SEAL BROOK WOODLAND SCHOOL

​We started running wild camping weekends as part of our old Bristol company back in 2015 with the idea to provide an affordable, family friendly venue for wild camping, Bushcraft and general outdoor enthusiasts in the Bristol area to get together in an informal, non-structured environment and spent time in the outdoors sharing knowledge and ideas or just relaxing in a woodland environment. We have taken the same concept and rebooted it to run from our new woodland site in 2025.

 

The meets are not run as a structured course, we are only there to answer questions and assist if required, provide first aid if necessary and generally oversee the safety and well-being of those attending. There will however be informal workshops on a range of subjects running throughout the weekend. If you are interested in running a workshop on your specialist subject then please get in contact.

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Dates and Cost

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We are planning on running 2 wild camping weekends in 2025, one on the 23-25th May as a basic weekend geared more towards adults with a few workshops and one on the 1-3rd August 2025 geared more towards families with more family orientated workshops. The price for the weekend is £35 per adult and £14 per child and the site will open from 4pm on the Friday and the weekend will close at 3pm on the Sunday. People are welcome to use this time to just relax and take in the woods and its wildlife, practice skills alongside others, or to take part in the open workshops and discussions that will take place throughout the weekend.

 

There is no minimum or maximum age limit for the meet, although all minors (under 18's) must be accompanied by an adult, minors are the responsibility of the supervising adult and must be supervised at all times.

Unfortunately due to our site being a smallholding with livestock and horses in close proximity dogs are not permitted.

 

Sleeping and Facilities

There is plenty of space for people to set up hammocks, tarps/bashas or even natural shelters in the trees, and a section of the central field will be fenced off for tents, although tents can be pitched in the woods if you wish, you may have to spend a bit of time clearing and preparing your own pitch if camping in the woods as we have been extensively pruning and thinning but it does provide you with plenty of firewood.

We have a number of composting toilets in the woods so there is no need to bring a shovel. We have a number of tarped or parachuted communal areas to provide a permanently dry area for socialising around the camp fire. In main camp there will be an array of camp cooking equipment if you wish to use it for cooking meals and the camp kettles will live on the fire permanently to provide hot water if you need it.

 

Food and Water

People are expected to be self catered and cooking can either take place using our equipment on the communal fire, or you are welcome to cook on your own fires or use your own stoves/cooking systems.

 

On the Saturday evening we plan to run a BBQ where you can purchase hot food (burgers and hotdogs) which are all sourced and produced locally or produced by us, all proceeds from the BBQ will be ploughed straight back into developing new facilities in the woods for future meets.

 

We currently do not have mains water at the woods so all drinking water is brought to the woods in jerry cans and bowsers, these will be set up at various locations for you to collect and use as you require. 

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We harvest rainwater which we use for the handwashing stations at the composting loos

 

Fires

 

We operate a safe fire policy that you will receive after booking, but we are very happy for guests to have their own fires in their personal camp area. Due to the thinning and pruning works there is an abundance of wood on the ground and burning it does us a favour, the only thing is you will need to cut it up.

 

Workshops

 

The great thing about the Meet's is that we get some truly fantastic people offering their time and skill to come and run workshops/talks in their specialist subject or something they are passionate about.  

 

If you would like to run a talk or workshop during the weekend to share with others then please get in touch.

 

Below is the current list of workshops/activities being run over the weekend this will be added to as workshops are confirmed.

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• Cutting tool safety workshop - this will be run on Saturday morning and is advisable to attend (especially for young people) as it saves us on plasters!

• Charcoal burn incorporating axe safety - Seal Brook Woodland School

• Axe throwing - Peak District Survival School

• BBQ Saturday evening - Seal Brook Woodland Project

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Other information

 

Parking for the event will be on our hardstanding car parking area although if that fills up we will park vehicles on the field, although it is a private site we cannot take responsibility for the safety or security of cars or their contents so please do not leave valuables in your cars.

Make sure you also join the event page on the Seal Brook Woodland School Facebook page to keep an eye on any additions to the workshops or other updates.

Places are strictly limited  so don't delay in securing yours!

 

Venue: Seal Brook Wood, Netherseal, South Derbyshire

Times and dates: 4PM Friday - 3PM Sunday

                               23-25th May 2025 

                                1-3rd August 2025

Cost: £35 per adult, £14 per child 

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AT THE MOMENT WE ARE NOT RELEASING TICKETS AND ARE GATHERING INTEREST IN THE WEEKEND BEFORE ASKING PEOPLE TO COMMIT FINANCIALLY. WE ARE REQUESTING THAT PEOPLE EMAIL US TO RESERVE THEIR PLACES ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS. WE WILL EMAIL EVERYONE INDIVIDUALLY WHEN BOOKING OPENS. PLEASE USE THE CONTACT FORM WITH THE DATE YOU ARE LOOKING AT BY CLICKING

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