Proficient felling of a well chosen tree, using good technique, can seem effortlessly straightforward. On the other hand, ill thought-out felling can become complicated and dangerous. Either way it is one of the more hazardous endeavours in the woods. In this article I highlight the main pointers I teach to people when learning to fell trees…
Episode 22 is made up from some of my conversations at the 2017 Bushcraftfestivalen in Sweden. Guests include Lisa Fenton, Harry Sepp, Jonas Landolsi, Tobias Karlsson, Kevin Warrington, Jonas Als and Mikael Akerman…
In this episode of my #AskPaulKirtley question and answer sessions, I answer your questions on water-indicating trees, encouraging campfires to burn out completely, axe re-hafting in the field, ideal winter hot-tent set ups, potential chimney effects of fire reflectors and bow drill ember failure…
In 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….
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…
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…
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…
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…
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….
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…