Thought I’d challenge myself here as historically I’ve been crap at firelighting. I mean, I can pull out a BIC and some newspaper and chuck veg oil on kindling, but apart from that, nope.

Got stuck on a rock in my Fiesta on the way there and almost didn’t find the place. Luckily Lizzie came out to welcome me in.

She led us through fields and woods to the base camp, pointing out useful trees on the way.

NATURAL TINDERS/FIRESTEELS

First up was learning how to use natural tinders with a flint and steel. I have my own, but after using Lizzy’s concluded hers worked a lot better. I have tried reedmace and birch bark before.

We tried out:

Reedmace seeds

Fireweed seeds

Thistledown

Pine fatwood

Birch bark

Cramp balls/King Alfreds Cake fungus

After that it was time for another tour of some different trees, and we gathered some birch twigs. Birch contains flammable oils, and is virtually the only bark useful for firelighting.

CHEMICAL FIRELIGHTING

Lizzy added vegetable gelatin to potassium permanganate. This used to be used to purify water before the advent of Aqua Tabs. Amazingly, you even add a few drops of water to get the reaction going – and get fire.

A word of warning – if you order these two ingredients together on Amazon, the authorities may get nervous. This is a classic way to make a bomb!

PRESSURE FIRELIGHTING

Now this was one I have never heard of. Lizzy pulled out a metal tube with another that slots in, forming a tight seal. When you force down the inner tube, the pressure creates an ember. That’s nuts! How it works I have no idea.

SOLAR FIRELIGHTING

One for those lovely reliably sunny countries. The parabolic mirror concentrates the sun’s rays into the centre spike. It is apparently quite fast. Good for smoking cigarettes in Spain. Not so good for winter in Blighty.

BOW DRILL FRICTION FIRELIGHTING

First we all had a go at making fire with LIzzy’s friction fire sets. The two guys on the course made fire. I ALMOST made fire. My bow was purring sweetly, I had lots of smoking black ember dust – then I wore through the base plate wood and had to start again.

Here Lizzy demonstrates how to prepare for the ember, making the nest, setting the ember on fire in the ‘nest’!

Last but not least, our challenge was to make a working fire bow drill set. We sourced willow for the base, coppiced hazel for the drill and 2’4′ hardwood blocks for the thing at the top, which I can’t remember the name of. We made the bows of hazel and paracord.

It was at this point, axing wood for the base block, that I sliced my thumb. I only caught it on the edge of the axe but went to Minor Injuries anyway and got butterfly stitches and a tetanus shot. Not too worried, the axe was clean and very sharp!

Great day out and well recommended. Lizzy teaches in Surrey.

xx Hedgewitch Kat xx