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I believe you may have hygrocybe persistens var.konradii there, I notice the specimens have mostly conical caps and a white stem base. I think that's the more likely candidate than h. reidii

That's pretty cool, it's a fairly simple set-up but what I've been wondering is how I could make a very primitive forge, using maybe a rock hammer and a rock anvil. Could a blowpipe made from elder wood provide enough air flow to heat the coals surrounding the piece?

With a knife you can also fell small trees, make holes, use it as a strip cutter, use it as a router, use it as a wood plane, use it as a shears, strike sparks off it for the flint and steel method

It's hogweed, there's no doubt here.

I really like that idea. How did you get your hands on all the antlers?

I know what you mean about never using the crook knife again, they absolutely destroy the hands, nice work, I recently made a kuksa myself as well, looks quite similar to yours

Oh okay, thanks guys, maybe you're right that a mouse will be able to get in, but it's going to take several visits to clean out the meat, maybe it's worth a try, I'll give it a go if the vinegar doesn't dissolve the flesh

@BOD, yea I think that's a good idea, I was gona do that but now I've filled it with vinegar so I'm going to wait and see what happens. @Keith_Beef - Sawing it and half and gluing back together wouldn't be as sturdy or as elegant as a solid water carrier and it adds the extra complication of...

Some more interesting replies, @Squishy I don't really want to line it with wax because it shouldn't require it in the first place, since coconut shells are naturally watertight... @lannyman I've considered that but I can't see it working, that flesh is pretty robust and stuck fast to the...

Vineger eh? Why vinegar? Does this break down the flesh and have you tried this? Cheers to everyone else for replies, I have to say I am a bit worried about the rotting process leaving a residue that might taint the water. @Bushcraftmyway, no ants about at the moment unfortunately, this was...

I'm in the process of making a coconut water flask, I've bowdrilled a hole into one end for a wooden stopper, but there's still meat inside. Since there's only a small hole, getting the meat out by gouging and scraping with a flexible wire would probably take forever and I'd probably miss parts...

I'm not really surprised that you've been having a hard time considering the woods you're using. Ivy and willow are great for bow drill but for hand drill you should use superior hearth boards. Teasel and elder are great drills but they need to be used with the correct hearths. Try: Elder on...

I have made a rowan bow, the draw weight isn't very high but it shoots nicely. I have also made an elder flute and it's more or less in tune and plays nicely. I would disagree that elder flutes aren't durable.

Squeaking could be caused by oak or resinous woods

Nice one, but the best use for these has got to be the horsetail pan flute. :D

Beautiful bow, Ii've come to favour this length myself, about 60 inches, not too short to risk breakage and not too long to make it awkward to carry around the woods. I made a cherry bow before but pushed my luck with a draw weight of 70lbs and fairly narrow limbs and I got some compression...

Haha I doubt the Irish species is different, but I recall seeing the pignut leaves starting to appear in the woods at some stage in early march

There are a few little tricks like this, like keeping the dust from your first failed attempt in the notch for the next attempt. Another good trick is to use ground down charcoal or even just small chunks of charcoal as an ember extender in your tinder bundle (if you already had a fire or found...

I would disagree with the two fellows above, I was digging up pignuts and eating them an entire month ago, the season begins as soon as the leaves start to appear, it is now that the plants are starting to flower but the underground parts can be harvested long before this

Very interesting reply and amazing collection of ropes you have there Patrick. You're really pushing the limits of our knowledge in bushcraft and that's what I love to see, that's what's needed if we're ever to feel at home in the natural world, one simply has to expand one's skills and...