I can't believe that the Blog is a year old already, how time flies. I am quite chuffed when i analyse the Blog on a weekly basis how many people are visiting and  the amount of pages they are reading. It spurs me on to do more things so i can write and add pics.

On a personal note the Blog is becoming my outdoor diary, i really enjoy looking back over the year and re-living the things i have done, the places visited and the good times i have had.

I hope you enjoy the next years reading.  

This year and subsequent years to come Tamarack have taken on as there charity of choice Help for Heroes.This has come to light seeing first hand the horrorific injuries our lads and lassies are coming back home with, working so hard protecting these shores from terrorist activity.

Mike our intrepid roving instructor and writer of this blog has been up close and personal to terrorist activity in the early days of the troubles in Ulster, and feels a close bond with the charity.

Axe workshop begins, with carving a Beetle

Therefore, on a very wet weekend on the outskirts of Great Harwood at Bowley Scout Camp, Mike with business partner Tony Cameron and a couple of good mates Joe Rawsthorne and Kev Shaw, set too and ran a free Woodcraft course for 16 Scout leaders based in the district. The Tamarack team gave all there time and tuition for free, but took donations from the students for H4H, along with charging 50 pence per brew. 

Taking cover from the down poor, the lessons carry on

The weekend started with all the usual tool safety on knife, saw and axe, moved swiftly onto fire and spoon carving with a sprinkling of skinning Chickens and Rabbits. The following day was tarp and hammock pitching with a walk around the estate to look at trees and plants along the way.

The difficult, but important technique of feathersticks begins

 WHAT, £275 QUID RAISED FOR HELP FOR HEROES, BRILLIANT, BUT WE NEED MORE.

A big thanks goes out to John Rose for organising all the event and participants, all we did is rock up, deliver the course and take donations, well done John.

Well, Tony and i have just returned from The Outdoor Show, held every year at Messe, Friedrichshaven, Germany. The show is a showcase of all outdoor brands from around the world, both big and small manufacturers.

The last time we visited the show was five years ago, so this time we were looking for new and innovative kit for the store. We came across tonnes of kit that we new well, that we either stock or have stocked over the years.

Some new products that we will be looking at over the next few months are Goalzero, Dachstein and expanding the Norrona and Snowpeak range.

Back in the office now, and completly kitted out, with sore feet to boot. Great show.  

 Here's some pics from the recent Bushcraft Show, held at the YMCA camp ground on the shores of Lake Windermere.

Tamarack's stand at the show. 

 Stewart & Anne-Marie with there Helsport Lavvu Shooter & Jane with a nice Harley and equally nice Helsport Lavvu 

Chris, Dan & Nicky chillin outside there Helsport LavvuChristian & Dave had the best view in the house 

Rob & Russ nearly ready to eat, nice Helsport 8-10 Lavvu Camp

Garstang Walking Festival kicked off on the 7 May with Tamarack being involved delivering a weekend dry stone walling course on the 7 & 8 of May. The turn out was good having 12 students on the Saturday and 9 on the Sunday. The event was held at Beacon Fell Country Park on an old wall that is currently under construction with the work being carried out by rangers and volunteers.

The completed wall is 7meters long from topstone to topstone and is 1.4 meters high. All the students on the course enjoyed the weekend very much and went away with the satisfaction that they had learnt a great deal and put something back into the countryside.

A big thanks goes out to Lancashire County Council Ranger Service for supplying the site and the stone .