Life as a prepper can be a little lonely but prepper events offer a unique opportunity to meet in person with like-minded souls and develop relationships and friendships with those who understand your way of life.

Prepper events and bushcraft shows also allow you to learn new and vital skills from basics such as fire lighting and foraging to water purification and fishing, often alongside outdoor activities such as abseiling and canoeing as well as activities specifically geared towards children.

Alongside this these bushcraft shows often include trade stalls where you can pick up your vital prepping supplies and get advice from bushcraft experts.

1. The Bushcraft Show | July 29 – 31

Set in 700 acres of ancient parkland, Stanford Hall offers the perfect setting for The Bushcraft Show 2022. The Bushcraft Show offers a weekend away from the stresses of everyday life with a good mix of guest speakers, entertainment, and bushcraft demonstrations.

This year’s show includes water events such as paddle boarding, wild swimming, kayaking and even a cardboard box boat race! Axe throwing and archery can be completed alongside a class on weaving or basketry.

If you don’t fancy those then there’s always blacksmithing to have a go at, or perhaps you prefer working with leather or carving wood? Once you’ve enjoyed the plethora of activities available you can choose to unwind in the wellness zone, or perhaps have a drink with friends in the bar.

Stanford Hall is located at LE17 6DH and is easily accessed by road, rail and both Birmingham International and East Midlands airports.

For more information click here.

2. Wilderness Gathering | August 18 – 21

The Gathering is the longest running and original bushcraft show in the UK, offering a wide selection of bushcraft, primitive-living, and survival skills. Priding themselves on a relaxed, family-oriented atmosphere the Gathering is sure to have something for everyone.

Are you interested in herbal medicines? Or perhaps you’ve always wanted to learn to belly dance? These activities are available as well as more traditional bushcraft activities like tool sharpening, whittling, and tracking skills as well as deer carcass preparation and fire lighting.

The Gathering also offers gigs by some wonderful musicians and storytelling for the under 11s, promoting a festival-type atmosphere with freshly prepared food and drink available from the food court.

The Gathering takes place at Bison farm and is easily accessible from the A303.

For more information click here. 

3. Shropshire Outdoor Show | June 25 – 26

Founded by a husband-and-wife team who fell in love with the outdoor lifestyle, The Shropshire Outdoor Show is a two-day event that promises to be family friendly with a good atmosphere and fair treatment, allowing traders and demonstrators to share their sills and items in an immersive environment for the public to enjoy.

You can visit the event as a day visitor, or you can choose a reasonably priced weekend camping option. There are a wide variety of demonstrations and wares available including forest school workshops, survival craft demonstrations, archery, and a range of beverages from the aptly named Double Vision bar.

Dogs on leads are welcome and the site boasts an array of wildlife including large fish and waterfowl with an ethos centred around respecting nature and enjoying the natural world.

Set in acres of woodland the Shropshire Outdoor Show takes place at FSC Preston Montford, bordered by the River Severn.

For more information click here. 

4. The Wilderness | October 7 – 9

The Wilderness is being held at the Beaudesert Outdoor Activity Centre, located in an area of Outstanding National Beauty just on the edge of Cannock Chase in Staffordshire. The programme of events for the 2022 bushcraft show includes talks by guest speakers, fire walking, and a health and beauty spa set in a yurt where you can enjoy natural hand and face treatments.

As well as this there are opportunities in workshops to learn skills including hand drilling, fish spearing, water purification and emergency survival. These are complemented by outdoor pursuit activities such as abseiling, kayaking, archery and rifle shooting. There will also be a range of trade stalls selling essential bushcraft and prepper equipment.

The event is suitable for young people through to adults with a specific lean towards Guiding and Scouting groups. Visitors can book day passes or weekend camping passes and these include all activities talks and demonstrations.

For more information click here. 

5. Summer Bushmoot | July 25 – August 6

The Bushmoot summer event is longer than most prepper events and runs for nearly two weeks in the summer holidays. Visitors are invited to come for as much or as little of it as they like with an emphasis on coming together to share knowledge and expand skills.

Bushmoot’s ‘core days’ are in the middle of the event, and these are the main workshop days. Summer Bushmoot welcomes people of all experiences from beginners to experts to its bushcraft show, catering for a wide range of abilities. This event prides itself on its relaxed atmosphere and family friendly approach where children can be free to enjoy nature.

Workshops this year are likely to include navigation, knotwork skills, and fire making as well as shelter building, foraging. Alongside these Bushmoot also offers activities such as archery, pyrography (the art of burning into wood or leather for decoration), weaving and basketry.

Summer Bushmoot takes place at the Candlestone Campsite, Merthyrmawn road, Wales, CF32 0PA.

For more information click here.