It is essential to learn basic skills and know how to survive in the wild
The UK has some fantastic areas of natural beauty and unspoilt open spaces, with thousands of acres of wilderness to ‘get lost’ in.
From the Cairngorm hills and mountains of Scotland, right down to harsh and exposed Dartmoor and Exmoor – you are never too far away from unspoilt solitude – away from civilisation.
Exploring these areas for potential bug out location or simply to hone your bushcraft skills means venturing out into the unknown.
In true keeping with all prepping principles you must never attempt to go out into the wilderness unprepared.
Even for a short day’s hike – you must know how to survive in the wild.
It is essential to know the top 10 survival skills needed to ensure you will be able to keep yourself alive should something unforeseen happen.
There are several No:1 rules, each as important as the other, but you must follow them – preparation is key.
how to survive in the wild – essential rules
- Make sure you are fit enough to do what you think you can do.!
- Gain as much ‘classroom’ knowledge of bushcraft skills as possible.
- Practice your bushcraft skills at home and in the garden.
- Plan, check and the double check your routes, venues, times, rest points and camp.
- Tell someone your general route and time you expect to return.
- Exchange mobile telephone numbers and agree some ‘check in’ calls
The above are your basic No:1 rules before you even set out into the wild.
Basic survival equipment:
Just what equipment you do and don’t carry with you is a matter of individual choice, but again, there are some important bits of kit you really cannot do without:
- A mean to collect and purify water for drinking
- A means of making a fire for cooking – gas cooker / trangia / organic
- Food & snacks
- Ordnance map / compass / torch / knife /
- Waterproof clothing / spare socks / hat / good walking boots
Essential survival equipment:
- Shelter – tent / bivvy / hammock etc
- Fully charged mobile phone
- Suitable sleeping bag
- First aid kit + first aid booklet with emergency first aid
- Means of signalling – mirror / reflective material / personal location beacon
This list can go on and on – but remember, it’s personal choice – if you were well trained in survival you need very little to get by, but for most of us its a case of pack as much as you can comfortably carry.
You will never learn until you actually go out and do it – but always learn how to survive in the wild before you venture out…!
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]]>Survival & Bushcraft Schools in the UK
Prepping is all about survival – although there is a lot of information on the internet, there’s nothing that beats actually ‘doing it’ for real.
Learning your bushcraft and survival skills from a good survival school is something well worth considering - there are lots of different areas where you need specific skills, not just how to build a shelter, but ‘real’ survival skills that will keep you alive.
Most UK survival schools include natural medicine and foraging for foods as well as identifying the good from the bad, as well as 100′s of uses for natures materials to help you survive in the wild.
If bugging out is a big part of your disaster survival plan then I highly recommend enrolling on as many, varied survival courses as you can afford.
Even the relatively simple tasks like skinning and preparing an animal for food is something that must be practiced – most UK survival schools go into this is in detail, making sure you gain the knowledge and bushcraft skills needed to keep you alive.
The list below is for survival and bushcraft schools around the UK.
| Bear Grylls Survival Academy: beargryllssurvivalacademy.com Location: UK |
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| Woodsmoke – Bushcraft & Wilderness Survival: woodsmoke.uk.com Location: UK – Lake District. |
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| Woodland Ways – Bushcraft & Survival Courses: woodland-ways.co.uk Location: UK – Oxfordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Lincolnshire |
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| The Coastal Survival School: coastalsurvival.com Location: UK |
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| Wild Man Wild Food: wildmanwildfood.com Foraging courses – how to identify, gather and cook wild plants. Location: UK – Canterbury, Kent. |
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| Woodlore – School of Wilderness Bushcraft: raymears.com Location: UK – East Sussex |
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| The Trueways Survival School: survival-school.org Location: UK |
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| Wildwood Bushcraft: wildwoodbushcraft.com Location: UK – Sussex |
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| Forest Knights: forestknights.co.uk Location: UK – Sussex |
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| Bushcraft Expeditions: bushcraftexpeditions.com Location: UK – Beaminster, Dorset |
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| Hands on Bushcraft: handsonbushcraft.co.uk Location: UK – Wiltshire |
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| WILD-LIVE: wild-live.org Location: Ireland & U.K |
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If you book a course with any of the schools above, don’t forget to mention you found them on the UK Preppers Guide website.
*if you know of any other good UK based survival schools, please let me know and I will add them to the list.
My Email
Happy prepping folks….
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]]>Air Rifle & AirGun Law in the UK
What you can, and cannot do with an air rifle are very strictly laid down in the UK law. In 2011 the UK Laws on airguns were amended and are the current standard to work from.
As with most firearms the duty of care is very much on the gun owner and no one else.
If it’s your weapon then you need to make sure it safe, secure and unlikely to get into the hands of children as well as transporting it lawfully and using it safely.
Who can buy an air rifle.?
To purchase an air rifle or pistol you must be over 18 years of age and show a photo identity as proof of this.
You may also be asked, by some suppliers, for proof of address as well – you cannot buy on-line.
However, you can only freely buy an air rifle that has a muzzle energy of below 12 ft lbs or a pistol below 6 ft lbs – anything with a higher velocity than this will require a FAC ( Fire Arms Certificate ) – Air pistols that produce more than 6ft.lb are prohibited.
The FAC is not necessarily difficult to obtain but you will need to fulfill a very strict set of criteria and be inspected by your local police as to why you actually need a more high powered rifle in order to be granted permission to have one.
This process applies to all high velocity rifles in the UK including semi automatics and gauges up to .50 cal.
*this does not include Northern Ireland..
Your duty of care..
As the gun owner, you, and only you, are responsible for that weapon – and you must behave in the appropriate way and take all the necessary precautions to ensure you act in a common sense way that will not cause injury to anyone, including yourself…
Special attention should be given to storing your rifle or air pistol in a manner where it cannot be removed from its ‘safe store’. – this now means, you must keep any rifles or pistols in a sensible place – for example, not in a garage or outbuilding
Under the amended laws of February 2011, the Crime and Security Act 2010 now makes it an offence for a person in possession of an air gun (the gun owner) to fail to take “reasonable precautions” to prevent someone under the age of 18 from gaining unauthorised access to it.
*the obvious thing to do here is store your gun in a cabinet under lock and key – that way you are completely covered and within the law – however, for a sub 12 ft lb air rifle you do not necessarily need to do this – just reasonable precautions. This can mean out of sight and high up away from prying eyes and stored separately from any pellets.
Of course, if you own several air rifles I would very much suggest a gun cabinet at best or a securely locked cupboard.
Using an airgun
It is legal for any person over the age of 14 to shoot an airgun, unsupervised and on private land
Full permission to shoot has to be been given by the landowner.
Anyone under the age of 14 may also shoot an airgun but only if closely supervised by someone over 21 years of age. The supervising adult is legally responsible for the actions of the junior shooter.
You must have the full permission to shoot on any land – this includes your garden or on private land, or land that is owned or leased by any club or an individual owner.
*All pellets must remain within the boundaries of that land.
It is illegal to shoot an airgun on the following land:
- common land
- recreational land
- playing fields
- land that is covered by water e.g. ponds, lakes, canals and rivers *where you do not have the owners permission
- closer than 50 ft [15mtrs] from the centre of any public highway
- closer than 50 ft [15mtrs] from the centre of any bridal path or footpath
Transporting airguns
Anyone over 18 years of age can transport their air rifle or pistol, however, all air guns should be transported in a securely fastened case – this case must prevent the air gun from being fired.
Anyone between 14 and 18 years of age cannot transport an airgun – they must be accompanied and supervised by someone over 21.
*it is illegal to have an airgun, loaded or not, and whether in a secure case or not, in any public place without lawful authority to do so, or reasonable excuse.
If you keep to these basic rules you’ll be safe and within the law. But remember, the onus is very firmly on you, the gun owner.
Failing to comply with any of the above laws you risk potential penalties, which are extremely severe.
Please make it your priority to learn and understand these UK airgun laws as they apply to you and your shooting.
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]]>Preparing a Bug Out Bag for Survival
As a young man I always though that ‘more equipment was better’ – however, I was fitter and stronger then.!
I could carry body weight and more, and still have the strength to carry a bit more.
But, now I’ve gotten that bit older and supposedly, that bit wiser, I realise it’s far more about your skills than your equipment.
Having the knowledge to live off the land and survive means having to rely on less gear.
That means you have to carry far less in the first place.
So learn your bushcraft skills first and know how to survive off the land using minimum equipment – this will make packing your Bug Out Bag far easier when it comes to choosing what to take and what not.
What do you need to pack in your Bug Out Bag for survival?
Firstly, give some thought to the equipment that is essential to you – personal medication is obviously essential, as are things like glasses and even good fitting boots.! – These items are ‘must haves’ and will keep you going without anything else.
When it comes to a Bug Out Bag, weight is one of the biggest factors – you may well be walking for some time and over a long distance, negotiating rough terrain and the more weight you carry the higher the risk of injury – the amount of weight will also effect the speed at which you can cover ground.
It is highly unlikely you will be able to carry more than a 80lb rucksack for any distance – assuming you can actually get it on your back in the first place.!
So don’t try, the object is to get away from danger and cover ground fast.
Most people can handle a 60lt rucksack like the British Army Assault Pack shown here.
You should be able to pack just about everything you need into one of these rucksack – they have been designed for the military with comfort and survival for soldiers on the move.
Deciding to ‘go big’ and choosing a 80ltr + rucksack can be a big problem – unless your trained and constantly practice, you will not be able to move fast enough – if you have no choice but to walk, you must be prepared with a suitable sized rucksack.
Bug Out Bag size is very important, as you may well be required to get out fast and put distance between yourself and the danger that caused you to bug out in the first place.
One of everything is normally sufficient – 
Why bring half a dozen knives, when one good knife will do?
Think about this – about your pack size/weight.
Place your Bug Out Bag on the ground, and then give it kick – If your worried your might break something inside, then that bit of kit does not belong in your bag.!
You have to be fully prepared for breakages and damage and the rough terrain ahead of you, similarly, if you land up hurting your foot, then the pack is just too dam heavy – It will weigh you down, make you slow and fatigued and too immobile – this will be so too tempting to thieves or looters, who will be praying people just like you.
Using the opposite, light-weight approach, will give you a better mental condition of feeling stronger and faster and will put more oomph in your step — it will help to keep you moving faster and for longer – you can cover more ground like this, which is possibly one of the most important goals if faced with a bug-out scenario.
Putting distance between yourself, and the danger as fast as possible it imperative.
As a Prepper, we all have a Plan B, Plan C, Plan D etc.. The same thought process should be applied to Preparing a Bug Out Bag for Survival. So think of it in stages –
Your actual Bug Out Bag is just one stage of the whole bug out procedure.
- It will, no doubt be, the heaviest and the more bulkiest stage of your preparation.
- You should also use a ‘belt base’ system of pouches as your second stage.
- As a final backup, a container based stage – kept in you car.
By using a system of bug out stages you are then able to prioritise the essential items over the ‘nice to have’ items.
All your essential must haves go into your main bug out bag with your back up survival equipment going into your belt pouches – a typical example would be your survival tin, knife, money, passport etc in the lightest, more mobile, belt pack.
Then put all your “nice-to-have” items into the container base stage – kept in your car.
This method will give you the options to ditch equipment if you were forced to – or to stop and cache the container along the way.
If you feared for you supplies and life, then ditching your main rucksack would mean a faster getaway while keeping your essential survival belt base supplies and equipment.
There is also a forth stage to consider – a body stage – typically this would be and EDC keyring, a boot knife, compass, torch, survival blanket, etc, these items can be carried on your person.
In conclusion – by using this method of Preparing your Bug Out Bag for Survival, you now have options that cover situations if you were to be compromised and forced to give up you equipment and supplies.
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| Snugpak Response Pak – Olive – One Size | Snugpack Response Pak – Waist Pack | Nitehawk Army/Military MOLLE Waist Pack | Nitehawk Army/Police Tactical Utility Combat Shoulder Pack Cartridge Bag Olive |
Happy prepping folks…
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]]>
Some People prepare their Bug Out Locations close to their home or they try to make their house a fortress.
Others prefer places where hardly anyone is living: In the dessert, in the mountains, or in the forest.
Most of the places that preppers are calling a Bug Out Location, however, do not provide unlimited shelter and at the same time unlimited food.
I have found somewhere quite different.
This bug out location is part of a huge farm, Finca Bayano in Panama, in a very sparsely populated area, you wont need to eat canned food, full of chemicals, that stays fresh until 2030.
Instead there are fresh papayas and fresh bananas. Even if others would steal all the food, you would still be able to survive, because fresh food is growing every day.
They don’t dig shelters that have no sunlight, and won’t built fortresses, that can be beleaguered.
Instead they keep good relations with our Panamanian neighbors. By assisting the villagers in a water project and some are working at Finca Bayano.
This is how they are preparing for an uncertain future.
No one can anticipate the day when major supply disruptions will occur, how long disorder might take, and of what degree the breakdown could be.
Some people believe, that after three months it’s back to normal, but it may take three years, or even more. The collapse, as we are expecting it, might not be over when food and water run out, or when there is no more wood for a fire.
It might take much longer, and maybe life won’t be the same it was before. What most people do not know, is that their land cannot produce enough food to survive without pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
Back to normal might not be impossible – but this place is different….
So why not prepare in a place which can provide food for everyone that lives there?
Take a look at their website and what they offer – it’s worth considering……
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]]>Since the beginning of time man has tried to predict and prepare for the disasters that can effect both himself, his family and friends. Natural disasters, floods, famine and through world wars, the citizens of various countries have battled to overcome the doomsday scenarios that were bestowed on them.
It’s these type of events that have prompted people to become 
true survivalists in order to ensure their safety and their continued survival. Events like the Great Depression back in the early 1900′s have set the scene for more preparedness amongst people.
Natural disaster, stock market crash and many man made disasters have been narrowly averted in the past. We all learn from past events, both man made and natural.
But now, since the emergence of the internet, people have been able to truly see the extent of how fragile the earth really is and how quickly we could face a complete breakdown in society.
The stock market crash of 1929, the extreme threat of a nuclear war during the 1960′s and 70′s, the increase in naturally occurring disasters for many decades and right up to the famous Y2K bug that was predicted to bring everything to a halt.
All these type of things have brought on the increasing surge of a realisation that we must act now for future of our survival.
Preparedness in the UK is now on the rise too
Being in a state of readiness goes back to the world wars where Great Britain was subjected to extreme hardship, especially during the ‘blitz’.
Rationing and sharing:
Preparing for disaster were immediately implemented to ensure our survival - everyone had to be prepared to shelter, to wear a gas mask, to make their home as safe as possible and to be fully prepared for the worse scenarios that could happen to them.
Nowadays, these old school British preppers are thought of as Survivalists, who consistently and methodically ensuring they are ready if and when we are all faced with a breakdown in our society and the laws and order of the land start to fail and break down into what us preppers know as SHTF…!
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]]>Pepper Spray for use in the UK for non lethal Survival Defence
Carrying an offensive weapon in the UK is taken very seriously by our police and judges – so much so that most “weapons” are considered as illegal to carry.
UK laws regarding self defence are quite strict for any member of the public as well as for a UK Prepper.
Anyone involved with self defence will always tell you these simple facts -
- never put yourself in a dangerous situation in the first place.!
- Always be aware of your surroundings
- Be aware of people around you
This is quite right and the basis of keeping yourself away form trouble.
Of course there are lesser forms of none lethal self defence available – Maze or Pepper Spray being one alternative. However, both contain dangerous noxious gas and this is also considered illegal in the UK.
So, what can you do to help deter any unwanted attacker legally?
Firstly, when it comes to self defence you are allowed, by law, to use reasonable force proportional to the threat, or perceived threat, against you.
Simply put, if you think your going to be attacked or are actually being attacked you have a perfect right to defend yourself.
This spray deterrent comes within that law.
So what are the legal alternatives to actual pepper spray for the UK public…? 
The only real LEGAL PEPPER SPRAY ALTERNATIVE FOR THE UK that we have as an good, effective equivalent to the ‘real’ Pepper Spray found abroad and used by our police is the Farb Gel - Mini Self Defence Spray Criminal Identifier
- Can be carried by any adult for personal protection
- This is a non lethal defence spray
- Contains no chemicals or toxins
- Spray range 4 mtrs
This Spray Container a very discreet size, measuring only 85mm x 34mm and is capable of packing a punch that is capable of stopping a mugger or attacker in his tracks.
When it is sprayed at the face it will completely disorientate the attacker.
The natural instinct is to back off - when it is sprayed at the eyes it will cause blurred vision, this makes any attack even more difficult.
I have tested this legal pepper spray on myself – I can assure you it was not exactly a pleasant procedure!
I found it wasn’t possible to do anything much other than attempt to cover up and protect myself and my face from the spray. (see my review video below)
The next thing I found was, the natural instinct is to try and wipe it off – trust me, this makes things a lot worse.!
Just imagine the panic factor you have just instilled into an attacker when he looks down and sees he has blood red hands after you have just sprayed him..!?
He will not of been expecting it and have no idea what might of just happened, and probably be more scared and ready to run off, than you !
This spray is the Farb Gel Spray Criminal Identifier and contains NO NOXIOUS GAS and therefore quite legal in the UK.
The red spray will remain on the attackers skin and clothing for up to 7 days [in fact I landed up throwing the tee shirt away as it was a pain trying to wash the red dye out!], – The staying power of the spray dye makes the police very aware of the potential attacker and easier to track down.
From a pure value for money perspective, this is a definate ‘must have’ self defence method for anyone to carry with them, especially at the silly price of under £10 + VAT & Delivery from Amazon.. *this is for the spray only*
You can also get a really neat little carry case with a belt pouch and the spray for under £14 inc VAT & delivery – I bought the Farb Gel self defence spray with belt pouch first then got replacement sprays from then on – it works out cheaper that way.
See my personal video of the Pepper Spray UK Alternative in action
This spray has been specifically designed to meet all of the UK legal requirements and is totally legal to carry here.
I feel it is definitely a ‘must have’ item and without doubt, one of the best parts is the red coloured gel remains on the attacker, therefore making them instantly recognizable to the police and as a potential threat.
I like this Legal Pepper Spray for the UK very much and have made quite sure I have several for my family to carry – especially as they are both cheap and effective, and completely legal to carry.
Also see:
UK Legal Pepper Spray Alternatives for Women
Personal Attack Alarms for Women
Alternative Non Lethal Self Defence Method against an attacker
Do you even need a method of self defence in the UK.?
Here’s some of the latest figures and statistics from the governments own information website, The Office of National Statistics, For some more information on this, see my article – self defence in the UK
I have found out a couple of legal points regarding the Farb Gel Spray – please read before you buy:
- This spray is only legal in UK mainland and wont be shipped outside of the UK mainland
- There are some concerns as to whether it is legal to ‘use’ in Northern Ireland.- you can own the spray but you may possibly be breaking the Northern Ireland laws if you ‘use’ it..
Generally as an Alternative UK Legal Pepper Spray for self defence this product ticks all the boxes and is something to consider for all the family, especially as it is effective and easy to use.
But, the best of all, it works AND it’s very cheap…
Mini Self Defence Spray Criminal Identifier *spray only
TIW FARB gel self defence spray *with belt pouch
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]]>Welcome to our FREE PRIZE DRAW for May – NOW ENDED
enter for a chance to win one of three top prizes of Bush Tucker Bug Banquets.
Kindly donated by our friends over at BugGrub.com
to see the all the bugs on offer – see my full edible bug review
The Bug Grub Contest has now finished - congratulations to prize draw winners:
- 1st prize: 7 piece Bush Tucker Banquet - Dave Howells
- 2nd prize: 5 piece Bush Tucker Banquet – Kev Bowser
- 3rd prize: 3 piece Bush Tucker Banquet - Carla Knight
A big thank you to all those who entered and watch out for our next free draw contest.
*Prizewinners will be notified by Email on 2nd June 2014 and receive their prize completely free of any charges.
Prizes: 1st place – 7 Piece Bush Tucker Banquet
Prizes: 2nd place – 5 Piece Bush Tucker Banquet |
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Prizes: 3rd place – 3 Piece Bush Tucker Banquet |
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]]>What is a UK Survivalist 
There are many terms used to describe Preppers here in the UK. Doomsday Preppers is one such term, but another name occasionally used is being known of as a UK Survivalist. A survivalist conjures up quite different meaning to your normal, run of the mill, average Joe just pottering around and preparing for a possible disaster. It does, in fact, imply that you fully intend to actually survive any Doomsday scenario and come out ready for action….
A kind of “Super Prepper”
A survivalist is someone whose intention is to be fully prepared by being completely self-sufficient and requires no outside help to maintain a lifestyle.
The mindset behind this is often because of a firm belief that eventually society will collapse completely due to various social or political disorder and unrest. Firmly believing that only the self-sufficient will be able to survive.
The most highly required skills of a survivalists include extensive wilderness survival, first aid training and defensive tactics with both weapons and unarmed combat skills.
A UK Survivalist needs to be completely “Of Grid”
Maintaining a full level of self sufficiency whilst being completely unnoticed and below the radar of everyone is no easy task in this country - I would say it’s almost an impossible task..!
Maybe it’s feasible for a short while, but fully off grid AND going unnoticed. Very difficult.
But, having said that, there are many preppers who are trying to achieve that status – and many who are doing really well at it – these are fully fledged preppers who have gone those extra steps towards ensuring their survival and made prepping a full time lifestyle.
These people are the sort of preppers to be looked up to as they have the commitment and determination to carry on doing, what is without doubt, a daunting task.
Could you be a UK Survivalist.?
If you just starting out on your prepping journey then the road ahead will be filled with differing advice and methods as to what is needed and what you must do to achieve this and that.
From choosing the best knives for survival to surviving natural disasters, everything must be prepared for and living completely off grid is a full time commitment for any prepper.
If you are considering becoming a UK Survivalist then we wish you the best of luck, it will be a tough road and a massive learning curve, but, in the end if there ever is a major disaster situation and breakdown of society you will be the ones who stand the best chance of survival.
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]]>Dictionary of Survival Words and Phrases
If you’re new to prepping then theres a few words and terms you need to know fast in order to understand the Preppers Dictionary.
These words are almost universal in the world of preppers, so, when you’re surfing the net looking for more prepping information you’ll be ok.
There are probably a few more than I have listed and if you find any then please leave a comment and add them.
- AWOL - Absent Without Leave – when a prepper has to Bug Out fast
- Bug Out Bag – a bag, normally a rucksack, equipped with your essential supplies to escape and survive for a minimum of 72hrs.see Bug Out Bag Survival Kit
- BOB – same as above
- Grab and Go Bag – same as above
- 72 hr Bag – same as above
- BOWB - Bug Out Webbed Belt – An additional piece of carry equipment added to the BOB
- BOV – Bug Out Vehicle – The vehicle of your choice for any emergency survival situation that requires you to get out when SHTF - see SHTF
- BOL – Bug Out Location – Whether it’s on foot with a BOB or by BOV your Bug Out Location is where you would head to – it’s regarded as you safe location
- Dooms Day – The term used for final meltdown of society. - see Doomsday Clock
- Dooms Day Prepper – Someone who is convinced of imminent pending danger of a certain kind and is prepping for a particular scenario. - see Make Time for Doomsday
- EDC – Every Day Carry – this is items that are with you each day in case of a survival emergency
- EMP – Electromagnetic Pulse – One of the many Doomsday events that might cause TEOTWAWKI
- ESP – Extended Stay Pack – survival equipment that allows more than a 72hr bug out bag
- GOOD Bag – Get Out Of Dodge – same as a BOB
- GHB – Get Home Bag – emergency survival kit bag to get you home when disaster strikes
- Ham – Ham Radio – uses amateur radio bands which cover the earth – may well be the only way of communication for preppers
- INCH – I’m Never Coming Home – example is an Inch Bag – designed for emergency evacuation.
- KISS – Keep It Simple, Stupid – A british army saying, meaning stick to basics and don’t over complicate your survival needs.
- LTS – Long Term Survival – this term is self explanatory
- MRE – Meal Ready to Eat – Dehydrated food sachets
- OFF THE GRID – a term for a survivalist who is surviving without any reliance on ‘normal’ means. Someone who has opted out of society to fend for themselves.
- SIS or SIP – Shelter in Situ / Shelter in Place – when bugging out is not possible and you need to stay put
- SFWF – Shelter, Fire, Water, Food – survivalist main priority order
- SHTF – Shit Hits The Fan – when the emergency situation becomes out of control and law breaks down
- SURVIVALIST – a committed prepper who tries to ensure every aspect of their survival to prepared for.
- SWOT ANALYSIS – comes from Special Weapons and Tactics [unit] – where a prepper will re-enact a disaster scenario to ensure they are prepared for it.
- TEOTWAWKI - The End Of The World As We Know It – the next step up from SHTF
- WROL – Without Rule Of Law – meaning the point where where law and order has completely broken down
]]>What is a Prepper 
Quite often someone will ask ‘What is a Prepper’.?
Are they really the tin foil hat wearing loonies waiting for aliens to land or a melt down in society so they can sit and eat one of the 10.000 packets of extra protein biscuits they’ve hoarded over the last five years….
Well, actually… No there not that at all.
When someone asks ‘what is a prepper’, the simple answer is that a prepper is a person or group of people who, based on facts and scientific research, feel that the world could very easily grind to a halt considering the very fragile state of the earth and society in general..
These fears are based on the possibilities of many different scenarios that would cause a total collapse of society.
A prepper has a simply moto: Hope for the best, but prepare for the worse
A typical concern for a prepper is a disaster such as Solar Flare, EMP, Nuclear War, Economic Collapse, Pandemic, Meteorite collision and lower down on the list are things like, Tornado, earth quake, flooding etc.
So maybe there not the Tin Hat wearing loonies after all..!
Perhaps it might be quite a good idea to get in a few extra supplies… just in case SHTF.
Just stop for one moment and consider what you would do if your lifestyle was disrupted by something completely out of your control.
Something as simple as a fuel strike – now we have seen what a few days fuel shortage scare can do to us here in the UK – in a word -PANIC…!
There are, of course, your standard, run of the mill, loonies that take things way too far and become obsessed and manic with the many doomsday scenarios that are banded about these days.
Some even believe that Zombies are going to appear from nowhere and head straight for them..!
Then theres the TV programs going around and on YouTube showing the more extreme extent some of these people go to. Just another example of the hype that causes the confusion over who these preppers really are.
Typically aimed at the American market these shows give you the best of the worst, preppers who arm themselves with tanks and underground bunkers and their over the top attitudes towards the whole prepping thing. These are not you typical American prepper. An American prepper is much the same as us British in their approach and in many things they have a far better choice of equipment.
But most UK Preppers take a much more relaxed attitude to the whole prepping thing – pretty much the same as us British do to most things really – But within that relaxed attitude is a lot of common sense from a lot of people just quietly prepping away merrily and not making a fuss about it.
So maybe these preppers could be right, getting in a few extras, a little bit here, a little bit there and building up a small stash of essential items – “you know, just in case”… One of our guest post by The Prickley Prepper says a lot of truths about what is a prepper – take a look at his guest post here.
Hopefully that answers your question of ‘what is a prepper’, so for some more prepping information, take a look here at this other article on What is Prepping and find out some more interesting facts and figures.
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]]>Preppers are Survivalists in a calm state of Emergency Preparedness
There is no such thing as your ‘average’ UK Prepper.
We come in many shapes and sizes, many different backgrounds and certainly cant be put into any social media group.
There is only one defining factor that unites us all – the simple fact that – Preppers are ready for emergencies that may occur due to no fault of their own. These emergencies can bring a very abrupt halt to the type of life and lifestyle as we know it.
Don’t be fooled by the over the top TV programs that are going around at the moment showing how you have to have a secret underground bunker, fortified and filled with every imaginable item to ward off herds of crazy people hell bent on doing you harm…!
Some people are preppers without even knowing it.!
Quite a lotof people ‘stock up’ with essential items and store them in there house just to make sure they have enough – it’s the ‘just in case’ syndrome.
But a prepper is just that bit more dedicated than that – planning a strategy to ensure they have an emergency supply of ALL essential items that will last for days, weeks, months or even years.
Along with stocking up with essentials they will plan for various survival situations and also have a full disaster plan for when SHTF.
Quite often this will include emergency equipment if they decide to leave their home - this is know as Bugging Out.
When a disaster strikes a survivalist will be in a state of emergency preparedness and be able to fend for themselves and for their family.
Having a plan and being ready to implement that plan is a major art of being a UK Prepper.
Please browse this website – it is full of useful information help, tips and advice, as well as offering you a host of equipment to view and to purchase – Start your Prepping now.
If you want to know more even more, take a look at some of these handy pocket books below – these are very good handbooks covering essential Doomsday Prepping and Doomsday Survival skills necessary for any new UK.
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What is the state of preparedness in the UK
Is it posible for a total meltdown of our society?
A lot of people are now realising we are in a very fragile time of this earths and mans evolution and there is a very real chance of a major shift across our planet.
“What would the government do to help you”? – There are plans in place. Of course there are. But these plans are mainly for local disruptions of the normal, everyday life that we all know. But in a dooms day scenario we are talking about the whole of the United Kingdom being effected.
Yes, it may start locally, but very soon spread to larger areas and then the whole country.You only have to look at how quickly situation escalate to see how easy total collapse would be. A very big proportion of UK citizens are in a state of zero preparedness for ANY situation, let alone a major one.
A fuel dispute brings the nation into blind panic and petrol station are empty within hours – how would you cope if the perol supply was cut of totally.?
A sugar shortage in the shops and the shelves are cleared within a day – imagine if that was food in general, the shops would be totally void of any food.!
Heavy rain, or prolonged snowfall or adverse weather conditions grind the country to a halt again.
And to think, all these are relatively low key situations that require the minimum of preparedness here in the UK.
I am sure the powers that be have some wonderfully secret plans to evacuate high ranking officials and government ministers, and keep nice and safe and fed and warm and looked after – and why not.? After all it’s every man for himself and I’m sure they have made dam sure their ok, thank you very much.
Yes, efforts have undoubtedly been made for the masses but, as we have seen in the past, it really is no where enough, it hardly touches the sides of what would really happen.
Possibly the key thing to remember is this – As the situation worsened the people in charge, the fire officers, the servicemen, the police and all other people involved in trying to help would be overwhelmed and simple understaffed and under equipped. Add that to the fact that these people also have families and loved ones that they will be drawn to help their own family – it’s human nature. They will not see their own families suffer – that’s when the total meltdown will escalate to a law, of no law.
Now all this doom and gloom used to be just pushed to one side, for another day. The ‘it wont happen to me’ syndrome. But in all honesty, the state of preparedness in the UK for a major, country wide, disaster situation is poor at its best.
It would be a mammoth job to prepare for such a thing and would cost billions of tax payers money to set up for everyone to be accounted for. There’s over 60 million people in the UK. You just cant prepare for a major disaster with that number of people in mind.
The United Kingdom is prepared – to a small extent – for localised disaster situations, whether man made or natural disasters, we can cope on a small scale, with some of the finest emergency services in the world to help us, but being prepared for a major event that effects the whole country is quite a different thing altogether.
Whats the answer?
If everyone made time to prepare and was ready with adequate supplies and knowledge we would be half way there. In any major disaster it always boils down to ‘every man for himself’ and if the government have plans in place to help then there’s your other half.
But don’t think that the state of preparedness in the UK is going to cover everything. It simply can’t. An EMP, whether natural or man made will wipe out our society in a flash and put us back hundreds of years – this, along with other possible scenarios that can effect our whole structure of live as we know it.
So what IS the answer?
It’s up to you. Start prepping yourself. Little by little gathering essential items to help keep you and your family alive. Theres nothing weird with being a prepper its just common sense – and, actually quit enjoyable ..!
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]]>What is the Dooms day Clock 
In 1947, during the Cold War, governments and scientists assembled, forming what is known as the Dooms Day Clock. It represents the current sate of the worlds nuclear position to world war and total destruction.
It was agreed to be set on 7 minutes to midnight and has fluctuated closer and further to the midnight hour.
The table below show the timeline since then and how close we have become in the past.
| Year | Mins Left | Time | Change | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | 7 | 11:53pm | — | The initial setting of the Doomsday Clock. |
| 1949 | 3 | 11:57pm | +4 | The Soviet Union tests its first atomic bomb, officially starting the nuclear arms race. |
| 1953 | 2 | 11:58pm | +1 | The United States and the Soviet Union test thermonuclear devices within nine months of one another. (This is the clock’s closest approach to midnight since its inception.) |
| 1960 | 7 | 11:53pm | −5 | In response to a perception of increased scientific cooperation and public understanding of the dangers of nuclear weapons, as well political actions taken to avoid “massive retaliation.” The United States and Soviet Union cooperate and avoid direct confrontation in regional conflicts such as the 1956 Suez Crisis. Scientists from different countries help establish the International Geophysical Year, a series of coordinated, worldwide scientific observations between nations allied with both the United States and the Soviet Union, and the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, which allow Soviet and American scientists to interact. |
| 1963 | 12 | 11:48pm | −5 | The United States and Soviet Union sign the Partial Test Ban Treaty, limiting atmospheric nuclear testing. |
| 1968 | 7 | 11:53pm | +5 | Regional wars wage: Vietnam War intensifies, Six Day War occurs in 1967 and Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 takes place. Worse yet, France and China, two nations which have not signed the Partial Test Ban Treaty, acquire and test nuclear weapons (1960 (Gerboise Bleue nuclear test) and 1964 (596 nuclear test) respectively) to assert themselves as global players in the nuclear arms race. |
| 1969 | 10 | 11:50pm | −3 | Every nation of the world, with the notable exceptions of India, Pakistan, and Israel, signs the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. |
| 1972 | 12 | 11:48pm | −2 | The United States and the Soviet Union sign the SALT I (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. |
| 1974 | 9 | 11:51pm | +3 | India tests a nuclear device (Smiling Buddha), SALT II talks stall. Both the United States and the Soviet Union modernize MIRVs |
| 1980 | 7 | 11:53pm | +2 | Unforeseeable end to deadlock in American–Soviet talks as Soviet war in Afghanistan proceeds. As a result of the war, the US Senate refuses to ratify SALT II agreement between both nations and President Jimmy Carterpulls the United States from the 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow and considers ways in which the United States could win a nuclear war |
| 1981 | 4 | 11:56pm | +3 | Soviet war in Afghanistan hardens the US nuclear posture. Ronald Reagan becomes president, scraps further arms control talks with the Soviet Union and argues that the only way to end the Cold War is to win it. |
| 1984 | 3 | 11:57pm | +1 | Further escalation of the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union. |
| 1988 | 6 | 11:54pm | −3 | The United States and the Soviet Union sign treaty to eliminate intermediate-range nuclear forces, relations improve. |
| 1990 | 10 | 11:50pm | −4 | Fall of the Berlin Wall, dissolution of Iron Curtain sealing off Eastern Europe, Cold War nearing an end. |
| 1991 | 17 | 11:43pm | −7 | United States and Soviet Union sign the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. (This is the clock’s earliest setting since its inception.) |
| 1995 | 14 | 11:46pm | +3 | Global military spending continues at Cold War levels; concerns about post-Soviet nuclear proliferation of weapons and brainpower. |
| 1998 | 9 | 11:51pm | +5 | Both India (Pokhran-II) and Pakistan (Chagai-I) test nuclear weapons in a tit-for-tat show of aggression; the United States and Russia run into difficulties in further reducing stockpiles. |
| 2002 | 7 | 11:53pm | +2 | Little progress on global nuclear disarmament; United States rejects a series of arms control treaties and announces its intentions to withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty; concerns about the possibility of a nuclear terrorist attack due to the amount of weapon-grade nuclear materials that are unsecured and unaccounted for worldwide. |
| 2007 | 5 | 11:55pm | +2 | North Korea’s test of a nuclear weapon,[4] Iran’s nuclear ambitions, a renewed American emphasis on the military utility of nuclear weapons, the failure to adequately secure nuclear materials, and the continued presence of some 26,000 nuclear weapons in the United States and Russia.[5] Some scientists, assessing the dangers posed to civilization, have added climate change to the prospect of nuclear annihilation as the greatest threats to humankind.[6] |
| 2010 | 6 | 11:54pm | −1 | Worldwide cooperation to reduce nuclear arsenals and limit effect of climate change.[7] New START agreement is ratified by both the United States and Russia and more negotiations for further reductions in the American and Russian nuclear arsenal are already planned. 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark results in the developing and industrialized countries agreeing to take responsibility for carbon emissions and to limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius. |
| 2012 | 5 | 11:55pm | +1 | Lack of global political action to address nuclear weapons stockpiles, the potential for regional nuclear conflict, nuclear power safety, and global climate change.[1] |
Currently -
‘Doomsday Clock’ 2013: Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists Sets Clock At 5 Minutes Before Midnight
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]]>You DO have the time to be a UK prepper
Preparedness in the UK is on the increase as more and more people become aware of how easy it would be for a Dooms Day scenario too happen.
To start becoming a prepper you need to set aside a little time to do your prepping. But most people think they dont have that time… WRONG..
Lets work out how much prepping you can do in the time you say you havnt got.
How much time a day do you waste – playing about on the computer, watching the news or just siting around.? the odd 30mins, an hour maybe.??
Well work it out: Just watching the news or watching some mind numbing sitcom for a total of 1 hour a day will mean you have just wasted over 45 x 8 hour working days.!
That’s a lot of potential UK prepping time - so you DO have the time to become a UK Prepper.
So why not make a plan and start your prepping today -
What are your thoughts on this ———
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Everything in our society has different levels of readiness for how to prepare for various situations.
If you buy an extra tin of beans because you might need them as a back up one day is, in it’s simplest terms, a form of prepping for the unknown.
In fact you would just about fall between the zero preparation and the basic effort level on the Preppers Pyramid.
That is exactly what the Preppers Pyramid is all about – it’s a measure of your preparedness for a doomsday situation.
The bottom level of the pyramid represents our basic needs for simple, day to day, survival
Not satisfying any of the levels will reduce us to animals, prepared to either kill or get us killed.
At the zero preparation level you will be lucky to survive 3-5 days from any doomsady disaster scenario and will have to resort to ‘other’ means of finding food and water, as well as the possibility of shelter and warm clothing.
Basic effort prepping is for those folks who have a few stored provisions, maybe a freezer that’s stocked up, candles, batteries a means to cook and heat water, a few jerry cans of fuel – With this level of basic effort preparedness you may survive up-to a month.
To survive for more than a month you must now be considering prepping far more seriously and enter the Robust prepping level of preparedness. Stocking up on high food and water levels, provisions for bug out, personal safety and health care.
Anything over 12 months is now getting into the realms of a very serious prepper, this extreme prepping level becomes a 24-7commitment. Spending huge amounts of time and money planning, preparing and practicing for what you perceive as your impending doomsday scenario.
Off The Grid Prepping is considered the ultimate form of doomsday survival preparation. Every aspect of personal survival is accounted for and the prepper would have already moved out to a safe secure area and be fully self sufficient before any doomsday disaster.
Preppers who meet the needs below, with some planning and stockpiling of simple goods, will increase their chance of survival.
- Food is essential after several days to be productive and accomplish our other goals. Life is possible without food for several weeks but we don’t want to go there. Preppers have things to do. Food will provide us the energy to accomplish our next steps.
- Shelter is essential for maintaining homeostasis. We need to keep our bodies in a state where they can survive. Shelter gives us a home base and provides protection against the elements. It allows us a place for storage and can be easily defended. Preppers will prepare a plan for shelter
- Water is essential for life. Three days without and we are dead. Clean drinking water will be in short supply so a stockpile is recommended. A gallon a day per person will meet your immediate needs. Preppers will have a plan for longer periods.
- Sanitation is essential for health. We cannot live in our waste. Preppers a plan for disposal of waste.
- Medical is essential for emergencies. Accidents happen and we need the supplies and knowledge of how to deal with them. Preppers will have a simple first aid kit will get you past the immediate need and we will explore better options later in the book.
- Security is essential to protect your life and property. Anarchy reigns in disasters and preppers will be prepared. There is no law enforcement and looting and other crimes are prevalent.
]]>What are you going to do when the Shit Hits The Fan
The simple truth is – How long do you really think you can survive if a total breakdown happens and what are you going to do when SHTF..?
Think about it – The only way to ensure the safety of yourself and your family is to prepare and become one of the many UK Preppers that quietly ‘get on with it’.
Preparedness is being undertaken by more and more British preppers and becoming a UK Prepper is a serious consideration for many who just want some peace of mind .
What you need to prepare for when the SHTF.
1- Forget law and order
As a disaster scenario unfolds it will become harder to control law and order to the point of no law and order. Remember, police officers, health workers, even the military have families too and will do what’s necessary to help and protect them as would you.
Emergency services will be overstretched and understaffed – It wont take long for law and order to cease and the rule of every man for himself takes over.
2- Personal Safety
As things get worse desperate people will want to take what you have. With this comes the threat of violence to you and your family. Some people have no morals in normal times so imagine what they are going to be like given free reign.
Your safety is one of the most important things in even the most basic forms of SHTF. You must be prepared for this – and that means proper defensive training tactics.
Here, in Britain, you CAN have a gun, legally, BUT risk imprisonment if you try to obtain one illegally. But there are many other “legal” weapons out there, so be prepared and make sure you own a few.
3- Sanitation
This is probably a more effective killer than the marauding crowds. When SHTF what happens to all the rubbish that starts to pile up? Food wastes and human waste – after all there will be no dustmen collecting each week and before you know it your toilet wont be flushing either.
The longer the situation goes on the worse the hazard will become. As a UK prepper you must be prepared for this.
It’s pretty much agreed that you will get some warning of a major situation, it may even be a slow build up of information, drip fed to the public by the ‘all important’ government and powers that be.
But when SHTF it’s also agreed among survivalists, that all hell is going to break loose and you must be prepared for this slow build up and also be prepared for an immediate evacuation of the area if it becomes life threatening.
4 – Food & Supplies
Within days all supermarket shelves would be stripped bare as ‘non-preppers’ go wild and try to stock up on anything they can lay their hands on.
All of the delivery infrastructure will break down as most stores work on ‘last minute’ delivery system rather than carrying huge stocks themselves. This means what you see is what you get - there’s no back up.
Even a disaster scenario lasting only one month would bring about a complete change of how people behave towards each other – It would be every man for himself.
If you have prepared for this, then you you will be able to hunker down and ride out the storm while others fight it out.
Being prepared means you take yourself out of the immediate survival equation of having to “fend for yourself”
However, you can prepare for a slow build up to a disaster situation. |
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When SHTF your going to have to make the decision whether to Bug Out or Bug In. If SHTF and your away from your home then your have to be prepared to survive the first 72hrs and that’s where, as a prepper,a good EDC kit is essential.
Potentially, there will be a slow build up to a major situation which will help everyone, prepper or not, to begin acquiring a stash of emergency items – but this will be a fight, and I can guarantee it’ll be ‘handbags at six paces’ and shelves will be stripped clean in no time.
When SHTF it’s going to be up to just one person to look after you and your family – and that person is you – start prepping now………….
]]>As preppers we are forced to be very much ‘hands on’ with most of our prepping.
By that I mean we do an awful lot of the work ourselves and also have to source a lot of materials and equipment ourselves. Fortunately. this is made a lot easier through the internet. Offering a huge range of products, reviews, guides and, of course, competitive prices – something we like…! There are so many good suppliers of DIY equipment that sometimes the choice is overwhelming. One thing to take particular note of when choosing a DIY equipment supplier is the reviews on the product you after and also consider their returns policy.
Reviews and Returns are our best guide to good DIY equipment.
Always look out for the reviews. They are a great indicator of a good product to see what problems other buyer have had. If you have any problems with the product you want to be able to return it and get a new one or reject it completely. So their returns policy is very important to us. Without doubt there are some DIY suppliers that are a bit poor in this area – but they are quite few – everyone has had to up their game a lot to keep ahead of the other suppliers. Which is great for us preppers knowing we can buy good gear and if there’s ever a problem with it, we can send it right back.. I have a list below of some of the better DIY suppliers who offer a good refund or returns policy, a large selection of goods and a fats delivery [usually free] Happy Prepping Folks…
Great range of outdoor equipment suppliers |
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I hope this gives you an idea of who’s out there supplying us preppers with good DIY equipment..
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