Rediscover the Wild
Join Our Two-Day Bushcraft Weekend with Nick Ward
Step into the woods and away from the digital world with our immersive Bushcraft Weekend, guided by experienced outdoor educator Nick Ward. Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to refresh your skills, you’ll find hands-on learning, peace in nature and plenty of time to practise at your own pace.
Flexible Booking Options
Choose either Thursday or Friday for a focused day of learning, or join us for both to gain a deeper understanding—and enjoy a £20 discount when booking the full two-day experience.
Why Choose our Bushcraft Weekend?
1. Reconnect with Nature
In a world dominated by screens and constant digital noise, this course offers a rare chance to unplug and be fully present in nature. Spending time in the woods is grounding, calming and proven to reduce stress.
2. Learn Practical Survival Skills
You’ll gain hands-on experience in essential bushcraft skills like fire lighting, shelter building, plant identification and outdoor cooking. These aren’t just novelty skills—they build confidence, self-reliance and a deeper understanding of the natural world.
3. Enjoy Experiential Learning
Led by expert instructor Nick Ward, the course is designed for experiential, at-your-own-pace learning. Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned outdoor enthusiast, you’ll walk away with new knowledge, muscle memory and a sense of achievement.
4. Build Confidence Outdoors
Understanding how to thrive in the wild—even just for a day—boosts personal confidence and fosters a more respectful, capable relationship with the environment.
5. Meet Like-Minded People
You'll join a group of others who share an interest in nature, sustainability and traditional skills. It’s a great way to meet new people and build community around a shared experience.
6. Sustainability and Stewardship
This course emphasizes low-impact, sustainable techniques, including “leave no trace” principles. You’ll walk away not only with skills but also with a stronger environmental ethic.
What to Expect
Each day is a standalone course designed to teach core bushcraft skills while helping you unplug and reconnect with nature. You’ll spend the entire day outdoors, immersed in the woodland of the South Downs National Park, learning practical techniques in a relaxed, supportive environment.
Day 1 – Thursday 28th August
Nature Connection & Shelter Skills
Begin with a guided woodland walk through the beautiful Sustainability Centre grounds. Learn to identify native trees and plants, forage for wild edibles and explore herbal medicine. Back at basecamp, you’ll use materials gathered on the walk to make your own natural cordage.
After lunch, delve into shelter-building:
Learn to rig a tarp
Practise useful knots and rope techniques
Set up a modern, adaptable shelter
You’ll have plenty of time to practise and ask questions throughout the day.
Skills Covered:
Tree and plant identification
Wild food and herbal knowledge
Natural cordage making
Rope work, knots, tarp rigging
Day 2 – Friday 29th August
Mastering Fire & Outdoor Cooking
Day two focuses on one of the most iconic and rewarding bushcraft skills—fire lighting. Learn multiple ignition methods, from modern tools to traditional techniques like the bow drill. Explore fire lays, sustainable fuel sourcing, and fire safety.
In the afternoon, turn your fire into a cooking tool using simple, effective outdoor cooking methods. You’ll even get to bake your own damper bread over your fire.
Skills Covered:
Fire lighting methods and materials
Using the bow drill
Fire lays and safety
Improvised cooking and baking
Is This Course Right for You?
This course is suitable for adults (18+) with reasonable mobility and hand strength. No prior experience is necessary—just bring curiosity and a willingness to get hands-on.
Meet Your Instructor Nick Ward
Nick Ward has spent over 20 years teaching outdoor and survival skills. A fully qualified bushcraft instructor with a background in education and outdoor leadership, Nick has developed training programs for teachers, Forest School leaders and countryside professionals. His teaching style is friendly, relaxed and rooted in experiential learning—ideal for beginners and seasoned bushcrafters alike.
Accommodation Offer
Extend your woodland experience with an overnight stay at our eco lodge or campsite. Stay two nights or more and receive 10% off your accommodation.
Call 01730 823166 to book. (Reception open Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm)