Dryad Bushcraft Review

The timing for my introductory course on survival skills with Dryad Bushcraft in Gower (19/03/06) could not have been more auspicious. The late winter sky was clear, there was no wind and the sun had at least a little warmth to it - so much so that we even spotted several butterflies during our day in the woods.

Six of us turned up for the day course at parkmill and, after he unlocked the gates into the Parc-le-Breos woods, we all followed Andrew Price, the course leader, down to our camp base for the day.Andy was a genuinely inspiring leader and had bucketfuls of interesting anecdotes as he instructed us on how to build a fire from just branches (which he made look far to easy). Within minutes of him "rubbing sticks" we had a full fire raging and steaming mugs of tea and coffee in our hands.

After our brew, it was time to construct a shelter. I had imagined that this would take a good few hours to make but we had the thing finished in just twenty minutes or so - a solid and comfortable construction it was too, if you did not mind any creepy-crawlies that might be hidden in the bedding of dried leaves.


With the hard work behind us, we went on a small trek to distinguish between which plants were edible and those that were poisonous. As our food cooked over the open fire, Andy showed us how simple it was to trap animals. Thankfully, he had a very sensible approach to this and cautioned that these traps should only ever be used in life and death survival situations as they all caused suffering to animals.

As we ate, sat on logs around the fire, we mused on several topics; survival techniques, the Gower Peninsula and how Swansea city Council did not really seem to have got their act together for this year's 50 th anniversary of Gower becoming the UK's first 'A.O.N.B.' and our various work lives. It was surprising how many creative people were in the group, including film-makers, photographers etc.


We rested slightly after our meal, some people continuing to chat whilst others practised their fire lighting or whittling skills, before being taken for a guided walk around the woods - taking in Giant's Grave, Cat Hole Cave and a live badger set.

Along the route, we continued to learn more of the vegetation around us - the different types of trees (which were useful and which were not), further details of edible wild plants and how to prepare them and also about the various fungi that populate the woods.


Another brew brought us into the late afternoon, some demonstrations of various types of shelter and some more useful survival techniques. More fire lighting practice brought us to the close of the introductory course and we made oue departure through the glorious Gower countryside (which was beautifully lit by a fast descending sun), having spent an inspiring and educational day in the company of fellow countryside lovers.The Dryad Bushcraft Introductory Course is recommended for anybody wanting that little bit extra from their experience of the Gower Peninsula.