We all need some outdoor clothing, more so as we move away from the equator. In particular, our clothing forms the first line of defence against hypothermia. Here, I recommend three combinations of thermal layers and shell garments which I find are greater than the sum of their parts…
The downside of simple pot hangers is that they typically only afford one fixed position over the fire. If you want to have some degree of variability in the heat you can apply to your cooking and your kettle, then you’ll need some form of adjustibility in any cooking rig or crane that you are using…
In the presentation I explore the value of learning and using bushcraft skills which have proven their worth on wilderness expeditions but also much closer to home, highlighting the key areas of knowledge and how they can be integrated into your day-to-day outdoor life…
Lisa Fenton joins me to talk about her academic research in the realms of anthropology and ethnobotany, in particular her research into the relationship between bushcraft and indigenous knowledge, which formed the basis of her doctoral thesis…
Another full session with answers to questions on knife storage at home, knife grinds for bushcraft, pooping in the woods, how to cook cat-tail rhizomes, how to re-proof bivvy bags, recommended work gloves, billy can sizes, what one item I would take to the woods, and how to move beyond kit obsession…
Recently I was able to spend a couple of days paddling on the Tees. The first day I paddled tandem from Cotherstone to Barnard Castle, a run I have done multiple times before but the water levels are always different so there is no lack of variety. It’s also a very picturesque section of river…
Canoe maestro Ray Goodwin joins me to answer questions on inflatable canoes and kayaks, sleeping in a canoe, avoiding wrist pain when paddling, the merits of back-paddling, advice for a first-time multi-day canoe tripper, canoe saddles, bug suits, skills for a River Spey trip, transporting canoes, moving to larger rivers with rapids and stronger currents and more…
In the second of my Wild Wanderings series of photoblogs, I take a hike through varied habitats, including some wonderful woodland. Along the way I see a lot of spring beauty but also spot a badger latrine and find a weird-looking parasite…
I answer questions about finding flint, wind and shelter, wool blankets, managing fires overnight, if Millbank bags are a niche item, becoming a bushcraft instructor, removing the plastic taste from MSR Dromedary bags, PLCE side pockets and why I like them, plus what are my favourite matches…
I’m joined by John Rensten of Forage London to talk about urban foraging in the city and the advantages of learning about tree and plant identification in urban spaces. We meet in a London park and take a look at plants we find in just one small corner…