Group member on Forest Expedition

Balcombe Woodland Camp

Balcombe woodland camp, bushcraft camp

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The Dart estuary is a fantastic place to be on the water and we are very lucky to have easy access by canoe to our campsite. The deep wooded valleys surrounding the river provide sheltered spots where wild life thrives.

Nestled in one of these valleys is Balcombe woodland camp. In partnership with the Raleigh Estate, Young Spirit have built a comfortable fixed camp.

This consists of :

• A main lodge that can seat 30 and has a wood burning stove and kitchen.
• 3 main sleeping huts, large sturdy canvas topped cabins for sleeping.
• A log cabin for school staff with 3 bunks.
• Substantial toilet cabin with an efficient composting loo.
• Outside seating and group area
• Plenty of room to roam and play

The camp is set in a large private forest. It offers a wilderness like environment yet with amenities to make your stay more comfortable and good access to roads and services

In the spirit of bushcraft

When constructing our site, we took care to use materials we found in the woods for the main elements:

• We harvested mainly Japanese Larches, a commercial crop tree and a good long lasting timber.
• We used the entire tree, off cuts for logs and chipping smaller pieces for floors and paths.
• We use a small mobile sawmill to cut down on transport
• We used local stone to build a fireplace in the main lodge and our stove is constructed mainly from recycled materials.
• A lot of the work has been designed to improve the woodland and to encourage indigenous wildlife.

The camp provides a safe comfortable environment for a truly memorable experience.