It was nice of you to put that Stag there...

My friend Stefan was out one day with a group of people in nature, some where from the city while others where from rural areas. They where asked to choose a route that they would like to walk along as part of exploring their relationship with themselves in nature.

During this time they reached a clearing and as they moved into it, they came face to face with a Stag. They stood for a while in silence watching it. Stefan then suggested that they slowly back up back into the woods and go a different way so as not to disturb the Stag.

A they discussed this experience, the city folk believed that Stefan had arranged for the Stag to be there for them to see, and some of the folk from the rural areas said, that while they lived in the countryside they had never come this close to a deer.

It is interesting that the city folk believed the Stag had been put there for them, I guess if you do not understand how it is in nature then that is just the way it is, but it also shows how far removed from nature some of us have become.

What hope for our children I wonder?

Our War - The Invisible Enemy

I have just been watching Our War, about our guys in Afghanistan and how they were dealing with being out there... seeing some of the footage reminded me of some of them special moments of when I served in the army and being with MEN.

Sitting in a field or wood up to your knees in mud, wet cold. Even when spring is all around and yet your in a place that does not fit in with your surroundings such being surrounded by wire with a Honey Buzzard calling above you. Special moments of taking the piss out of each other, a way of dealing with frustrations or just plain and simply to have fun with each other.

I loved the comment made by one of the guys to the cameraman just before going out on patrol "If I cop it tell YOUR mother I love her", this is humour that I love. In this new life you would not get away with it, this shows the deep bond the men form with each other which carries on into civvy street even when you disagreed with each other, the bond remains.

The smells, the sounds, the breeze on your face, freezing cold then being warmed by the sun in the early hours of the morning before heading out on patrol with MEN who you trust with your life. Waiting face down in the early hours for something to happen, moving through the countryside at the dead of night feeling you are the only people around and nothing else matters. Feeling the intense heat from the oil wells that are miles away, at ten in the morning as the heat of the day picks up and your in your truck. Being able to look at the sun with your naked eye because the oil filled smoke protects you from the suns rays.

Since being in this new life it has to be said those moments are not there any more, it is difficult to describe how that feels. Your body remembers, you remember.

I was reminded recently when teaching a tracking course up at Otterburn, the guns were firing in the background and I found myself in juxtaposition between the two worlds.

Life can be strange but beautiful at the same time.

Discover Nature Awareness - Review of Scouts vs Hunters

Overview: After initial introduction and spending a number of preparatory sessions developing trust within the group and teaching the difference between peripheral and tunnel vision, the game was on the whole a success. It was enjoyed by all the students, and they are keen to play it again.


Issues encountered: Awareness of self: Most students found this concept difficult to come to terms with. They found it challenging to look and think about themselves and how to improve.

Observation: Initially all students found it very difficult to sit still and observe using various senses. It was a skill that took time to develop, mainly with a number of them feeling uncomfortable in the ‘alien’ environment they were in.

Hunters blindfolded: This was the primary issue that had to be dealt with. Due to past experience/issues, many found it very uncomfortable to be blindfolded and to sit still. When questioned, they felt out of control, and all initially found it difficult to just rely on their ears. Staff observations on this proved that the students were very uncomfortable, with lots of fidgeting and not being able to sit blindfolded for very long.

To prepare students for this, a sit spot activity was done initially, and then moved on to blindfolding them all, with only staff being able to see. They felt that they were all in the same boat and more able to relax, particularly as they trusted the staff totally. I used this activity to develop the confidence in the use of peripheral vision. All students were to detect staff as they moved quietly amongst them, and also to try to identify which member of staff it was that was moving amongst them.

Peripheral and tunnel vision: As covered in the Hunters blindfold, many students found it a difficult concept to understand. It was easy for them to do when carrying out preparatory visual exercise, but once they were blindfolded, many found it difficult and uncomfortable. I think this is more an issue of trust, knowing that a student was walking amongst them who was sighted. The initial game was carried out with all students playing the role of the hunters; while a member of staff was the scout (this was successful as they were happy to trust staff). Once the students were happy with this, then they moved on to playing the game fully and beginning to trust each other.

Due to the nature of the group, I did not expect the game to be a total success the first time it was played. In total it took 3 sessions of slowly building up their confidence and trust within the group, before they were fully ready to move forward. Using staff as the scouts and all the students as hunters, helped them to move forward, and allowed the trust to develop and for students to feel comfortable while blindfolded.

The game is now played regularly and is working very well. A variation of the game has been developed, after suggestions from the students. In this, there is only one hunter (blindfolded) and a number of scouts who have to reach an objective. The most recent variation on this has been where the scouts have to creep up to the hunter without being detected. This variation can only be played with the initial group who have developed trust amongst them selves. I have attempted this by adding a new student, but have been totally unsuccessful, again due to the trust issue.

In conclusion, an excellent game, which has helped the group develop well after the initial building up period.

Manse Ahmad

Pupil Referral Unit

Three Men and a Counsellor

One Tuesday in rehab I ran a nature awareness session in the pouring rain; we met at the meeting tree which was a lovely cherry tree. Three men turned up out of all the patients’ one of who was only 16 years old. I must admit I was surprised they came as the rain that day was quite heavy.

I informed, them that I was not on top form, in fact I felt that my fuel tank was empty and I was not sure I could be of any use to them. None the less they said they wanted to continue regardless. Little did I realise that by the end of the session it was I who got the healing, they were great they supported me and encouraged me, so much so that at the end I said to them “thanks guys you have filled my tank up spiritually”, we had a group hug and then went for a well deserved cup of tea.

Reflecting on that day, I realised they must have had a great sense of achievement ,for them to help someone who was meant to help them, which goes to prove they were well on their way to active recovery, in my mind at least… of course I have no way of knowing this as they never told me about what they had experienced.