Text reading 'Tarn & Wood' with a graphic of a tree, a pond, and a curved black line on a white background.

Bushcraft &

Wilderness Living Skills

About Tarn & Wood

A person holding a twisted green plant stem between their fingers, with a blurred natural background.
A young boy kneeling on grass and using a bowdrill outdoors, with two adults in the background.
A hammock setup in a forest, suspended between a tree and an unseen support, with a blue rain tarp overhead for shelter. The ground is covered with leaves and moss, and there are dense trees and branches in the background.
A person with short blonde hair holding a bundle of dry straw and setting it on fire outdoors with trees and grass in the background.

Based in Cumbria, Tarn & Wood is an educational provider offering bushcraft, wilderness living skills and outdoor-based learning experiences across the Lake District, Cumbria and the wider North-West.

Highly experienced and highly trained, sessions are designed bespoke for the learner with an adaptable, methodical pace focusing on deep learning rather than brief encounters.

Have a specific area of bushcraft or wilderness living that you would like to focus on? We will always discuss any session beforehand with you to ensure that your experience will be tailored to you. Sessions are typically private and are booked on request.

Principles are taught in a practical way which gives the learner translational knowledge about materials and concepts, empowering them to look for many ways to achieve the same outcome.

Having qualified teacher status (QTS) and a long background in teaching children, younger learners can also be catered for within family group sessions.

More About us

Our Services

Bushcraft in the Lake District. A man with a beard and hat, sitting near a campfire, talking to children who are gathered around him in an indoor setting, possibly a nature or outdoor education center.

  • Sessions are available for individuals, small groups or families who are looking for experiences in bushcraft and wilderness living.

    Whether you are new to bushcraft or already have experience, there is a wide range of learning modules available so that you can always put your time into developing something new.

    Sessions are very much tailored to you and the direction in which you want to learn or what you want to experience.

  • We are currently in the process of organising formal level 3 qualification training in bushcraft. Please get in touch for more details.

  • Team development experiences focus on encouraging cohesive collaboration.

    Over the day, the group become a tribe, learning and appreciating each other’s strengths.

  • Having an extensive background in both teaching and outdoor learning there are a huge range of options available for schools or child-based groups.

  • Wanting to learn ways to incorporate outdoor learning or bushcraft into your own setting?

    Do you have an outdoor space you are wanting to develop for delivering your own sessions or explorative play?

    We can provide consultancy, training and guidance to improve your team or environment.

services page
Bushcraft in the Lake District. Mixed raw vegetables in a white bowl placed on firewood, with flames and glowing embers visible underneath.
Bushcraft in the Lake District. A man and a boy in a forest, observing a small fire ignited on a bundle of straw or hay, held by the man.
Bushcraft in the Lake District. Green ground elder leaves being held by a person's fingers, with a blurred background of more greenery.

Learning Modules

  • A person using a hand saw to cut through a thick log outdoors, with dust and wood shavings, against a backdrop of grassy hills and trees.

    Friction Fire - Bow Drill

  • Person wearing a straw hat and plaid shirt carving a figure with a small chainsaw on a tree stump in a wooded area.

    Friction Fire - Hand Drill

  • A man wearing a plaid shirt and sandals is sitting outdoors on grass, working on a small wooden project using a vertical drill press on a wooden surface, surrounded by green plants.

    Friction Fire - Pump Drill

  • Person igniting a fire on a fallen log using a fire starter in a forest setting.

    General Firelighting

  • Person holding a fuzzy, dried plant or seed pod with a forest floor and other people in the background.

    Tinders

  • A person lying on the ground near a campfire in a forest, with trees in the background, during dusk or night.

    Fire Management

  • A white bucket filled with chopped vegetables, including potatoes, carrots, red onions, and bell peppers, placed on firewood outdoors.

    Fire-based Cooking

  • Several fish are skewered on a bamboo rack over a campfire with glowing coals, outdoors on a forest floor.

    Advanced Cooking Methods

  • A person wearing a magenta long-sleeve shirt and gray pants is crouched down in a forest, holding a small saw and cutting a piece of wood with curly wood shavings on the ground.

    Knife Use

  • A group of people working together outdoors in a wooded area, building something with logs and wooden materials.

    General Tool Use

  • A person wearing a hooded jacket and jeans stands on rocks beside a small waterfall in a lush, green forest.

    Water Processing

  • Close-up image of a tree trunk with rough, textured bark and some green moss growing on the left side.

    Tree Identification

  • Close-up of a hand holding a young, green, twisted plant stem with a blurry background of foliage.

    Natural Cordage & Rope

  • Night sky filled with numerous stars and constellations.

    Wayfinding & Navigation

  • A man and a young girl sitting in a small, leafy shelter made of branches and leaves in a forest.

    Natural Shelters

  • View from a hammock hanging between tree trunks in a lush green forest with sunlight filtering through the leaves.

    Tarp Shelters & Sleep Systems

  • Close-up of fresh green mint leaves held between fingers

    Plants and Funghi

  • A campfire with glowing red and orange embers burns on the ground in a forest, surrounded by trees with green leaves.

    Crafting

Module Details

What People Are Saying

  • Kirsty Mawhinney

    “We had a fabulous day yesterday and really enjoyed the location. Your expertise, passion and awe of the natural world was inspiring…”

    Full Testimonial
  • Bushcraft in the Lake District. Group of children and a woman camping outdoors on a grassy field with tents, smiling and playing together during daytime.

    Jemma Mossop

    “The combination of expertly crafted activities, passionate instructor, and the enchanting natural setting made for a perfect recipe for learning and fun...”

    Full Testimonial
  • Bushcraft in the Lake District. A young man with short blonde hair sitting on the ground in a wooded area of a campsite, surrounded by backpacks, a foldable chair, and camping gear under a tarp.

    Jordan McKeating

    “Within a few hours I had started my own friction fire and made my own rope. I highly recommend David to anyone who is wanting to learn bushcraft...”

    Full Testimonial
  • A group of chanterelles with gills underneath, resting on a basket after being foraged.

    Justine Oloman

    “I would highly recommend David at Tarn and Wood to anyone interested in furthering their bushcraft knowledge and skills…”

    Full Testimonial
  • Bushcraft in the Lake District. Man and two young girls sitting and standing around a small campfire in a wooded area, with trees and fallen logs in the background.

    Hervé Gautier

    “He knows how to adapt to both adults and children so that everybody gets the most out of the session…”

    Full Testimonial
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Get in Touch

Bushcraft in the Lake District. Close-up of the trunk of a moss-covered tree in a lush forest with a red squirrel perched looking.