Wigan Bushcraft Group

[RobLamb]

Hi

I'm Rob, 40 and in Wigan. I'm hoping to try and gather a group together to form a Wigan Bushcraft group.
If anyone in interested please message me.
Thanks

Rob

[jus_young]

Welcome to the forum Rob

[sam2013]

Welcome to the forum rob :) count me in on this one :) be good to have a local group

ATB

Sam

[Ichneumon]

You're reinventing the wheel a bit. There already is an active group in the Wigan area. We are always keen to meet new recruits.

[ammo]

Hello Rob.
Welcome to the forum mate. I'm not too far from Wigan, I wasn't aware of any Wigan group aswell. Look forward to seeing you fireside one day.

[Ehecatl]

Hi Rob and welcome,

M@

[Ichneumon]

A bit of clarification required I think.

Northern Soul Bushcrafters are an informal gang of bushcrafters founded by Wayne (Sapper) and Ian (Sar-ian) [lives in Standish]. We are de facto a sub-group of Natural Bushcraft. Local members come from Wigan, Liverpool, Standish, Darwen and Burnley, etc. We have our own web page http://www.northernsoulbushcrafters.co.uk/ where you can see some pictures of what we get up to. Based in the north of England we try to meet up regularly, either weekend get-togethers or just a couple of us going out for a walk in the woods. All-comers are welcome to join us and we especially welcome newbies, there is no 'membership' and there is nothing to 'join' - just put your name down and come along to one of the meet-ups. You can find details of our next weekend meet here: http://www.naturalbushcraft.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?7068-NORTHERN-SOUL-BUSHCRAFTERS-Its-the-1st-Birthday-Meet-!!

We look forward to meeting you.

ATB Paul

[ammo]

Aah. I hope to see you next month. I thought Northern Soul Bushcraft was a North West based group.( I'm from Liverpool ) I've never been to a meet. The idea of small local groups that meet often, appeals to me. I didn't think as opposed to another's. Look forward to seeing you all, as soon and as often as poss
Best regards
Ammo.

A bit of clarification required I think.

Northern Soul Bushcrafters are an informal gang of bushcrafters founded by Wayne (Sapper) and Ian (Sar-ian) [lives in Standish]. We are de facto a sub-group of Natural Bushcraft. Local members come from Wigan, Liverpool, Standish, Darwen and Burnley, etc. We have our own web page http://www.northernsoulbushcrafters.co.uk/ where you can see some pictures of what we get up to. Based in the north of England we try to meet up regularly, either weekend get-togethers or just a couple of us going out for a walk in the woods. All-comers are welcome to join us and we especially welcome newbies, there is no 'membership' and there is nothing to 'join' - just put your name down and come along to one of the meet-ups. You can find details of our next weekend meet here: http://www.naturalbushcraft.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?7068-NORTHERN-SOUL-BUSHCRAFTERS-Its-the-1st-Birthday-Meet-!!

We look forward to meeting you.

ATB Paul

[Silverback]

Welcome to the forum Rob.....

Ammo...next months meet is nearly full to be assured of a place you need to add your name to the list on the thread

[ammo]

I've put my name down #5
When do we pay our subs? I'm only doing the first two nights as I'm on a Archary course on the Sunday morning. So I'm a definite.
Welcome to the forum Rob.....

Ammo...next months meet is nearly full to be assured of a place you need to add your name to the list on the thread

[Silverback]

We don't do 'subs' I'll be sending out details after xmas.....keep an eye on your inbox

[ammo]

Will do.
We don't do 'subs' I'll be sending out details after xmas.....keep an eye on your inbox

[Sar-ian]

Hi Rob, I'm just up the road in Standish, count me in, cheers Ian.....

[Sar-ian]

Sam empty your in-box, cheers Ian....

[sam2013]

Iv emptied it mate

[RobLamb]

Thanks for the info guys, I'll defo be contacting Northern Soul. I'm still interested in trying to set up a small local group for more regular meets to share skills and so on. Anyone interested?

[RobLamb]

If anyone is interested in a local group for frequent meets can you email me at lamby73@hotmail.com please so we can set up a contact network. Thanks

[Ichneumon]

I fear your wish for a local Wigan group meeting regularly is little more than a pipe-dream Rob. You need to cast your net wider.

If you take the membership of any bushcraft forum, not just this one, you will find that only a small percentage actually go out there and do it. The rest are just casually interested in the subject or are keyboard warriors who sit at home in their centrally heated house pontificating on a subject they have no practical experience of.

The membership of this forum is about 8000 spread throughout the UK. So, if say 10% are active, that would mean 800 throughout the UK, or being generous 20% = 1600. What are the chances of more than a couple being in or around Wigan?

I wish you luck but I'm not optimistic.

I'd suggest getting involved with the active people who are in the local area and further afield.

[sam2013]

There's always someone who has to put a spanner in the works .. Take no notice rob mate I'm up for it and I know of at least 10 others within 5 miles of my house who love bushcraft and are NOT keyboard warriors .. No offence to northern souls bushcrafters but some people don't wanna go out on big meets with 40 people who are not into the same things as them .. Some of us like going out in small groups and socialising as friends as we are

So if you dont think it's a good idea which I personally do and all my bushcraft friends will do when I tell them about this then please feel free not to comment and put rob down when he's just trying to establish new channels

[jus_young]

Calm down, calm down! Lets keep it civil please.

[Ichneumon]

Nobody is putting a spanner in the works, least of all me. Note that I wished him well. I am not a member of Northern Soul Bushcraft though I have attended their meets. I also hate big meets and would rather meet a small group of local friends, but this has proved impossible to hold together - I tried. People have other commitments; family, work, girlfriends, etc and soon drop out.

I am not trying to put a 'downer' on the idea, I am just being realistic after years of experience. Check the stats, there are 302 active members on this forum, out of a membership of over 8000. I am on other forums and the stats are similar.

I don't think it is a bad idea, I would like it to succeed, but I think its chances are slim. Hence my suggestion to cast his net wider.

But if you think it will work - go for it! I hope I am wrong.

[RobLamb]

Hi guys. Thanks to Ichneumon, I appreciate that you are just trying to make sure I don't get my hopes up and end up disheartened and to give good advice. However, I am going to go shake the tree and see what happens. Thanks to Sam too, hopefully we'll find some interested parties.
I've set up a facebook group too, here's the link for anyone interested:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1390145621253932/

[sam2013]

Didn't mean to sound nasty but everyone just puts it down as a loss as soon as they see the word Wigan

[Ichneumon]

Good for you Rob! Go shake that tree. I hope the apples fall like rain. :-)

[jus_young]

Didn't mean to sound nasty but everyone just puts it down as a loss as soon as they see the word Wigan

Sam, there are places all over the country that need patriotic folk like yourself. I happen to live in a town thats classed as 'one of the most deprived areas in the South West' but it is where I choose to live. In honesty, it is not often you will find anyone having a dig on here, we are like minded folk that really have more interest in the great outdoors than the town itself.

[Ichneumon]

Nothing wrong with Wigan. I like the place, and the locals. They just didn't build their pier long enough. :)

[jus_young]

Wigan has a pier? They demolished ours to build a brick wall in its place.

[Silverback]

How the heck did NSB come to get the mucky end of that little rant ? For those who don't get it NSB has people come to its meets from all over the country, has no 'formal' membership process or subs so in effect can't heve members and hasn't turned out more than 20 folks to meet at one time since it started.
The reason there are rules ? Because some folks like to take the mickey and do things that ruin it for everyone else.

If you want to get a little local group together then so what ? its not worth getting stressed over or even starting a turf war for petes sake

[sam2013]

It's not getting the shorty end of the stick I was just saying that some people don't like big meets with 20 folks every meet .. Personally I prefer to just go with myself and 2 or 3 others

No hard feelings guys and no offence to nsb either

[Silverback]

Don't ever go to the Bushcraft show then. We regularly do smaller meets of less than 10 its just not all over the forum. We only hold 4 larger meets through the year and this year may be less

[woodsman]

We have an informal group in North Wales for a few months now and have had several meets. All of them have been around 8 people. I find I prefer a small number as everyone gets involved and is sociable. Larger groups seem to encourage splinter groups who go off on their own within the confines of the permission, which seems a little counter productive to me.

When a page for the group was put up on facebook, I was surprised to find quite a few locals who weren't on the forum but were interested in meeting up. I say give it a go and get it advertised across the different forums and facebook. Just be careful you don't find that too many people want to come ! :wink:

[sam2013]

No offence was ment to be caused to anyone with my earlier post :) each to their own I suppose

Happy bushcrafting

[Rasputin]

There's always someone who has to put a spanner in the works .. Take no notice rob mate I'm up for it and I know of at least 10 others within 5 miles of my house who love bushcraft and are NOT keyboard warriors .. No offence to northern souls bushcrafters but some people don't wanna go out on big meets with 40 people who are not into the same things as them .. Some of us like going out in small groups and socialising as friends as we are

So if you dont think it's a good idea which I personally do and all my bushcraft friends will do when I tell them about this then please feel free not to comment and put rob down when he's just trying to establish new channels Sam, once you have been on here for a while you will know that all comments and advice is given without malice, predjudice or spite. All the active members on here try to be as helpfull as possible. Ichneumon is one of the nicest,helpfull and most knowledgeable guys on the forum IMO and I think an apology wouldnt go amiss. And whats wrong with Wigan ? Ken

[Rasputin]

OH!!! I see you kinda apologised while I was typing this ATB Ken

[Silverback]

There's a group closer to home anyway..the North West Bushcrafters...they used to meet regularly...what happened to them ?

[Ichneumon]

Thanks Ken, I'm humbled by your comments. I think that Sam has already realised his comments were ill judged and badly directed. I'm not seeking an apology, my suggestions were made in the spirit you indicted, nobody has to listen to me.

Meanwhile, the OP Rob is going from strength to strength. He's set up a Wigan Bushcraft group on Facebook and already has a number of members. Long may this continue, as I said already, I'll be happy to be proved wrong.

Nothing wrong with Wigan in my view. I live in Burnley - what can I say. :)

[Rasputin]

Nothing wrong with Wigan in my view. I live in Burnley - what can I say. :)

Hey I came from Eccles,Salford so what !its not where you come from its how you act that matters. And you are a nice guy Paul and Ive never heard a bad word uttered from you. Anyway enough BS how you doin Paul ? is the Importation going forward? You still going Denbigh at weekend, Ime a bit peeved, having given up my place my daughter may not be coming over now, car door locking system playing up, Annoying! anyway if thats the case I may drive down there so its not a total loss ATVB, Ken

[Rasputin]

Wigan has a pier? They demolished ours to build a brick wall in its place.

Yay, its been the joke of music halls and comedians for over a 100yrs Jus. Its not a pier persay, more of a jetty on the side of the canal for barges to load/unload in the great days of water transport,ATB, Ken

[Shiva108]

Hi, is anyone active in the Wigan area?

[Sar-ian]

Hi, is anyone active in the Wigan area?

Hi there, it all depends on what you mean as active... Personally I'm always out and about, with the mutts in tow, if you would like to join me at some point, you are more than welcome, but I do work some cock-arse shift's, cheers Ian...

[sam2013]

Iv sent you a pm shiva

[Shiva108]

Nice one Ian, I'm just buying equipment bit by bit, but would be cool to get out there when I've got my bits n bobs together.

[Valantine]

Wigan isn't that long a drive for me, well not the way I drive :ashamed:

[Davepr]

Not far from me, am on the east lancs road.

[sam2013]

Davepr I'm up in Bryn near Ashton .. Where you located ?

[Davepr]

Kirkby just outside St Helens. Bout an hour on my bike mate from you, been to Bryn a few times.

[sam2013]

Good little place Bryn but not many places for an over nighter ,, you know any good places for a nights camp ?

[Davepr]

Nope mate used to have a few but now you either have gangs of kids or industry taking the over, lakes and Scotland the best to go.

Done a few on the coast near Ainsdale but don't do that anymore the rangers have taken a strong stance now, they will call the police.

[sam2013]

I've done a few in the lakes .. Absolutly loved it :) might have a trip upto Windermere in the next couple if week if anyone fancies it ?? :)

[Davepr]

Windermere too public for me, ennerdale or buttermere are fantastic for wild camp weekends up on the fells. Next time am wild camping is August when kids go back to school.

[sam2013]

I know a place in Windermere and last time I went didn't see a soul all weekend