n this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer questions about bad-tasting pine needle tea and toxic needled species of tree, working on bushcraft skills and knowledge indoors or at home, fire plough in the northern temperate zone, required fitness for my wilderness expeditions, easily identifiable plants for wild teas beyond nettles, how to learn to navigate at night and my opinion on Paramo clothing…. Read more >>
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In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer questions about what plant can be used for a midge repellent, processing horse’s hoof fungus, tarp set-ups, kit weights and load outs, sleep rotation for fire watches, the efficacy of Platago major as a healing agent vs yarrow, as well as having a bit of a rant about fire reflectors… Read more >>
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Sarita Robinson, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at UCLAN joins me to talk about her recent work, researching and quantifying various benefits to our wellbeing of spending time outdoors, undertaking bushcraft and other activities. Along the way, our discussion takes in areas such as stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation, sleep hygiene, blue light from screens, melatonin, digital detoxes, camping, green spaces, outdoor activities and of course, wellbeing… Read more >>
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While seeking out some water mint in the bottom of a lovely, verdant, narrow forested valley, I also documented some common trees and plants of damp ground, which are very representative of this type of wet woodland in the UK. I also took the opportunity to include some common fungi… Read more >>
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While the Crake is a short river, it’s definitely a worthwhile adventure in canoe. It’s a narrow, and often rocky, creek of a river, never reaching any great width. Three of us headed to Coniston Water in the English Lake District, out of which the Crake flows for a day of adventuring by water, some of which literally became bushwhacking by canoe… Read more >>
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I find myself back in the Lakes again. These days I’m here a few times through the year. There are various reasons for this but a fixture each summer is a canoe-camping programme, where we live by the side of the water for a couple of weeks. For the past four years these courses have been scheduled as a block in July but this year, we moved them forward to June. Every year is different anyway but being here a month ahead means it’s different again. It’s good to see the differences, some subtle, some large. Here’s what caught my eye…. Read more >>
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James Raffan, scholar, outdoorsman and celebrated Canadian author joins me to discuss adventure, risk, failure, teaching, wilderness journeying, lifelong learning, personal development, human potential and journal keeping, along with characters such as Kirk Whipper, Bill Mason and Sir George Simpson of the Hudson’s Bay Company… Read more >>
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In this episode, I answer questions about the longevity of pathogenic organisms in water containers, magnifying glass specifications for fire lighting, the dangers of branches dropping in woodland, umbrellas for bushcraft and camping, resin content in bow-drill materials, and shorts (yes, shorts)…. Read more >>
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In this episode of my Q&A show, I answer questions about surprisingly smoky firewood, clean clothes and hardened hands, water purification by evaporation, iodine for wounds and water, investing time in leatherworking skills, my philosophical starting point for bushcraft… Read more >>
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It’s often said that you can’t learn bushcraft skills overnight, that there is always more to learn, that many skills take years of practice to even approach mastery. So, how does the average person with a job and a combination of any or all of kids, mortgage, family commitments, weekly shopping, gardening, DIY, and who doesn’t live outdoors, make significant progress with these skills? Read more >>
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