Meet the 'prepper' mums getting ready for the collapse of civilisation

TRAINING their kids to use knives and dining out on roadkill... meet the suburban mums ready for the collapse of civilisation as we know it. A surge in "prepper parenting" has seen bookings in survival courses soar, with mothers across the UK stockpiling for a crisis - even if they're called "doomsday damsels" by confused neighbours. This month the deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden told Brits to buy candles and battery powered radios in case power supplies or digital connections went down. And experts tell The Sun that they had seen a 100 per cent rise in people taking survival classes well before this announcement, with women leading the way. British preppers are worried about the wars in Ukraine and Gaza leading to a global conflict, rising energy prices, lockdown and flooding. Survival expert Jason Ingamells, 46, from Matlock, Derbyshire, whose Woodland Ways company offers courses across the UK and abroad, says: “The number of men, women and families wanting to do a day, weekend or even a monthly long course has doubled. “We used to have more men, but now on some courses women dominate. “I am even doing a course for hen parties who are opting out of boozy nights and into survival kits. "I do some courses which show participants how to cook a meal just using what they can forage. "Other courses see us dining on a gourmet meal of fresh roadkill." One of the mums who is ready for a crisis is Kya Fernwood, 47, from Oxford. The acupuncturist and single mother-of-two attended a bushcraft show two years ago with her daughters, aged nine and 13. They learned how to make fires from flint, forage for fruit and mushrooms and how to make a survival shelter. Kya explains: “It was amazing. The girls had a great time and I felt more empowered learning new skills.” While she had been surrounded by burly men in camo kit at the first show, the following year it was a different crowd. Kya says: “There were more women and families than ever before. “In Canada, where my relatives live, everyone has to have general preparedness kits in case of blizzards to survive three days without help. “The fact the deputy PM has asked us to have kits at home just makes good sense." Jason offered her the chance to become an apprentice course coordinator for Woodland Ways. She says: “I do the school run, manage my acupuncture treatment clinic and teach survival courses and bushcraft skills. “For the first time in my life I felt confident making a shelter and fire from nothing in the wildness. I felt I could handle a crisis if I found myself with out resources.” “My daughters have learnt the same skills as me. They can start a fire without a lighter, build a shelter, find drinkable water and make a meal from what they forage. “They are mini little modern bush crafters who can.” Her daughters also know how to handle a knife, use a flint and have "kit bags", which are filled with the key items needed for survival in the woods. Kya says: “Some people might be horrified to see a child under 10 wielding a knife in the woods, but they know what they are doing. “They don't spend time on TikTok or YouTube. They are at home in the woods now. “I am glad my two girls have their grab bags with sleeping blankets, waterproof clothes, batteries, flints, mini shovels and kit to survive.” Instead of eating fast food, the girls dine out on wild foraged salad, pigeon stew, elderflower fritters, woodland mushroom bakes and nettle soup. Kya says: “I know many people will stick up their noses, but now mums, dads and families approach me wanting more information and to learn the skills my girls and I have. “At home my kids both know how to survive a blackout, how to filter water, use a saw, cook on a fire, and what essential items are needed to stay and warm. “I’m not an apocalypse junkie. I am a mum who is prepared." Read more: https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/24962184/prepper-mums-doomsday-damsels-off-grid-survival/ The Sun newspaper brings you the latest breaking news videos and explainers from the UK and around the world Become a Sun Subscriber and hit the bell to be the first to know Read The Sun: http://www.thesun.co.uk Like The Sun on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesun/ Follow The Sun on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSun Subscribe to The Sun on Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/The_Sun/1633225139