Good afternoon all. I have hovered around the edges of the site forums for an age now and you are all so wonderfully generous with your knowledge and advice.
I wanted you to see that advice in action.
Now I'm an absolute novice at bushcraft but having read forums and watched the vids I decided to have a little go. (Forgot the camera for this part guys so sorry).
So a little report for you.
Location Local football pitch (It's surrounded by trees). Not a great venue but didn't want to stretch myself. Yet!
Activities extracting birch sap/using birch bark.
Date 07/04/2013.
Weather Snow! Only light and not settling.
Persons. Me Aka Paul aka Dad. My 2 Sons aka big un and little un aka trouble and oh god what's he done now. AKA Daniel and Owen. And Barney AKA That bloody loopy Springer.
Took myself and the boys off on our usual walk of the dog but went with the intention of trying to show the boys a little of what I'd learnt from you generous souls.
I had intended to identify a Birch and show the boys that water could be got from the tree and that the bark had a huge variety of uses. (I knew that the youngest would be keen but the eldest is a pre-teen fascinated by all things technological and I thought I may struggle to hold his attention). After a couple of trees that I thought could perhaps of been Birch I'd almost given up on a positive ID when boom without any question (even for me) a Birch.
Using our knives (we only have Opinels at the moment) we managed to get sap flowing well from the Birch although couldn't manage to get it to flow down a spill/tap? and into a bottle. Also removed a small amount of the papery bark and demonstrated how well it burns. Took a slightly thicker section (being careful to not go too deep) and showed the boys how it could be shaped.
Both lads absolutely fascinated by it all full of questions and keen to learn more.
Retrieved loopy spaniel from large boggy area and headed home.
Back at home we worked on a penny stove together and I have discovered the joys of paracord and cobra weaving.
I'll try and post piccys but it'll be nothing you guys haven't seen before just wanted to give a bit back to the forums.
Needless to say I had packed a 1st Aid kit in case of cuts as we were carrying sharps.
We have a large managed pine type forest about 30 minutes hike away so the next few weeks should see a report of a trip into the woods to collect Maya sticks.
Paul and the kids (and dog).
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Originally Posted by Pslewis
best of luck with future endeavors.
from me too
