Roasted cattail roots

It's one of those plants that has a multitude of uses, from fire to cordage to woven mats to shelter building and not least of all food. The roots are particularly tasty when roasted on the campfire. Obviously make sure you identify the plant correctly first, the new growth can be eaten raw and has a cucumber texture with a slight bitter aftertaste but the roasted rhizome tastes like potato. Give it a try.

Lough Erne expedition

Myself and quite a few of the guys spent a great few days on a mini expedition on Inish Davar on Lough Erne , although a few skills were practised and a few old ones recovered this was mainly a break for the guys after all the hard work they've put in at events in the first half of this year, here's to the second half.

Buzzard Bushcraft at the Scarva game fair 2019

As usual we were asked to put up a stand at this year's game fair in Scarva. The weather wasn't great but it didn't stop around 30,000 people turning up over the weekend and at times it felt like they were all at our stand! In years past just the two of us would do this show but as it's getting bigger every year it took 7 of us to deliver it this time. We made some great contacts and saw some old friends, here's to an even bigger show next year.

Orange tip butterfly

This is the first of this type of butterfly I've seen this year, pics where taken about a week ago, what a beautiful thing.

Seeking a bit more plant knowledge

No matter how much you know about plants it's never enough and there's always more to learn, so I enrolled in a few plant based science workshops in this year's NI science festival to try and get a bit more in-depth knowledge, all class room and lab based classes but very helpful.
Any knowledge is always helpful.

Masur birch.. betula pendula var. Carelica

I cut a birch branch recently to make some simple barrel shaped puukko handles and look what the birch turned out to be, in all the years I've cut and used birch I've never found this.

Clever coastal crows

I was watching the hooded crows on the beach crack open cockle shells to get at the meat inside, they know exactly where to get into the shells.. absolutely fascinating.