For many, winter means less time outside, but it doesn’t have to stop you completely. Yes, if you are juggling work and family commitments around your time out in the woods, the reduced daylight hours can make it feel more limiting and restrictive. But you have a head torch, right? It sounds flippant doesn’t it, because yes, it is far harder to get out and get some decent time out in the woods at this time of year. But it can be really beneficial to push on and do it anyway.  Time outside in winter, not only breaks up the routine of your daily and weekly schedule, but it can take your ski ..read more

It’s easy to get used to the luxuries of modern life – fresh water at just the turn of a tap, heat at the touch of a button, food in abundance delivered right to your door. But what would you do if there wasn’t water from the tap? Or heat from a radiator? And what if food from a supermarket or take-away wasn’t an option? What then? Would you know what to do? Well it raises the question – shouldn’t we all have bushcraft skills? So what ever your reason to learn, maybe we all need to up our knowledge and gain some extra skills. And there are many reasons to do this. Maybe you are looking to get ..read more

The Fox FX-140XL, is a beast of a knife. With a cutting edge just shy of 19cm it is certainly more Crocodile Dundee than a fine craft tool that’s for sure. The build quality is excellent and a very secure, confidence inspiring handle made from Micarta left me in no doubt that this knife was first and foremost a survival knife. I spend most days working in the broadleaf woodlands of the UK. Let’s be clear, this is not a belt knife for the everyday woodsman. Its size alone makes it impractical for all but the most heavy duty of tasks, but then again it was not built for simple everyday use. Th ..read more

Sloes are the fruit of the Blackthorn, so can be found amongst British hedgerows, woodland and scrubland. The amount of sloes found is very dependant on the weather in the spring and summer before they are ripe. If the weather has been hot and dry, then the sloes will be small, shrivelled and sparse. But if the weather has been warm and wet then the sloe season should be good.  So being as we have just had a rather warm and soggy summer, let’s share a few great sloe recipes so we can all make the most of this year’s bumper crop! Let’s start with the classic… Sloe Gin 500g Sloes 250g Su ..read more

The Beech is a genus of deciduous trees in the Fagaceae family. A common sight amongst established woodland, hedgerows and parkland, especially through the South East of England. Beech trees prefer a slightly damp environment with well drained soil, but don’t fair too well with hard winter frosts. This is thought to be the reason that they thrive amongst woodland protection compared to exposed areas prone to lower temperatures. A mature Beech can reach up to 40m if left un-coppiced, and will grow into an impressive domed crown. Bark The bark of the Beech is usually smooth and grey in colour, o ..read more

We’ve been having some impressive summer weather recently. Nice if you can sit and relax. But what about those of us who work out in it? Or what if you are on expedition? And is it REALLY that important to stay cool? Our bodies are constantly working hard to maintain our internal temperature at around 37 degrees C. When the outside temperature rises, our bodies have to work extra hard to regulate and compensate for this environmental change.  When your temperature deviates from this optimum, this is when illness sets in. Our body gives us signs that it’s struggling, but don’t leave it tha ..read more

In a survival situation foraging is obviously an essential skill, so it is good to have a deep understanding of what is safe to eat, where to find it and when it’s in season. But in a non-survival situation foraging also has great benefits. Not only can you provide your body with some great nourishment, but it’s also free! Foraging is a great way to engage in nature, to really appreciate the seasons and truly connect and appreciate the valuable environment around us. Can you just forage anything from anywhere? No! There are some vital points to be aware of here… *Always be 100% sure of your p ..read more

The humble sleeping bag. Often overlooked, under appreciated, but a very valuable piece of kit. Get it right and you have a warm, restful night to recharge for the next day of adventures. But get it wrong, and wow! You’re in for a long cold night of shivering and discomfort, or worse. Sleep is an essential element of good health, and when away on expeditions, adventures, or even just a family camping trip, getting a good night’s sleep can make or break your trip. Without good sleep you are more likely to get cold or fall ill, but are also more likely to make poor decisions which may endanger y ..read more

Mistletoe features in Druid, Greek and Norse mythology in varied connotations but kissing under the mistletoe links back to the plant being a symbol of fertility. Hanging the plant in your doorway was said to bring a fertile and prosperous New Year, and traditionally the recipient of the kiss received good luck. It is thought that it was its unique shape, appearing to just exist on a tree with no obvious roots or connection to the ground, deeming it to be some sort of magical plant with extraordinary properties that linked this plant strongly to folklore and mythology.  Mistletoe growing ..read more

The distinctive Silver Birch (Betula pendula) is not only a beautiful sight amongst the woodland, heath and plantations, but it has some fantastic bushcraft uses too. Its distinctive white/silver bark that gives it its name, and makes it easy to identify, is a common sight as far North as Lapland and far South as Spain. Reaching up to 15m at maturity, the silver birch can be found growing in groups amongst woodland, or thriving as individuals out in the open heathland and parks. Yellow Silver Birch leaves The leaves that are light green in colour during the summer, triangular in shape with too ..read more