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| bush:bushcraft [2025/12/02 10:06] – Simon Grant | bush:bushcraft [2026/04/19 07:52] (current) – [What is bushcraft?] Simon Grant |
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| # Bushcraft | This topic is part of [[gt:bushcraft|Bushcraft & Nature]]. |
| | ====== Bushcraft ====== |
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| ## What is bushcraft? | ===== What is bushcraft? ===== |
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| Bushcraft is about living in the outdoor environment, in the wild, using knowledge and the natural resources around you to sustain yourself over a prolonged period. But the concept goes [beyond mere survival](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/whats-the-difference-between-survival-bushcraft/ "What’s the difference between survival & bushcraft?") - it's about thriving, being comfortable in nature. On the other hand, bushcraft has fewer creature comforts and links to civilisation than recreational camping - the more you bring with you, the less you're doing bushcraft and the more you're camping. The difference is really about how sustainably you can live outdoors. | Bushcraft is about living in the outdoor environment, in the wild, using knowledge and the natural resources around you to sustain yourself over a prolonged period. But the concept goes [beyond mere survival](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/whats-the-difference-between-survival-bushcraft/ "What’s the difference between survival & bushcraft?") - it's about thriving, being comfortable in nature. On the other hand, bushcraft has fewer creature comforts and links to civilisation than recreational camping - the more you bring with you, the less you're doing bushcraft and the more you're camping. The difference is really about how sustainably you can live outdoors. |
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| The essential tasks of bushcraft are obtaining potable water, fire lighting, making shelter and getting and preparing food, which encompasses a range of skills such as flintknapping, firecraft, finding food & water, hunting, fishing, making shelters, rope & cord making, skins & hides, tracking, natural navigation, basketry, leatherwork, and [much more](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/main/nature). | The essential tasks of bushcraft are obtaining potable water, fire lighting, making shelter and getting and preparing food, which encompasses a range of skills such as flintknapping, firecraft, finding food & water, hunting, fishing, making shelters, rope & cord making, skins & hides, tracking, natural navigation, basketry, leatherwork, and much more. |
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| ## What are the benefits of bushcraft? | ===== What are the benefits of bushcraft? ===== |
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| Bushcraft is fun, exciting, (potentially) free, satisfying, and you get to hang out in beautiful places for extended periods. The skills you gain will be helpful in non-bushcraft situations, for example tying knots, foraging, knife work and lighting fires, but they could also save your life or the lives of your loved ones in a survival situation. | Bushcraft is fun, exciting, (potentially) free, satisfying, and you get to hang out in beautiful places for extended periods. The skills you gain will be helpful in non-bushcraft situations, for example tying knots, foraging, knife work and lighting fires, but they could also save your life or the lives of your loved ones in a survival situation. |
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| It's also educational, as you'll gain a much greater understanding and [appreciation of nature](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/nature-awareness "Nature awareness"). And the calming effect of a connection with nature can help people with behavioural or mental health problems. | It's also educational, as you'll gain a much greater understanding and [appreciation of nature](/ntaw/nature_awareness). And the calming effect of a connection with nature can help people with behavioural or mental health problems. |
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| ## What can I do? | ===== What can I do? ===== |
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| Gain some skills by attending a course before you go out into the wild. It's essential to learn the correct way to do things, especially as regards safety. Of all our topics, it's probably the one that is least easily learnt from books - although they can certainly increase your knowledge. You can immerse yourself, or focus on [specific skills](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/main/nature). | Gain some skills by attending a course before you go out into the wild. It's essential to learn the correct way to do things, especially as regards safety. Of all our topics, it's probably the one that is least easily learnt from books - although they can certainly increase your knowledge. You can immerse yourself, or focus on [specific skills](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/main/nature). |
| {{ https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/bushcraft-8.jpg }} | {{ https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/bushcraft-8.jpg }} |
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| Travelling by [canoe or kayak](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/canoes-kayaks "Canoes & kayaks") will allow you to be more nomadic, and to carry more kit easily. Hunting [wild game](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/game "Game / wild meats") is subject to seasons and regulations, and [bowhunting](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/bow-making "Bow making") is illegal in the UK. You can make your own hooks and natural-fibre lines, or basket/creel-type traps to catch [fish](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/fishing) or [crayfish](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/crayfish "Crayfish"). Fishing by hand is illegal in the UK, as is spear fishing, except in the sea. | Travelling by [canoe or kayak](/cano/canoes) will allow you to be more nomadic, and to carry more kit easily. Hunting [wild game](/game/game) is subject to seasons and regulations, and [bowhunting](/bowm/bow_making) is illegal in the UK. You can make your own hooks and natural-fibre lines, or basket/creel-type traps to catch [fish](/fish/fishing) or [crayfish](/cray/crayfish). Fishing by hand is illegal in the UK, as is spear fishing, except in the sea. |
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| {{ https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/bushcraft-9.jpg }} | {{ https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/bushcraft-9.jpg }} |
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| ## Specialist(s) | |
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| **Thanks to Leon Durbin of [Wildwood Bushcraft](http://www.wildwoodbushcraft.com/) for information | pics © Wildwood Bushcraft and Wildwise** | ===== Forum ===== |
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| | This topic belongs to the section [[gt:bushcraft|Bushcraft & Nature]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/bushcraft). |
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| Leon Durbin has had a lifelong passion for wildlife and wild places, and is a qualified and experienced wildlife biologist. Leon runs [Wildwood Bushcraft](https://www.wildwoodbushcraft.co.uk), and has been teaching and practicing bushcraft for the last 15 years. | ===== Further resources ===== |
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| | - [Wilderness Foundation UK](https://wildernessfoundation.org.uk/) - campaigning to protect wilderness areas |
| | - [Richard Graves' Bushcraft Guides 1](https://chrismolloy.com/p132.php) - ropes & cords |
| | - [Richard Graves' Bushcraft Guides 2](https://chrismolloy.com/p133.php) - huts & thatch |
| | - [Richard Graves' Bushcraft Guides 3](https://chrismolloy.com/p134.php) - campcraft |
| | - [Richard Graves' Bushcraft Guides 4](https://chrismolloy.com/p135.php) - food & water |
| | - [Richard Graves' Bushcraft Guides 5](https://chrismolloy.com/p136.php) - firemaking |
| | - [Richard Graves' Bushcraft Guides 6](https://chrismolloy.com/p137.php) - knots & lashings |
| | - [Richard Graves' Bushcraft Guides 7](https://chrismolloy.com/p138.php) - tracks & lures |
| | - [Richard Graves' Bushcraft Guides 8](https://chrismolloy.com/p139.php) - snares & traps |
| | - [Richard Graves' Bushcraft Guides 9](https://chrismolloy.com/p140.php) - travel & gear |
| | - [Richard Graves' Bushcraft Guides 10](https://chrismolloy.com/p141.php) - time & direction |
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| _Date on Lowimpact:2014-04-03_ | |
| | ===== Related topics ===== |
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| | - [Bow making](bowm:bow_making) |
| | - [Fishing](fish:fishing) |
| | - [Canoes & kayaks](cano:canoes) |
| | - [Wild food](wild:wild_food) |
| | - [Crayfish](cray:crayfish) |
| | - [Coracles & currachs](cora:coracles) |
| | - [Tracking](trac:tracking) |
| | - [Firecraft](fire:firecraft) |
| | - [Nature awareness](ntaw:nature_awareness) |
| | - [Flintknapping](flin:flintknapping) |
| | - [Skins & hides](skin:skins) |
| | - [Wild mushrooms](wmus:mushrooms) |
| | - [Nuts & nut trees](nuts:nuts) |
| | - [Tree/woodland management](wodl:woodland_management) |
| | - [Navigation](navi:navigation) |
| | - [Game / wild meat](game:game) |
| | - [Coastal foraging](coas:coastal_foraging) |
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| | ===== Specialist curators of this topic ===== |