Took the boys up the woods again this week for a couple of days, we did intend to set up our hammocks, but couldn't find an area suitable to sling three hammocks up in a smallish area, well none that were safe anyway, the only areas we could find that were suitable either had dead branches overhead or were in the shade of some beech trees, so we elected to set up the tarps instead and get the bivi bags out (had them with us just in case).
The boys practised fire starting with the ferro rod and/or flint & steel, i always make a point to get the boys collecting tinder, kindling & fuel for the fire and let them get the fire going while i set up the sleeping arrangements, glad to say they got the fire going first time and it stayed alight for all the time we were there.
We also practised a bit a of tracking, something in which i need practice as well, fire by friction, carving, knife skills, trap building, did a bit of foraging etc, I'll let the photo's tell the story:
The woods
General view of the camp area, the boys both slept under the large tarp whilst i had the smaller dark green one, we stayed in the same spot as last time to save making anymore fire scars in the woods, although we ALWAYS clear up when we go home so it looks as if nobody was ever there, i don't like having too many different camp fire areas in the woods.
the boys had a bit of a play, especially the younger one, the eldest preferred to sit there and practice his knife skills.
As the day progressed we decided to go for an explore and a forage to see what we could find
We were all amazed at the number of fungi and mushrooms that were around, absolutely masses of them, some edible, some not!!! if anyone can confirm or correct my ID of these fungi, please do.
Birch Polypore
Think this one is a Boletus Porosporus?
Same again.
This i think is a Red Cracking Bolete?
The one thing that did amaze me was the sheer abundance of parasol mushrooms, ive been coming to these woods for a couple of years now, and this is the first time i have seen this many at the same time and some of these were huge
After our foray into the world of mycology, we headed back to camp, on the way we found the "remains" of a Jay that had lost the battle
back at camp the boys and I made a figure 4 deadfall trap.
not an ideal version of the trap, but it proved to the boys you could still trap food, even if all you had to hand was some wood and a knife, or even a piece of flint.
Time was now getting on for our first night out, so dinner was was arranged and duly scoffed.
Time to start turning in for the night, before the eldest turned in we sat there in front of the fire chewing the cud, when we heard a noise behind us, turned our headlights on and saw a toad sliding down the tarp, we followed it for a bit then let it be, also sat there listening to the owls.
Natures TV
Next morning, was just a chill out time, have a bit of breakfast, cup of coffee, sort a few things out etc, we started a slow, ok very slow pack up around lunchtime and eventually got home mid afternoon, not before totally cleaning away the fire and leaving the site as if nobody had ever been there
The boys practised fire starting with the ferro rod and/or flint & steel, i always make a point to get the boys collecting tinder, kindling & fuel for the fire and let them get the fire going while i set up the sleeping arrangements, glad to say they got the fire going first time and it stayed alight for all the time we were there.
We also practised a bit a of tracking, something in which i need practice as well, fire by friction, carving, knife skills, trap building, did a bit of foraging etc, I'll let the photo's tell the story:
The woods
General view of the camp area, the boys both slept under the large tarp whilst i had the smaller dark green one, we stayed in the same spot as last time to save making anymore fire scars in the woods, although we ALWAYS clear up when we go home so it looks as if nobody was ever there, i don't like having too many different camp fire areas in the woods.
the boys had a bit of a play, especially the younger one, the eldest preferred to sit there and practice his knife skills.
As the day progressed we decided to go for an explore and a forage to see what we could find
We were all amazed at the number of fungi and mushrooms that were around, absolutely masses of them, some edible, some not!!! if anyone can confirm or correct my ID of these fungi, please do.
Birch Polypore
Think this one is a Boletus Porosporus?
Same again.
This i think is a Red Cracking Bolete?
The one thing that did amaze me was the sheer abundance of parasol mushrooms, ive been coming to these woods for a couple of years now, and this is the first time i have seen this many at the same time and some of these were huge
After our foray into the world of mycology, we headed back to camp, on the way we found the "remains" of a Jay that had lost the battle
back at camp the boys and I made a figure 4 deadfall trap.
not an ideal version of the trap, but it proved to the boys you could still trap food, even if all you had to hand was some wood and a knife, or even a piece of flint.
Time was now getting on for our first night out, so dinner was was arranged and duly scoffed.
Time to start turning in for the night, before the eldest turned in we sat there in front of the fire chewing the cud, when we heard a noise behind us, turned our headlights on and saw a toad sliding down the tarp, we followed it for a bit then let it be, also sat there listening to the owls.
Natures TV
Next morning, was just a chill out time, have a bit of breakfast, cup of coffee, sort a few things out etc, we started a slow, ok very slow pack up around lunchtime and eventually got home mid afternoon, not before totally cleaning away the fire and leaving the site as if nobody had ever been there
