Tarps and Knots CPD Day
Build fast, reliable tarp shelters without needing to be a “knots person”. Learn simple systems, essential knots and practical techniques designed for real Forest School settings.
Tarps don’t need to be complicated
For many Forest School leaders, tarps and knots are one of those skills that never quite become second nature. There are dozens of knots you could learn, countless ways to put up a shelter, and plenty that can go wrong once you add awkward trees, wind and rain.
This workshop strips things back. Rather than learning knots for the sake of it, we focus on a simple, repeatable system for putting up effective shelters — and the handful of knots and techniques that make it work.
My CPD workshops are hands-on days for Forest School leaders and outdoor educators who want to develop those skills through practice, experimentation and shared experience.
What You'll Learn
6-Minute Shelters
Get your shelter up quickly, and confidently
Learn the complete system I use to prepare, pitch and pack down group shelters in under six minutes. We’ll look at how your ropes, tarp and pegs work together, how to organise your kit for fast deployment, and how to create a shelter that stays solid throughout the session.
Knot Toolkit
Master the knots that matter
Learn the essential knots that make the shelter system work, what each knot is actually good for, and how to choose the right knot for the job. We’ll also explore useful utility knots for joining ropes and other common woodland tasks, as well as ways of teaching knots so they make sense to other people.
Troubleshooting
Solve real-world tarp problems
Tall trees, awkward anchor points, wind, rain and water pooling can quickly turn a textbook tarp setup into something much more challenging. We’ll work through practical ways to adapt the system, troubleshoot common problems and make good decisions when conditions aren’t ideal.
Designed for people who struggle with knots
This workshop is designed for Forest School leaders and outdoor educators who use — or want to use — tarps as part of their regular practice.
You might be starting from scratch, have learned knots before only to forget them a week later, find yourself avoiding tarps because they feel like too much faff, or already put up shelters regularly but want a faster, simpler and more reliable system.
You don’t need to become a knot expert. The aim is to give you a straightforward shelter system, a small number of knots you genuinely understand, and enough hands-on practice to use and adapt them confidently when you’re back on site.
You don’t need to be an expert. The focus is on developing useful, reliable skills at your own level and understanding how to apply them confidently in your practice.
Next Tarps and Knots CPD Date
Sunday 11th October 2026
10:00am–2:00pm
Warley Woods
101 Lightwoods Hill, Smethwick, B67 5ED
£45 per person
Maximum 10 participants
Booking is managed through Wild Lives Forest School. You’ll be taken to their Bookwhen page to complete your booking.
Want to take it further?
The four-hour CPD workshop focuses on the core skills that make the biggest difference in practice, with plenty of time to work with the system, practise your knots and get individual help.
My full Tarps & Knots Masterclass goes much further. It gives you a complete reference you can return to whenever you need it, with detailed demonstrations covering everything from choosing and preparing your equipment to advanced setups, troubleshooting and teaching knots to others.
Workshop participants receive discounted access to the full online course, so you can continue developing your skills and revisit the techniques after the day.