bushcrafty birthday, hen and stag parties

Fancy an afternoon playing games at the beach and having your candles lit from wildfire flames? Or perhaps a two hour den making party in the woods, with sausages, marshmallows and a story round the fire?  Chris will provide you and your friends with a really enjoyable, unforgettable party. There are a number of venues I use, Haldon Forest Park, Dartmoor, Woodbury Common to name a few…and I have done many a party in people’s gardens.

Call Chris to discuss any ideas you have, but for now here’s the two most popular parties:

The Bushcraft Birthday. Den making party, with sausages, marshmallows and a story; £120 (for up to 12) plus travel Duration 2hrs, £180 for 4hrs, which includes a few more games and activities.
Survival Camp – for older kids of all ages. Make a den, fire by friction and spend some time whittling, spoon making and/or playing games (with blindfolds, waterpistols, catching flags….that kind of thing). For up to 12 people £180 for 4 hrs, £250 for 6hrs.

Hen Parties

Foraging for a wild food feast is surely one of the best ways to connect with nature and each other. Foraging events last on average from 4 -6 hours and involve learning about at least 20 different edible wild plants, as well as gathering, preparing and cooking some on an open fire for a feast. What we actually cook up will depend on place and season…but it is usually a three course meal starter, salad and main course. The main course is either a risotto, stirfry, curry or a stew. only the finest quality local ingredients are used to supplement what we find and a couple of bottle of locally produced wine are included too. I will travel to you, or you can come to me. If you want an overnight tented ‘back to nature’ experience in the woods, that can be arranged too.  Prices from £70 per person.

For images of recent hen and stag parties follow this link:https://plus.google.com/photos/102352167572855626169/albums/5794656685237202465

Here is a short video on youtube of an example day out foraging with Chris

Stag Parties

Stag Nights – shelter, fire, games in the dark, wild and wonderful foraged meal – a great way to spend the stags final days with his friends!

The final agenda is up for discussion, but the event outline below gives you an idea of what we end up doing most often:-

Afternoon arrival

Arrival usually about 3-4pm at camp/woodland. The large group tent will be up and the site ready for your arrival. The provided night shelter is a gorgeous 6m tentipi canvas tent that sleeps 12-15 – or you can make your own survival shelters and bivvis. All tarps and string provided. I also have other canvas bell tents that sleep 8, if you are a large group.

The first task is to get the group gathering space shelter up, or to make survival shelters (if you want to get a bit more primitive) and make the camp fire  (by friction). The group shelter is a parachute we suspend from the trees above the fire pit – this keeps the worst of the weather off, but lets the smoke breathe through. Some companies will have all this ready, but I like the fact you get to create the place you will be spending time around the fire.

To make the fire by friction I give a demo, then let you lads split into teams and have a race to make your fire making kits, and get the fire going.

Once the fire is going, we get the food on. What we eat is up to you.
The options are:

  • trout or salmon, cooked over the fire ( I will instruct you), with local, organic new potatoes and a salad – usually foraged)
  • game stew – may include venison, pheasant, pigeon and rabbit, with local organic veg –depends on what is on offer from the local marksman
  • burgers or sausages (local, organic), potato wedges and local organic veg salad.


After dinner some kind of night game in the woods, getting camo’ed up, sneaking about and avoiding the ‘superpredator’ with the supersoaker waterpistol. A change of clothes is advisable.
Optional finish of a quick round of Russian roulette between stag and best man, with hard boiled and one un-boiled egg!

Late night fire side – storytelling – yours or mine, tales from the group, music making, drumming, general chat, bevies, didgeridoo playing, etc –again actual agenda is up to you.

Next morning – fry up, or cereal, fresh coffee and fruit juice.

Possible morning activities – Wild food walk -(forage for wild edibles and medicinal plants), Woodland bling (making cordage, wooden medallions and beads) – a good one for making something for the bride!), Archery, Balance beam martial arts contest.

Departure
After breakfast, or just before lunch. I can suggest local pubs and eateries.

Here is a slideshow of images from stag and hen do’s recently:
https://plus.google.com/photos/102352167572855626169/albums/5794656685237202465

Click here for a video on youtube of an example day out foraging with Chris Holland

Depending on the site there or length of the event may be a possibility of building a woodland sauna.
There is always some kind of primitive toilet, cold shower and tea making kit available all hours.
You supply the alcohol, which is best kept to a minimum!
I will always have someone around to keep the fire/hearth place of the camp safe.

You need to supply bedding and sleeping mats –though I do have a few sheepskins available.

There will usually be two or more wholeland staff on site to ensure your visit to the woods is fun and safe. We know when to slip into the background and don’t order you around!

Prices

Single night price per person £100 (minimum charge £500), up to 10 people. £50 per person after that.

Longer event price by arrangement and haggling is possible too.

And, hey, how did you get down there, mate?

From a Stag night up on Dartmoor that included wrestling in a stone circle… very primal!

Finally, here is a short video from a recent after wedding day foraging party I delivered.