THE Young Rangers' countryside walk took place in the Wyre Forest on a sunny autumn day.

At first, using one of the well-marked tracks, the Young Rangers walked through a deciduous tree area, stopping to take note that practically all the colours of the rainbow could be found in the forest at this time of year.

The marked tracks are all very well, but most of the Young Rangers were keen to go slightly off the beaten track into pine woodland. Many of the Young Rangers had a go at using a compass and leading the way.

The Young Rangers also spotted mushrooms of all shapes and sizes, late in the season this year.

Thanks to some good first-time navigators, the group all arrived back safely to civilisation.

On a Sunday afternoon the Young Rangers walked off into Hurcott Woods ready to fight for survival.

They arrived at a clearing deep in the woods and were split into four groups.

Then they were given a bag per team, which included one camouflaged blanket and some rope.

The scenario of the situtation was explained to them. The plane they were in had crash-landed, the bag was all that was left from the plane, and they were stranded so, until help came, they must survive.

Each team built a shelter using the blanket, rope and anything they could find in the woods - eg logs, the trees to attach their shelter to, leaves etc.

Each team gained points on how waterproof and windproof their shelters were.

Points were deducted if anything was left on the floor, as this could be washed away.

The teams then had to build a fire but all they had was one match and each team was awarded points depending on how successful their fires were.

Each team was given the opportunity to win food to cook on the fire which was shared by all the Young Rangers. No-one went hungry and everyone survived.