Into the Wild: Devon and Cornwall Bushcraft CIC
Devon and Cornwall Bushcraft CIC exists to help people access the outdoors and experience the health benefits of nature.
Its director, Jono Holland, tells us more
What is Devon and Cornwall Bushcraft CIC?
We help young people get outdoors and into nature to benefit both their physical and mental health. We work with other charities, community groups and local councils to help people struggling with their mental health and/or drug and alcohol addiction to find some enjoyment from being outdoors.
Where did the idea come from?
I’ve always done outdoorsy stuff and grew up in the country but it had always been a solo interest of mine. I was late to discovering Facebook and social media but once I did, I realised there was a massive community of people also interested in the outdoors, there just wasn’t much going on in the South West. So five years ago I set up a community Facebook group, initially running it in my spare time at weekends, and it’s quickly grown from there.
Once I started running courses to teach bushcraft skills, it really took off. With those, we target all ages, from children’s birthday parties to team-building exercises, but the day-to-day courses are adult-focused. We also help teenagers work towards the John Muir Award which encourages people to connect with, enjoy, and care for wild places and actively learn, rather than just run around in the woods and build dens.
Can visitors to Devon and Cornwall drop in for a course?
Yes, we run several short courses and also have a drop-in session every Wednesday evening, which is sort of like an adults’ Scouts session. So instead of going to the pub for a drink, you can come and sit around the fire with a warm drink. We also have one-off sessions, so we had a Burns Night recently, and we’ve run Christmas decoration workshops and even built a coracle and floated down the river in it.
What is your impact?
Getting people outside massively helps with their mental health. For example, with our team building days, I see so many people who sit at home behind their computers and haven’t met the other people in their team, so we get them outdoors, they can start to build relationships with each other, but they also develop themselves by learning new skills and building a connection with nature. I find that when people first join us they don’t want to get dirty and are uncomfortable around the bugs, but by the end of the day, they’re filthy and completely chilled out.
Where are you based?
Our main area is two and half acres within the National Trust’s Parke Estate just outside Newton Abbot in Devon. We also have a few places in Cornwall, and a place we use on Exmoor.
Is there anything you'd like to see change in your area?
It’s great that forest schools are becoming a thing, they weren’t really around when I was younger, but there’s a gap missing when those children become teenagers. It’d be great to develop ideas for secondary school-age kids, so they’re not just hacking down trees and burning stuff where they shouldn’t be but instead learning more about the outdoors.
It'd be great to develop ideas for secondary school-age kids, so they're not just hacking down trees and burning stuff where they shouldn't be but instead learning more about the outdoors.
Can you give an example of how you've helped someone?
We get all sorts of people joining us, from office workers to the police and paramedics, and we allow them to experience things they wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to. From spending time with us, they’ve then noticed a general improvement in their wellbeing and had a significant impact on their lives.
What's the biggest challenge you face?
It’s actually getting people to join us outside. We’ve got a huge following on Facebook, which is fantastic, but encouraging those people to venture beyond their screen is hard. Look, for example, at the millions of people who subscribe to YouTube channels, but how often do they go out and do things? We even invite people to come along for free, but getting them out of their comfort zone and into the woods can be a challenge.
Get involved
Open to anyone who wants to embrace the great outdoors, develop survival skills and connect with nature, Devon & Cornwall Bushcraft CIC brings the benefits of wilderness, adventure, and bushcraft to young and old.
devonandcornwallbushcraft.co.uk
This is a feature from Issue 21 of Charitable Traveller.
by net effect