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Thursday, 11 November 2010 14:16

101 Uses for Stinging Nettles by Piers Warren is an interesting paperback book that I purchased last week from an online retailer.

How much do you know about a plant that most very young children can easily identify?

Thursday, 11 November 2010 09:51

For those of you not aware there is a most excellent website and forum dedicated to bushcraft and the natural environment – Bushcraftliving whose philosophy is to “Keep to the Spirit of the Campfire”. The forum is fun and informative with good moderation from some of larger than life characters on the UK’s bushcraft scene.

Thursday, 04 November 2010 15:38

There has been an excellent broadcast on BBC Radio 4 this afternoon about a village near our home. Pluckley is reputed to be the most haunted village in the Britain and have know of many folk that have seen things that are unusual!

Sunday, 31 October 2010 07:33

Whilst researching ancient yew trees I stumbled on a fantastic webpage 50 Most Beautiful Trees Photography I particularly like the monochrome photographs – for me these really seem to capture the true essence and being of the trees. This really reminds me to read through the manual for my Canon EOS 40D, although easier help is on hand as we are planning a bushcraft and wildlife photography course for 2011:-

  • Wildlife Photography
    Discover how to get the best from your camera with practical and technical advice from a professional photographer.

This is listed on our Courses page

I’m looking forward to being the student on this one!

Saturday, 30 October 2010 10:43

I was sent a most fascinating link via our Twitter page that graphically details carbon emissions.

A footprint comparison of total carbon dioxide emissions by nation and per capita shows there’s plenty of room for smaller countries to reduce their carbon footprints. By Stanford Kay

This really is worth checking out and shows some startling results!

Friday, 22 October 2010 22:06

Rose hips have been most prolific this year here in Kent. We have watched, with great interest, the seasons roll by and the abundant flowers developing into a glut of fruit. Only now have we been able to harvest the pendulous, succulent crop from our local hedgerows. Armed on this brisk October morning with beautiful wicker gathering baskets and a most useful Swedish berry picker were we able to gather sufficient supplies.

Thursday, 21 October 2010 11:39

An interesting article about the possibilities of Stone Age technology.

“Using the techniques learned during the project, called “Immaculate Telegraphy,” an entire telegraphic network could have been constructed in the Stone Age. Motherboard producer Kelly Loudenberg joined O’Shea as he sought to bring this miraculous, insane, and wonderful technology to life.”

Monday, 18 October 2010 15:52

I recently spoke to Phil Hawkins of BushLife Essentials regarding his excellent Eco-Burner to ask how and why it worked so well. Phil had this to say: -

“The Eco Burner was inspired by an article about 3rd world country cooking inside huts. The design is also very similar to another very much smaller item that is fan assisted.  As I try my best to recycle all that I use to turn into something useful I was just stacking up a load of blasted, partly cut cylinders one day and suddenly saw the opportunity and the large Eco Burner design was born.

Thursday, 30 September 2010 13:01

I have just collected my Eco-Burner from Phil at BushLife Essentials and I must say how pleased I am with both the stove and the excellent service. I’ve spoken to Phil several times and on our last meeting at the Weald Woodfair I commissioned him to make me an Eco-Burner with removable legs and brackets for kettle, billycans, frying pans, etc.

Thursday, 23 September 2010 15:14

Whilst out walking the local fields and woodlands near my home in mid-Kent I was fortunate to find the shed skin of one the United Kingdoms six native reptiles, which are the adder or viper (Vipera berus) , grass snake (Natrix natrix), smooth snake (Coronella austriaca), sand lizard (Lacerta agilis), common lizard (Lacerta vivipara) and slow worm (Anguis fragilis).