of Bushcraft gives you the opportunity to spend meaningful time in the woodland, learning practical skills while developing a deeper understanding of the environment in which those skills are used.

Bushcraft – more than just survival

Bushcraft has become increasingly popular, but the word can mean very different things to different people.

For us, bushcraft isn't simply a collection of survival techniques, equipment or fire-lighting tricks. It is a practical relationship between people and the natural environment.

It teaches us to observe, understand and make responsible use of the resources around us.

Fire, shelter, water, tools, cordage, plants, trees and natural materials are all part of that picture, but they are connected by something much bigger: knowledge of the woodland and our ability to work within it.

This is why bushcraft underpins so much of our wider teaching.

Thursday evening – the Spirit of Bushcraft

The course begins on Thursday afternoon, with arrival from 5pm and time to establish your camp.

That first evening is deliberately informal and forms an important part of the course.

Rather than immediately launching into practical skills, we begin with a conversation about what bushcraft actually is, where it has come from and what it has become today.

We explore the philosophy behind bushcraft and its place within our wider approach to working with the natural world.

For us, bushcraft provides the foundation that underpins everything we teach.

Our seasonal work – from plants and trees, natural materials and wildlife, to tracking, woodcraft, traditional crafts and outdoor living – is connected by the same fundamental relationship between people and the land.

The evening gives us an opportunity to discuss what bushcraft means to different people and how the skills you are about to learn fit into that bigger picture.

It is the beginning of the course, but it isn't really a lesson. It's a conversation around the fire.

Friday–Sunday – practical bushcraft

Over the following three days we move into the practical programme, developing the fundamental skills that form the backbone of bushcraft and outdoor living.

The course is deliberately structured to allow subjects to be explored properly rather than simply moving rapidly from one activity to another.

Depth of training

Although the Spirit of Bushcraft introduces the fundamental skills of bushcraft, we don't approach them superficially.

This isn't a course designed to move rapidly from one subject to another simply to pack as many activities as possible into three days.

We believe that learning a skill properly requires time to understand it.

Each subject is taught through demonstration, explanation and practical application. We look at the materials, the techniques and the underlying principles, helping you understand why something works, not simply showing you how to reproduce it.

Fire by friction is a good example.

We begin with a demonstration of the complete process, from producing a friction ember through to taking that ember to flame and developing an effective fire lay. We then move into the practical work, guiding you through sourcing suitable bow-drill materials from the woodland and making your own bow-drill set.

You are then taught the techniques and refinements required to use that set effectively and work towards producing your own ember.

The same philosophy applies to every subject on the course.

Whether we are working with fire, tools, natural cordage, shelters, knots, water, plants and trees or camp craft, we take the time to explore the reasons behind the techniques and the relationship between the materials, the environment and the skill.

The objective isn't to leave you having experienced a long list of bushcraft activities.

It is to leave you understanding the foundations well enough to continue developing the skills for yourself.

It is not about how much we can fit into the course. It is about how well you understand what we teach.

Course content

Tool use & maintenance

Learn how to use common bushcraft tools safely and effectively, including the principles of maintaining sharp and serviceable cutting tools.

Good tool use is at the heart of practical bushcraft. We look at how to work efficiently and safely while respecting both the tool and the material being worked.

Firecraft

Fire is one of the fundamental skills of bushcraft.

We explore fire lighting, fire management and the practical considerations involved in establishing and maintaining a useful outdoor fire.

You will learn how different materials behave and how preparation, structure and environmental conditions affect the success of a fire.

Fire by friction

Fire by friction is explored in considerably more depth than simply demonstrating how to produce an ember.

We demonstrate the complete process, taking friction through ember production, establishing a flame and building an effective fire lay.

Students are then guided through sourcing suitable materials from the woodland, making their own bow-drill sets and developing the techniques required to produce an ember themselves.

The emphasis is on understanding the process and learning how to recognise and correct the factors that determine whether the technique works.

Feather sticks & fire preparation

Learn how to prepare suitable materials for fire lighting and develop the practical skills needed to make effective feather sticks and prepare a fire efficiently.

Rather than treating this as an isolated technique, we look at why the preparation works and how it relates to the wider process of building and managing a fire.

Natural cordage

Discover how natural fibres can be collected and processed to make useful cordage.

We look at suitable natural materials, preparation, construction and the practical uses of cordage within a bushcraft environment.

Knots & rope work

Learn a selection of useful knots and basic rope-work techniques that have genuine applications around camp, with shelters and in everyday outdoor situations.

The emphasis is on understanding what makes a knot appropriate for a particular purpose rather than simply memorising a list of knots.

Shelters

We explore the principles of outdoor shelter and how different shelter systems can be used to protect against the elements.

This includes natural shelters, tarps and hammocks, together with consideration of site selection, weather, comfort and responsible use of the woodland.

Clothing & the elements

Being comfortable outdoors begins with understanding the environment and preparing appropriately.

We discuss clothing systems, exposure to the elements, outdoor hygiene and practical ways of managing your environment rather than simply relying on equipment.

Water

Water is one of the fundamental considerations of outdoor living.

We look at finding and sourcing water, the importance of safe water and the principles of water purification.

Heat & cold

We introduce the recognition and management of heat and cold-related problems, including hypothermia and hyperthermia, and consider the practical steps that can help prevent them.

Plants & trees

A major part of bushcraft is developing a relationship with the natural resources around you.

We introduce essential plant and tree identification and explore their practical bushcraft uses.

Where appropriate, we also look at wild foods and traditional uses of plants, helping you begin to recognise the resources available in the landscape.

Sustainable harvesting

Bushcraft should never mean simply taking whatever we can from the woodland.

We introduce the principles of responsible and sustainable harvesting, considering the health of the woodland and the long-term availability of natural resources.

Camp crafts

We explore simple practical crafts and techniques using natural materials, helping develop the ability to make useful items rather than simply carrying everything with you.

Living in the woods

The course is delivered entirely outdoors from our comfortable expedition-style woodland camp.

Camping is included, allowing you to experience the woodland throughout the course rather than simply arriving each morning and leaving at the end of the day.

Living in the woodland creates a very different learning environment.

You begin to notice the weather, changing light, sounds, materials and resources around you. The practical skills being taught start to make more sense because you are actually living within the environment in which they are used.

The course also requires participants to take responsibility for themselves, their camp and the shared environment. Simple tasks such as collecting firewood, bringing in water and maintaining the camp are part of the experience.

Learning by doing

This is a hands-on bushcraft course.

You won't spend three days sitting in front of a presentation.

Techniques are demonstrated and explained before you have the opportunity to practise them yourself, with experienced guidance throughout.

The emphasis is on developing understanding, practical ability and confidence.

We want you to leave not only having seen a number of bushcraft techniques, but having actually used the tools, worked the materials, made fire, explored natural resources and spent meaningful time living in the woodland.

Who is the course for?

The Spirit of Bushcraft is suitable for people with a wide range of experience.

Beginners

If you are completely new to bushcraft, this course provides a structured introduction to the fundamental skills without assuming previous knowledge.

Outdoor enthusiasts

If you already enjoy spending time outdoors, the course gives you an opportunity to deepen your practical knowledge and develop a broader understanding of bushcraft and the natural environment.

Aspiring outdoor instructors

The course provides a useful grounding in the fundamental skills and knowledge required for those considering a future in outdoor education or bushcraft instruction.

Teachers & Forest School leaders

The practical skills, natural knowledge and approach to outdoor learning can provide a valuable foundation for those working with people in outdoor environments.

What makes this course different?

Our approach is centred on knowledge rather than equipment.

We believe that the more you understand about your environment, materials, tools and techniques, the less you need to carry with you.

This doesn't mean rejecting modern equipment or pretending that we live in the past. It means understanding the principles behind the skills and being capable of adapting them to different environments and circumstances.

Bushcraft should make you more capable, not simply better equipped.

The Spirit of Bushcraft is therefore not about trying to fit the greatest possible number of activities into a weekend.

It is about developing a sound foundation.

Understanding the materials. Understanding the environment. Understanding the technique. Understanding why it works.

Course details

Course: The Spirit of Bushcraft

Duration: Three full days of practical tuition, with the Thursday evening discussion forming part of the course

Arrival: Thursday 23rd September 2027 from 5pm

Course: Friday 24th – Sunday 26th September 2027

Finish: Sunday approximately 4–5pm

Location: Woodland near Hellingly, East Sussex

Group size: Maximum 8 participants

Places Available: 8 - Course place availability is updated daily.

Age: Adults only

Camping: Included

Group size

We deliberately limit the course to eight participants.

This allows us to provide individual tuition, answer questions properly and give everyone plenty of opportunity to practise the skills themselves.

A small group also creates a much more relaxed and immersive atmosphere within the woodland.

Camping

Woodland camping is included in the course fee.

Participants are welcome to arrive from 5pm on Thursday to establish their camp before the course begins.

The Thursday evening discussion and the following three days of practical tuition all form part of the course experience.

Catering

This is a self-catered course.

You will receive detailed joining instructions and information about recommended food and preparation before the course.

Course kit

You will receive joining instructions following booking, including information about clothing and equipment required for the course.

Appropriate warm outdoor clothing is essential.

You don't need an enormous collection of specialist bushcraft equipment to attend. Our approach is based around learning to use simple, effective tools properly rather than relying on large quantities of equipment.

Dates & times

September 2027

Thursday 23rd – Sunday 26th September 2027

Thursday 23rd: Arrive from 5pm, establish camp and informal evening discussion about bushcraft and its philosophy.

Friday 24th: Full day of practical bushcraft training.

Saturday 25th: Full day of practical bushcraft training.

Sunday 26th: Final day of training, finishing approximately 4–5pm.

Fees

The full cost of the Spirit of Bushcraft Course is:

£350 per person

A £100 deposit secures your place on the course.

The remaining £250 balance will be invoiced 4–6 weeks before the course start date.

Please note: The £100 shown below is the deposit only, not the full course fee.

Progression

For many people, the Spirit of Bushcraft will be exactly what they are looking for: an opportunity to develop their fundamental skills, confidence and understanding of the natural world.

For those who want to take their bushcraft further, it also provides an excellent foundation for progression onto more advanced training.

The NCFE Bushcraft Advanced Award – Level 3 develops the fundamental skills considerably further through an intensive training and assessment programme.

For those wishing to progress beyond Level 3, the Certificate of Applied Bushcraft – Level 4 develops a deeper level of applied fieldcraft, instructional competence and outdoor leadership.

Reviews

Scott Batty

"Phil Brooke is a truly excellent tutor of bushcraft and living history skills. He has a broad knowledge base and deep understanding of outdoor living skills, natural history, and craft. Key to all of this is his ability to deliver it effectively, being personable and allowing people to progress at their own pace while ensuring everyone reaches the end goal.

I've had the pleasure of learning from Phil over time, and beyond his knowledge and experience, Phil ensures students are safe and comfortable. For all of these reasons, I would not hesitate to recommend Phil's tuition and look forward to future learning opportunities."

A final word

Bushcraft isn't something that can be learned simply by collecting equipment or watching somebody demonstrate a technique.

It comes from doing.

From learning how to use a tool properly.

From making fire.

From working with natural materials.

From understanding the plants and trees around you.

From getting things wrong and learning why.

And ultimately, from spending enough time in the woods that the environment begins to feel less like somewhere you are visiting and more like somewhere you understand.

That is the spirit behind this course.

Know more. Carry less. Understand the woods.

If you would like to discuss the course, your previous experience or whether the Spirit of Bushcraft is the right starting point for you, please get in touch for an informal conversation.

Pay the deposit to Book and secure your place on the course