December 2010

Your lovely comments, gratefully received...

Having lovely feedback, letters and e-mails from students is always really great. One student I taught as a child is now a twenty something man and that makes me feel old! I have been asked to put comments up on my website, something I haven't done until now. So here's the most recent, from Will Nicholson in Norway.

"Thanks for the course last week, I really enjoyed it. Been spotting birch trees in the forest for good firestarting since I've been back in Oslo! Lots of snow here, going cross country skiing soon! Once the winter has passed a bit I'd like to do a further course if poss, so I'll keep in touch about that if that's ok." Cheers Will.

November 2010

Swedish butter knives.

Part of the Campfire Skills school's programme is to make a Swedish butter knife. As the little wooden knife is carefully whittled into shape it teaches the newcomer to bushcraft how to handle wood and use a craft knife safely. It is a project that is achievable to complete in just a couple of hours. The simple pleasure of making something for yourself and then using it is unfortunately overlooked sometimes ...

Annette

October 2010

The art of spoon making...

These two lovely spoons were recently made by one of my students on my 1-1 spoon making course. They were the first spoons he had ever carved!

Bushcraft isn't rocket science, it is a campfire skill we all can learn to do with a bit of guidance. If you would like to do a 1-1 spoon making course with me the cost is £60.00, which also includes as much billy can tea as you can drink and as many bushcraft biscuits as you can eat!

Making a spoon is a great way to spend the day sitting around a glowing campfire this autumn.

Happy campfires!

Annette

September 2010

Birthday Bushcraft Fun

One way to spend your 9th birthday is being out in the woods doing some campfire skills with your friends. Jamie did just that! Fire lighting, campfire cooking, whittling and even following tracks laid by the sweet monster were just some of today's activities ....

Annette

August 2010

What's it all about?
I hear you say,
Well here's a few words,
About a Campfire Skills day,
With green sticks to whittle,
And some wild bread cooking,
Charcoal faces and grubby hands,
It's a day of family fun,
For the old and the young.

By Annette Stickler

July 2010

Nature as a guide

I have been working alongside some young people who for one reason and another have "social problems". But I didn't find that, what I did find were young influencial lads who were open to learn and were naturally curious to discover more about the outdoors. How sad that thousands of kids in this country are growing up seeing knives as weapons not as tools. One young person I was talking with had reached the age of 15 and had never walked through a woodland before now....

I was not only impressed with their behaviour, their have a go attitude was very inspiring.

Annette

June 2010

Swallows move into the education barn!

The barn isn't even finished yet but already a pair of swallows have taken advantage, building a nest. I am trying not to disturb them too much and am hoping they stay and settle in. One side of the barn looks out across the wild flower meadow, which is an ideal environment for mice and voles. I am planning to put up a barn owl box in the roof to see if I can attract a pair of barn owls too. Funny how nature can be the first to be an opportunist...

Annette

May 2010

An Outdoor Way Of Life

We have been busy here building the education barn. It is where students, family and any other folk will be able to meet with some of my farm animals, have some home made biscuits and campfire coffee and learn more about an outdoor way of life. I have been experimenting sharing my love of animals and bushcraft with the students and these relaxed events seem to have gone down well, especially with the young people with learning difficulties who visit here.

The day event covers growing organic veg, tipi living, looking after livestock, bushcraft skills, woodland walkabout and plant and tree identification.

If you would like to arrange "an outdoor way of life" event please contact me on 07817 202 755

Happy campfires!

Annette

April 2010

Woodland Survival

Coming up in the next issue of The Bushcraft and Survival Skills Magazine is an article that I have written on woodland survival, when I spent three days and three nights living off the land at the age of 24. The photo here is of me in my house of sticks, drinking water from a billy can.

Fond memories of testing my endurance with nature!

Annette

March 2010

Filming with BBC

On the 4th of March the BBC 2 programme Escape To The Country was aired and showed me doing flint and steel fire lighting skills and cooking a wild bread, filmed in a woodland on the South Downs. Presenter Nicky Chapman also gave a helping hand! It was great, particularly working with the film crew.

I said to the director when he arrived that he would have a problem with me because I like to be in charge, on hearing this he immediately turned around to all the film crew and said "Don't listen to me, Annette's in charge today, listen to her". It was a fun day!

Image: Annette with the film crew
of BBC's Escape To The Country

February 2010

A little poem about a tree,
With her silver bark,
She shines with glee,
To sit under one so fair,
And look up,
Without a care,
The Silver Birch,
Is a sight to behold,
With her swaying branches,
Her leaves unfold.

By Annette Stickler

BBC Radio Solent interviews ...

January 5th saw my first fire by friction of 2010. I had the Radio Solent presenter Nadine from the Jon Cuthill live morning show at www.bbc.co.uk/solent here to give a hand. Please click the audio and video link's to be able to join in the fun of bow drilling. ;)

"Fire by Friction" - BBC Radio Solent interview: »
"Arctic Survival" - BBC Radio Solent interview: »

Happy campfires!
Annette