Environmental Adventure Day 4

Today was another action packed day which began in the woods climbing the big Beech tree and ended with an edible insects session where we tried mealworm burgers and discussed the benefits for the planet of sourcing protein from bugs! In between we enjoyed an archery session and had the opportunity to design and silk screen print a camp t-shirt. 

Tomorrow we can look forward to a trapeze session, natural dyeing and delicious wood fired pizzas fresh from the cob oven.  

Environmental Adventure Day 3

Today we focused on traditional crafts and skills in small groups. Each group had a go at forging with a Blacksmith, green woodworking and stone carving. In the evening we had a visit from Sharon the Falconer who brought Rocky the Barn Owl and also an American Kestrel. The evening came to a close around the campfire where we got to test out the toasting forks and enjoy S'mores and campfire songs round the fire. 

Environmental Adventure Day 2

Today was a corker weather wise and we made the most of it with a morning on the climbing wall progressing from the easy routes across to the more challenging ones. Each and every adventurer got to the top and we even had some complete the purple route which is really tricky! 

After lunch Gary arrived and the group got togged up ready for an afternoon of kayaking. They headed down to the launch site and paddled their way along the river, stopping off for a dip to cool off! 

After dinner some very special guests arrived - Nancy Noctule, Maisy the brown long eared bat and Quasi and Peso the pipistrelles! After seeing the bats up close it was time to head out on a dusk bat walk to see them in their natural habitat flying and feeding along the hedgerows surrounding camp.

Tomorrow we have a day of traditional skills planned including forging, stone carving and green woodworking. 

Environmental Adventure Day 1

Today was an early start for environmental adventurers coming from London who hopped on the 07:57 from Paddington and found themselves at camp 6 hours later! Others came from closer to home and, after a few get to know you games, the group enjoyed a tour of camp to learn more about the off-grid systems and see them first-hand. It was then time for everyone to make themselves at home in the upturned boat, bell tent and geo-dome. 

A delicious dinner was cooked up by the kitchen crew while others harvested fresh, organic produce from the garden. After dinner we headed out on a Wild Wood walk where we bumped into the Woodsman on our journey. He shared with us the secrets of the forest and the plants and animals which live there before leading us to the lake where he told us the very old story of Husted - the moondog of Moresk. 

Tomorrow we are climbing, firelighting, kayaking and also have some very special guests coming to visit us in the evening. 

6 Day Environmental Adventure Day 5 & 6

Day 5 of camp began with delicious fresh waffles straight off the iron served with fresh strawberries and maple syrup. While adventurers were enjoying breakfast, Tree and Pema arrived to set up a static trapeze rig, ready to teach the group some aerial performance moves. Half the group also headed out on the river for a paddle.

After lunch we packed an overnight bag and headed deep into the woods for a Wild Wood Sleepout. Charlie showed the group how to rig a tarp and off they went in small groups to create a shelter for the night. Dinner was a campfire cookout of spaghetti bolognese followed by s'mores. A talent show provided the evening's entertainment and just as we headed off to bed the heavens opened and gave us the chance to test out the shelters. Luckily everyone had made a good job of it and no-one got wet! Breakfast was cooked up on the campfire before heading back to camp for some final packing and the annual Awards Ceremony. 

6 Day Environmental Adventure Day 4

Another action packed day unfolded here at camp with archery, climbing and natural dyeing. We feasted on homemade soup with Cornish cheeses for lunch followed by a traditional Cornish cream tea which went down a treat. In the evening the four junk band jam groups came together for an evening performance in the Willow Circle. Please visit our Instagram here if you would like to see them in action and for more photos from the last few days.

6 Day Environmental Adventure Day 3

Today we woke up to gorgeous sunshine and made the most of it with an early morning paddle along the river from Malpas. While some were kayaking, others were busy designing and silk screen printing t-shirts with Dena. In the afternoon Tristan returned and the last of the toasting forks were forged while others were taught the basics of stone carving. 

This evening was the much anticipated cob oven pizza dinner. We worked in pairs to mix, roll and top our pizza dough and also made delicious crumbles with fruits harvested from the garden and foraged from the hedgerows. After dinner it time for team challenges before gathering round the campfire to christen the marshmallow toasting forks!

6 Day Environmental Adventure Day 2

Today was a super busy day at camp packing in lots of exciting activities including forging toasting forks, stone carving, lino printing, green woodworking and natural dyeing. We split into small groups to explore and have a go at these different traditional crafts and skills. Adventurers replenished their energy with a hearty meal of bangers & mash followed by Eton Mess and, after dinner, enjoyed a visit from Sharon the Falconer who brought some beautiful birds of prey for the group to meet. Some were lucky enough to have Rocky the Barn Owl fly to them from across the field and land on their outstretched arm! 

We gathered around the campfire in the evening for some campfire songs and deluxe hot chocolates before turning in for the night. We've got an early start tomorrow to coordinate with the tide times for kayaking and can also look forward to silk screen printing and climbing. 

6 Day Environmental Adventure - Day 1

A group of intrepid environmental adventurers arrived at Paddington Station this morning, rucksacks and wheelie suitcases at the ready to board the 07:49 to sunny Cornwall! We arrived in Truro to blue skies and sunshine and made our way to camp to meet the rest of the group arriving from across the country and beyond. 

It was great to see so many familiar faces returning to camp for the second and third time and also welcome some new environmental adventurers to camp for their first experience. After a tour of camp and an opportunity to settle into structures with new tent mates it was time to prepare our first meal. A crew got to work in the kitchen and another team headed to the garden to pick produce including carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and edible flowers and other herbs to season the burgers. Dinner was delicious - luckily though our intrepid adventurers still had a bit of space available to accommodate the sampling of some edible insects which were cooked up into lots of delicious things including mealworm burgers. While bugs are not yet mainstream in our day to day diets here in the UK they could well hold the key to a sustainable source of protein for the future and it was fascinating to find out more this possibility. 

Tomorrow, a day of creative and traditional crafts including forging, green woodworking, lino cutting & printing and natural dyeing. 

The adventure continues...

Today we woke up to glorious sunshine and dined alfresco on fluffy pancakes straight off the griddle full of fresh berries from the garden. After breakfast we got busy over at the forge making  toasting forks for marshmallows. Another group headed to the willow circle to take part in a green woodworking session where they learned how to use tools including a shave horse, draw knife, bill hook, axe and mallet.

A late afternoon climbing session followed where everyone managed to scale the 6m west face of the tower to reach the top and were rewarded with a view across Truro to the cathedral. A cooking team got to work in the kitchen rustling up bangers & mash while a harvesting team picked raspberries for Eton Mess. 

After dinner we were joined by very some very special guests - a Goshawk and a Barn Owl. We learned lots about these fascinating creatures and were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to experience Rocky the Barn Owl in flight. A campfire was lit and the toasting forks tested before some evening performances and turbo hot chocolates before bed time.