By Sean Fagan

Flasks can be used for many things. Often, when I've finished drinking the contents of my flask (i.e. tea!) I stuff my empty flask with some local wild food for home consumption such as, in photo above, wild garlic (Allium ursinum), (Photo: Sean Fagan - East Ireland - Mar/2017).

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The Many Outdoor uses of Flasks

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I'm a big fan of bringing an outdoor flask for both day-trips and multiple-day camping trips.

Admittedly, they have a few drawbacks (such as being a little bulky and heavy).

However, over the years I've found the benefits of bringing a flasks far outweighs the drawbacks.

Learn more about what kind of flask I bring outdoors and 5 uses of an outdoor flask.

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By Sean Fagan

Don't forget to schedule in some rest time when outdoors (Photo: Sean Fagan).

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The Value of Stillness in the Outdoors  

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"I listened to the trees breathing in stillness" ~ Robert Frost

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Now that the longer daylight hours and kinder temperatures of summer are upon us - it's great to be outdoors indulging ourselves with bushcraft or whatever outdoor activity that takes our fancy.

Over the years I've noticed a tendency of many outdoorsy types to fill their days with activities and tasks (often from dawn to dusk!).

Being so actively engaged with the great outdoors is obviously a good thing.

But so is the ability to relax and tap into nature's rhythms.

After all,  nature can be a great source of serenity and inspiration (even healing).

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By Sean Fagan

My trusty sewing kit when outdoors (Photo: Sean Fagan).

A while back, I accidentally ripped my rucksack. It was a small tear. It happens, especially when wayfaring through thorny woodland vegetation (thanks wild rose bush!).

With some dental floss and a needle I quickly sown up the rip.

How did it look? Terrible. I won't be getting any awards for my sewing anytime soon.

So, how did it work? It worked fantastically well!

Learn more about the bushcraft merits of dental floss...

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By Sean Fagan

The jawbone of a rabbit - one of six sign I found while tracking rabbits near Dublin city (Photo: Sean Fagan).

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When you Find a Track...Look for a Sign

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When striving to improve tracking skills - it can be challenging to push ourselves to see (and understand) as much tracks and sign as possible.

Also, some tracking boundaries are quite subtle - such as mentally switching off once we have positively identified a track to species level.

One surefire way I've found to push myself beyond the limitations of track identification - is to actively seek more tracks and sign associated with my initial findings.

Recently I was tracking near Dublin city and found a rabbit track.

Within 3 metres of my initial find I came across 6 different rabbit sign.

This simple exercise of pausing, carefully looking around and expecting to see more - can greatly improve a tracker's ability to discern between obvious and subtle tracks and sign.

But the tracking benefits don't just end there...

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By Sean Fagan

Enjoying a camp fire at dusk (Photo: Sean Fagan, East Ireland, Mar/2017).

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.Tinder Bundle Size and the Small Twig Fire

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A popular way of lighting a campfire using only natural materials in a woodland is the small twig fire.

And a common issue I come across when demonstrating the small twig fire is the optimal size for the tinder bundle under a small twig fire.

Many aspiring fire-skills enthusiasts, especially beginner bushcrafters, either use a tinder bundle that is too small or too compressed or both.

A baseline minimum size I use for tinder bundle size is fist size.

That's a minimum - most of the time I use larger sized tinder bundles.

What this essentially means is collecting sufficient tinder, preparing it properly and just as importantly - constructing your small twig fire in such a way that it easily accommodates at least a fist-sized tinder bundle.

Learn how these three factors, when combined, greatly improve fire-lighting success with the small twig fire - and just as importantly; how to achieve these three elements of fire-lighting success.

COMING SOON...

By Sean Fagan

A typical, deciduous woodland scene with various muted tones of brown, black and green being the most dominant colours. When striving to blend into the woods it's best to camouflage yourself with these woodland colours (Photo: Sean Fagan).

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Improve your Wildlife Observation Skills by Camouflaging the Hands 

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I'm often surprised at the lengths some people will go to purchase expensive camouflaged clothing in order to blend in with nature.

Often such clothing is worn to improve their chances of observing wildlife.

But what is often neglected is camouflaging the hands.

One of the key things to remember about wildlife in general is how keen-sighted they are.

Wild animals live on the edge. Their ability to see danger as quickly as possible is literally a matter of life or death.

To a wild animal - non-camouflaged, moving hands are often conspicuous.

Learn some tips on how to camouflage your hands and minimize their impact on the natural world.

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By Sean Fagan

Among the stunning native woodlands of south Portugal I found numerous track & sign that were very similar to track & sign I find in Ireland (Photo: Sean Fagan).

When you gain competence in recognising a variety of animal tracks & sign in your home country - there is often a significant carry-over as regards positively identifying the tracks & sign of animals abroad.

Why? because of the similarity of track & sign features among closely related animals.

A while back - I spent some time tracking in Portugal and I was pleasantly surprised to find some sign left by an Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) was practically identical to sign left by Irish hares (Lepus timidus hibernicus)...

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By Sean Fagan

On a recent, one-day excursion I came across these resting cormorants, Phalacrocorax carbo - one of many enjoyable encounters with nature I had that day (Photo: Sean Fagan - mouth of the river Boyne, Ireland - Jan/2017).

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Recently, I've been experimenting with 1-2 day adventures.

I wanted to see for myself if there was any significant merit to brief adventures.

I also wanted to see if I could blend my core interest of bushcraft with other outdoor activities I enjoy.

Finally, I wanted to find out if I could have high-quality, brief adventures in areas that are not particularly wild or remote - and still have a fun & memorable time.

So, how did it go?

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