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Bushcraft & Survival Course Risk Assessment — Generated Instantly for £29
Describe your bushcraft activities — fire lighting, knife and axe work, foraging, shelter building, participant ages and woodland site. We generate a fully written, UK-compliant bushcraft risk assessment covering all wilderness skills hazards in minutes.
Used by bushcraft instructors, survival schools, forest school leaders and outdoor education providers across the UK
🔥 Running open fire activities or teaching knife skills? Mention it — we'll include fire safety zones, blade handling protocols, participant briefings, first aid provisions, and the specific controls required under UK health and safety law for supervised wilderness skills training.
Legal requirements for bushcraft and survival training providers
Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulation 3 requires every employer and self-employed person to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of their employees and others affected by their work. For bushcraft instructors and survival course providers, this means documenting how you manage risks from open fires, blade work, foraging poisonous plants, working in woodland terrain, and supervising participants with varying skill levels.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies if you conduct fire lighting activities as part of your training. You must ensure adequate fire safety measures, clear safety zones, fire extinguishing equipment, and participant briefings on fire behaviour and emergency procedures. Even in open woodland settings, fire safety remains a legal duty.
If you work with children or vulnerable adults, safeguarding duties apply. You must have appropriate DBS checks, maintain suitable supervision ratios, and ensure participants are competent to handle tools and engage in activities safely. For children under 16, parental consent and enhanced supervision are required for activities involving knives, axes, and fire.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires you to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all persons affected by your activities. A written risk assessment is the primary tool for demonstrating compliance. Insurance providers, landowners, and local authorities expect to see a documented assessment before granting permission to operate bushcraft courses on their land.
How it works
1. Describe your activities
Tell us what bushcraft skills you teach — fire lighting, knife and axe work, foraging, shelter building, water purification. Describe your site (private woodland, public access, terrain features), participant age range, and any specific hazards like steep slopes, water features, or wildlife. If you work alone in remote locations, mention it and we will include lone working controls.
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant bushcraft risk assessment covering all wilderness skills hazards, referencing the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and relevant fire safety and outdoor education guidance.
3. Instant download and use
Download as PDF and Word. Present it to landowners, insurance providers, or local authority licensing teams, or file it for compliance purposes. £29, no subscription, money-back guarantee within 24 hours.
What it covers
Every bushcraft risk assessment is written in full — covering all wilderness skills hazards, site-specific risks, and participant supervision requirements.
Open fire lighting and fire safety zones — participant positioning and supervision
Knife, axe and saw work — blade handling protocols and safety briefings
Foraging identification — poisonous plant and fungi recognition
Shelter building — structural stability and weather protection
Water purification — bacterial contamination and filtration methods
First aid provisions — remote location access and emergency procedures
Terrain hazards — uneven ground, tree roots, steep slopes, water features
Wildlife encounters — ticks, wasps, adders, and allergen awareness
Weather exposure — hypothermia, heat exhaustion, and wet conditions
Tool storage and transport — secure carrying and handover procedures
Participant competence assessment — skill matching and age restrictions
Lone working as instructor — communication and emergency access
Landowner permissions and public liability insurance requirements
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 compliance
Works for
From weekend fire lighting courses to multi-day survival expeditions, Anyrisks covers every type of bushcraft and wilderness skills training.
What customers say
"I run weekend bushcraft courses in Dorset woodland. Anyrisks covered fire zones, knife handling, foraging risks and emergency procedures — everything the landowner and my insurance company wanted to see. Saved me hours."
Tom Marsden
Bushcraft instructor, Dorset
"I teach forest school sessions for primary age children. The assessment included age-appropriate controls, supervision ratios, and safeguarding considerations — exactly what our school governors needed to approve the programme."
Rachel Green
Forest school leader, West Yorkshire
"I run survival skills courses in the Scottish Highlands. Anyrisks covered lone working, remote location access, weather exposure and wildlife — all the risks specific to backcountry training. Professional and thorough."
Duncan MacLeod
Survival instructor, Scottish Highlands
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| Covers fire, knife work, foraging, and shelter building | ✓ | ✗ |
| Age-appropriate controls for children included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Site-specific terrain and wildlife hazards addressed | ✓ | ✗ |
| References Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 | ✓ | ✗ |
| Emergency procedures for remote woodland locations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a risk assessment for bushcraft courses and survival training?
Yes — if you run bushcraft or survival courses, you have a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to assess risks. This includes open fires, knife work, foraging, shelter building, and working in woodland environments with participants of varying experience levels.
Does the assessment cover all bushcraft activities — fire, knife work, foraging?
Yes — describe all activities you run (fire lighting, axe and knife work, cordage, foraging, shelter building, water purification) and the assessment will cover each activity with specific controls. Fire risk, blade safety, poisonous plant identification, and instructor supervision ratios are all addressed.
What if participants include children or young people?
Mention the age range and we will include age-appropriate controls, parental consent requirements, enhanced supervision ratios, and specific safeguarding considerations. Bushcraft courses for children require stricter blade handling protocols and closer instructor presence.
Does it cover lone working as a bushcraft instructor?
Yes — if you run courses alone or work in remote woodland locations without mobile signal, mention it and lone working controls will be included. This covers emergency communication procedures, first aid provisions, and nearest access points for emergency services.
Is it suitable for both private woodland and public access sites?
Yes — the assessment adapts to your site type. Private woodland requires landowner permissions and site risk assessment. Public access sites require public liability insurance, signage, and consideration of other woodland users. Describe your site and we will tailor the assessment accordingly.
Does it reference relevant outdoor education and fire safety regulations?
Yes — the assessment references the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 where relevant, and HSE guidance on outdoor education and adventure activities. It aligns with industry best practice for bushcraft and survival training providers.
Can I use it for both adult courses and family bushcraft days?
Yes — describe your participant demographic (adults only, families, mixed age groups) and the assessment will reflect the appropriate supervision levels, activity restrictions, and risk controls for each group type.
How long does it take to generate?
Under 2 minutes. Describe your bushcraft activities, site type, participant age range, and any specific hazards (steep terrain, water features, wildlife) and Anyrisks produces a complete, regulation-referenced bushcraft risk assessment instantly.
Also see: The Ultimate Guide to Risk Assessment · Do I Need a Risk Assessment? · Risk Assessment Legal Requirements · Risk Assessment Generator