During September we continued ‘Oakwise’, our youth bushcraft club at fruit and Nut Community Garden in Cilgerran. The youth continued on their Wild Passport Journey – whittling, building shelters, learning knots and nature and cooking on the fire. We got primal and learnt how to start fires with tinder flint and steel, it’s great how much modern kids enjoy learning these basic life skills. Using knives safely was also a firm favourite, with many spears made, as well as stirrers and spreaders.

To celebrate being Oakwise, the youngsters were invited to bring their friends and family to the Roots & Resilience Community Campfire over the half term. We had a great turn out of local families and we showed them some of the less dangerous skills we had learnt during our sessions. We cooked bread on a stick, with melted butter – yum, and everyone, including parents, had a go at wrapping sticks with wool. this is a surprisingly calming and mediative activity.

We hope to continue our Oakwise Journey in the spring, but for now I think a few Cilgerran kids will be getting bushcraft kits for Christmas!