• Small tent
• Sleeping bag - preferably 3 season
• A cotton sleeping bag or a silk liner if you think your bag may not be warm enough
• Inflatable or foam sleeping mat
• Minimum of 2 complete changes of clothes as below
• Knife, fork, spoon, plate, mug, own drying up cloth all in a separate bag
• Wash kit and towel (biodegradable products if possible)
• Personal first aid kit (to include plasters, pain killers, foot powder, blister kit, tweezers and personal medication).
• Women are also advised to bring sanitary products as the change in environment can sometimes alter the body clock.
• Sun block and insect repellent
• Note book and pencils
• Water bottle
• Torch with three good sets of batteries
• Small day sack
• Swimming costume and large towel (for optional saunas)
• 10m of nylon Parachute cord or similar from an army surplus store for the Essence of Bushcraft and the Advanced Bushcraft Award

• Camp chair or piece of foam (unless you prefer tree stumps!)
• Snacks etc.
• Relevant reference or Field guides so you can add your own notes for plants, animals, insects
• Camera, film and batteries (note: there is no where to plug in chargers!)
• Binoculars

Clothing

Sensible outdoor clothing is essential for all of our courses and we recommend that you bring clothes that dry quickly. You will need a hat (also one to sleep in if cold), a waterproof and windproof jacket, a couple of wool jumpers or fleeces* and a selection of long/short sleeved t-shirts. In colder weather it is better to wear lots of layers of natural materials rather than really thick jumpers. For trousers, do not wear jeans as these are slow to dry, but workwear/combat trousers are ideal. Hiking/walking boots are essential as they have good grip on all terrains and you may also prefer to bring some Wellington boots if it is wet . Depending on the weather, we also recommend that you bring thermal underwear, several changes of socks and we recommend a spare pair of trainers to give your feet a rest.

* Wool is better than nylon fleece material as this can melt when touched by sparks.

Specialist courses

There will be some additional requirements for a few of our courses so if you want to book the following courses then please note you will need these additional items:
1) Travelling Naturalist in Devon -you will need dry bags, wet launch trainers/canoe boots to wear in the boat and smallest kit bag with smallest tent or bivouac you can manage . Sun glasses with neck loop useful. We provide all bouyancy aides.
2) Wild Foods -some work is in sea water so you can bring wetsuit, snorkel and flippers if you are feeling brave! Also water shoes for canoeing & beach landing. Optional small telescopic fishing rod and kit -no rod licence needed as estuary fishing. Sun glasses with neck loop useful. We provide all bouyancy aides.
3) Axe workshop- you will need to bring your own Gransfors Small Forest Axe or similar. We often get these in advance to save you on postage so please ask if you need one. Also, if you have your own hard hat (we do have some to lend out) any froes or adzes you want to try please bring them. Steel toed boots also useful!

Please do not spend a fortune on expensive outdoor kit for any of our courses. We do have contacts for buying equipment at competitive prices so please enquire before you buy.

Other than the Travelling Naturalist courses, please note that you will not expected to carry all of your kit very far as we will drive it to the site for you so you can bring a few extra luxuries (although we do not recommend you bring a duvet!!!).

Additional information

Please do not bring your own knives or any other cutting tools as you will be loaned appropriate equipment when necessary. At no times should an axe be brought or used without prior confirmation from our staff. For clients attending the Advanced Bushcraft Award, you will be given a sheath knife to keep.