28th December met with some heavy snow around our area. I took the opportunity to walk off some heavy meals and to do some tracking. I’ve forgotten more than I remembered about tracking so this was an easy start. I followed fresh fox tracks through the woods and eventually spotted him skirting around the south side of the wood. The usual signs of rabbits were also there but not much else.

The wind was coming form the North and made the temperature added with the wind chill very cold. Contemplating this, I decided not to practice any bushcraft skills. I suspect I might be a fine weather bushcrafter, but I did enjoy the walk.

The new year is quite significant insofar as it’s also the start of the new birdwatching year when sightings start again and lists are scrubbed. I’m not a twitcher or “list-ticker” fanatic, but I do like to keep records of what I see during the year. The first two day of January brought the usual sightings of the common garden birds, but I also saw red legged partridges and pheasants in the local field. I also spotted some common gulls resting on the tarmac.

The holidays have brought some contemplation about the spring and how I can really start to put into practice some bushcraft techniques. I’m accumulating the kit I need slowly but surely, although I really don’t want to be loaded with unnecessary kit. Shelter in the form of a tarp and hammock will be the next piece of kit to buy and consideration to some kind of cooking essentials. In the meantime, I still have to try the old hexy stove that I still have.

At this point I’d like to welcome any members of Bushcraft UK who might happen across this journal as I will create a post on BCUK inviting members here. Since I stumbled on the Bushcraft UK community, I’ve been astounded to find large numbers of like minded people. Already their knowledge and advice and willingness to share it has overwhelmed me. Welcome good friends.