Spoon Carving and Woodland Cooking

Relax by the campfire and whittle away

Mentored by

Mark Beckham

I find myself evermore drawn back to nature

Organisation links
Location address: Bury Saint Edmunds, IP30 0EN
Chosen age group:

For ages: 8 - 99 years and adults years

Available tickets:
Standard £90
Next date: None - message Mentor to express interest
What we'll do
Take a day for yourself or your family to join me in the tranquillity of my private woods. Relax by the campfire and whittle the day away. I invite you to come and join me around that fire, tell me your stories of life’s journey whilst at the same time building memories for the next one (story that is, not life ☺). The actual task of carving a spoon does not require much strength and although it helps develop dexterity I don't think this is the main benefit of the activity. Carving spoons can be a kind of meditation or art therapy. The simple task requires your attention and you can enter into a flow that allows you to relax and quieten your mind. The best wood for carving spoons is from branches that already have the spoon shape in them. With this in mind, you might find yourself paying closer attention to the shape of the trees around you and soon you will be noticing all sorts of things around you that the busier you might have passed straight by. During this day you will learn how to choose a good piece of wood, how to handle your carving tools safely and experiment with your own design ideas. Woodland cooking is the perfect complement to this day. We will be using some seasonal ingredients and you will be pleasantly surprised how delicious and filling a campfire lunch can be. Tea, coffee and squash will be provided in addition to the lunch.
About your mentor
Mark Beckham
I find myself evermore drawn back to nature
Mark is the Owner and Director of Natural Survivor Ltd. Here is his story… Growing up in a small rural village in Suffolk, I always enjoyed the outdoors and what it had to offer. Luckily for me, it was all on my doorstep. I joined the scouts at a young age and loved every minute of it. I soon realised that being part of a team that worked well together was very important to me. Learning new skills, making new friends, training evenings, weekend camps, summer camps and all the new things I was learning really started me on a journey thats brought me to where I am today. Serving a long career in HM Armed Forces spanning from 1990 – 2018 I travelled extensiveIy over the years experiencing a side of life I wouldn’t have normally encountered, educating me about different cultures along the way. Now I have retired from military life I find myself evermore drawn back to nature and the calmness it brings. Having been on a personal recovery journey of my own and the realisation of the way my life has changed was the biggest part of my decision to start my own company. Even after all these years, there is still something magical about being out in nature and absorbing everything it has to offer. In today’s world, technology is distracting people from getting out there and making the most of life. It is all too easy to talk to people on social media and not even leave the house. Mark says.... Imagine this crazy idea, instead of talking to your friends on social media, you are all together, sitting around a campfire with food and a nice hot drink, chatting and laughing about the activities of the day or individual experiences in life. Not only do you feel the warmth of the campfire but you experience the true warmth of friendship. It is awe-inspiring for me to see how nature brings people together, and the way it brings something out from inside you that you wouldn’t normally experience in everyday life. We live in a fast paced life now and take for granted the very environment that surrounds us. Mother nature is working tirelessly to keep things ticking along nicely for us and our planet, and on the most part we don’t even see it or take advantage of what is right in front of us. That is why I invite you to come and join me around that fire, tell me your stories of life’s journey whilst at the same time building memories for the next one (story that is, not life ☺). I will share my experiences with you and teach you how you can live in the wilderness. I will teach you valuable skills that will aid you in the wild and show you that you too have inside what it takes to be confident in unfamiliar surroundings. The most beautiful thing about nature is it can be enjoyed by anyone, whilst the best thing about knowledge is it can be shared with everyone. I look forward to meeting you very soon. Mark
Learning aims
Aim 1
How to pick the perfect branch for your spoon
Aim 3
How to cook a delicious lunch in the wilderness
Aim 2
How to use carving tools safely
Aim 4
How to blend crafts and nature for simple meditation
Pricing information
Ticket nameStandard
Price£90
PHOTO GALLERY
Where we'll be
Linkwood (off Linkwood Road), What3words: evaded.history.masks, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, IP30 0EN
WHAT’S PROVIDED
Drinks
Snacks
Meals
Equipment
Safety
Risk Assessment
Public Liability Insurance
First Aid Training
First Aid Kit

Please note

Please note, it is the responsibility of the booker to satisfy themselves about the adequacy of the safety measures. This platform is merely an introducer and does not verify the items listed here.

Cancellation Policy
None of the aboveCancel more than 6 weeks before the start to receive a full refund.

My experience consists of a leisure activity, on a specific date(s), and therefore the 14-day ‘cooling off period’ under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 does not apply.