Hornet Nest (Words, Pics and Movies)

Wasps, who’d ‘ave ‘em? Er me actually…For me there’s too much hysteria connected with them (worse than the ‘Yuk, snakes are slimy I don’t want to hold it’ misconception) because they are organised, striking, brave, loyal and hard working and there are more than just the ones that take a likely to your sugary pop on a summer day…solitary wasps for instance.

I guess most people who have swung by this blog (thank you by the way) will have seen a wasp or indeed a bee nest, but I wonder how many have seen a hornet nest? Not as many I suspect.

I live near Amwell lakes which is sandwiched between  the river lea and river ash and is fairly well known for its smew and bittern visitors and there’s a prominent hide  to the rear of the main lake which is reached by a long boarded path that ultimately runs between the lake and the afore mentioned River Ash (where I’ve seen Fergal Sharkey fishing but that’s another story) and there’s an old tree stump the other side of the wooden railings that hornets have made their nest in.

We went for a family bimble the other day and after a quick visit to a hide over the far side of the lake headed back and I noticed not one but two hornets flying towards the stump, I've only seen single hornets so two grabbed my attention. It was a moment or two before I noticed a couple more hornets at rest...and then realised that it was actually a nest...and then saw the prominent sign advising that it was there...that we'd managed to walk past first time!

I'd managed to forget my camera and of course fate had meant that I needed it on this occasion but I decided that this was worth another visit with it so I returned minus the family the next day. It was a rather cool and misty day and there were only a few hornets to be seen, both flying a resting so I stood a reasonable distance away to see if they accepted me standing there...they did and I watched for some time whilst taking pictures. The noise of them flying past your head sounds like a whooshing light sabre.

I decided to try taking a little movie footage on my camera and luckily they started to come out of the nest in some numbers when I did. Once I'd got the shots I wanted I decided to make my way home. It was well worth the return trip as they are magnificent. 

Video footage of the hornets

 

 

The Wild Man Of The Woods

I attended a Country Fair in Leyton today and, as always, one of the draws (for me at least) is The Wild Man of the Woods (TWMOTW). A multi skilled musician, singer and raconteur I first met him at the Woodland Ways' World Of Bushcraft shop opening. It was April 2012 and the invited guests were TWMOTW, Perry McGee, The Foragers, The Jerky Shack and a selected handful of ticket (and 'Willy Wonka' golden ticket) holders.

We made our way up the stairs to the centre we were met by a very vocal ballad from TWMOTW which stopped the crowd in it's track (and made me mentally cock my head to one side puppy style). I had several chats with him about..oh allsorts of naturey type things and enjoyed hearing what he had to say.

 (Picture from the World of Bushcraft opening)

Fast forward to last year, I found out about the Country fair in Leyton (which is at the end of the Lee valley park) and instantly I said to my family 'that's TWMOTWs!'...well you can't help but notice him I'd say. I introduced myself and had to wait until the end of our time there until my youngest would have his picture taken, TWMOTWs understood, it goes with the territory.

(Picture from 2012) 

I saw the show advertised on Facebook and we decided to make a day of it again. Again I introduced myself and after a quick look around the nearby nature reserve I bought him some small tree branches to add to his collection which he was doing ID stuff with (and yes I learnt something). 

Half way through the day I asked if he would like a tea and cake, even TWMOTWs stops for cake! He produced his own earthenware cup that a hobbit had given him (and I quote). it was nice to sit down and have a chat with him about allsorts (again).

Please, please do visit his Facebook page and like it! And if he is at an event near you I can't recommend you seeing him in action. (and his fledgling Youtube channel is here). Have a read about the country fair here.





Leyton/ Lee Valley Country Show

There is an annual country fair in Leyton in London which I like to go to with the family and whilst the stands don't change much there is still plenty for the outdoor individual to like both in and around the actual show. There is a large green area and river close by (even a nature reserve) and we had a stroll around it seeing a host of wild flora and fauna in deepest London.

(Geulder Rose and Cat tail) 

There are several outdoorsy stands that catch the eye...



  ...bee (and bat) stands, raptors

...wood turning, willow (and corn dolly stands)

...otters, a smithy and various conservation groups.

  

But it's this chap that steals the show for me, The Wild Man of the Woods. As well as musical interludes and raconteuring and does the PA. More about him here

DD Hammocks Tarp M Review

I recently attended a Hatfield forest wild camp at the end of August that the National Trust organises in conjunction with JP and Pablo (Woodlife Trails) they did various demos and tracking walks the idea of the wild camp is that the attendees to do whatever they wanted (within reason) since they were in a 1000 year old former hunting forest.

As I was on my own with no family what better time to try out a new DD tarp (and whoopee slings) so I made my way to a suitable spot, got set up, then took it down and started again. I decided that the rain that was due necessitated me re-aligning the tarp and hammock to take advantage of more leafy protection...So glad I did.

Apparently the reason most tarps are 3m x 3m is that the material used to make them is 1.5m wide and I'm sure I'm not the only one who has wished they were a little longer as they finely adjust the position of their hammock! I'd considered getting a bespoke one made but the DD Tarp M sizing is more or less what my proposed bespoke one would have been, in length at least.



The dimensions are 3.5m x 2.4m which is a little more like the Aussie tarp that Mr Mears favours but that said it's about 3 times the cost and smaller. As you can see you lose 0.6m of width compared to a standard 3m x 3m but I still found the area very workable as a living space, especially as I elevated one side slightly with a couple of lengths of hazel.

I modified the three central ridge loops by tying an overhand in them because they are much larger than the two on the end and once you've got a couple of prussic tensioners in place the ridge line takes on a concave appearance.



As for the whoopee sling system...I'd always felt that they looked faffy but decided to take the plunge and try them out. I took Adrian Rose's advice and put a split ring on the loop as it could easily disappear into the main body of the loop if you pulled to much. Consequently I'm converted to the point where I wonder if DD Hammocks should sell their hammock with the choice of either whoopies or webbing.

Regarding the larger central ridge loops Nick from DD Hammocks answered the technical reason for the loop size which I sent via email which you may be interested in reading: 

Regarding the loop sizes you're not really missing a technical point. They are bigger because once the tarp is pegged out (in the middle), there is often more pressure on the middle points (if they are pegged downwards, straight to the ground) and so being a little longer prevents excess stress on them (as the middle of the tarp is likely to be slightly lower than the ends of the tarp). The middle loops are still very strong but not as super strong as the side attachment points are due to the placement on the tarp and use of re-inforcement patches at the sides (that makes it sound like the middle ones are weak but they certainly aren't and we do not hear of any weaknesses/ issues with them at all). If the middle sides of the tarp are not pegged at a steep angle to the ground the loops can sit a little loose.

The middle loops on all of our tarps are like this and as you mention its possible to tie a knot to make them shorter if required.

That makes sense, I have used the tarp  since and believe it benefits from two central guy lines (making six in total) but I didn't pull them very tight, rather I added them to just help with the tension due to it being a little longer than the 3m x 3m workhorse which I use four guy lines on.

This is the tarp on a later cub camp with the knotted ridge loops...and gently tensioned middle guys!

The Scout Association shop has now started stocking DD Hammocks' stuff (which I'm rather chuffed to have had a hand in). You can read Pablo's blog entry about this and other Woodlife Trails activities on the official website, and see the discussion about this weekend (along with a link to my Facebook photo gallery of it) here.



Hatfield Forest NT/ Woodlife Trails Weekend

I was lucky enough to attend the very first Hatfield forest wild camp that the National Trust organised a couple or so years ago. I had my two boys with me (no chance of the wife attending!) and it was overseen by JP and Pablo (Woodlife Trails) and as a one off, Brett and Les from Essex Wildcrafts. Whilst they did various demos and tracking walks the idea of the wild camp was for the attendees to do whatever they wanted since they were in a 1000 year old former hunting forest.

Fast forward to the end of August this year and I was due to attend with my boys again...they got what they thought was a better offer and I was attending on my own! I contacted Pablo to see if he'd like a hand setting up on the Friday and so we headed for the secluded site, I met assistant/ mentor Luke and we got the 'chute up in double quick time. I was trying out a new DD tarp and whoopee slings so I made my way to  suitable spot, got set up, then took it down and started again. I decided that the rain that was due necessitated me re-aligning the tarp and hammock to take advantage of more leafy protection...so glad I did.

Pablo asked me if I would be OK to show the other attendees, who we met later, where to go whilst he drove their kit round which I did. After a quick safety briefing they all set up and re-convened for tea. JP arrived later on and folk spent the evening around the fire after a quick Pablo led nocturnal walk before heading for their pits.



Almost predictably we awoke to rain, I was so comfy and only the need for the loo got me up. I did myself a cinnamon and dried fruit bannock and a mini man mountain breakfast in a zebra billy (the parchment paper was an attempt to make the  billy 'non-stick' and it sort of worked.

 

The rain only abated on one or two occasions so the chute bolt hole was most welcome and meant that activities could happen under it which both Pablo and JP did. One such activity was some basic carving (after another safety briefing). We managed to get out on a good  tracking walk in between showers. Lunch was a homemade Dutch oven stew followed by more chute time as the rain was at it's heaviest .



Tea was a curry meal which was an impulse purchase from Cotswold Outdoors which I made a curried 'naan' bannock to have with it...actually it needed it as the contents were nice but a little on the small side. We were given a sit spot talk before heading out after a smoke bath, I was repeatedly dripped on but succeeded in seeing several badgers as close as 15 feet or so-Great stuff.

After we all got back and settled by the fire before bed, Pablo leaned over and said that he and JP had spoken and wondered if I'd be interested in joining the Woodlife Trails' team of assistants...I was absolutely made up with this and despite the juggling of wife points and scouting it's an opportunity I'll try and maximise. It doesn't mean I'm getting carried away mind you, I know that it is a role to help them deliver courses but nevertheless, an opportunity to take.

Breakfast was a muesli with some foraged black and dewberries out of a crusader mug along with a 'bag' of percolated coffee which I purchased from Cotswold Outdoors (but I understand that Go Outdoors sell them too) which I highly recommend, as I do the Arla Lacto-free milk sachets as it tastes good in tea (I used to use Dairystix which packed flat but the producers went into administration).

As previously mentioned I used a newish DD Hammock tarp and whoopee slings for the first time. . Apparently the reason most tarps are 3m x 3m is that the material used to make them is 1.5m wide and I'm sure I'm not the only one who has wished they were a little longer as they finely adjust the position of their hammock! I'd considered getting a bespoke one made but the DD Tarp M sizing is more or less what my proposed bespoke one would have been, in length at least.

The dimensions are 3.5m x 2.4m which is a little more like the Aussie tarp that Mr Mears favours but that said it's about 3 times the cost and smaller. As you can see you lose 0.6m of width compared to a standard 3m x 3m but I still found the area very workable as a living space, especially as I elevated one side slightly with a couple of lengths of hazel.



When the downpour came on the Saturday the tarp performed with DDs usual efficiency but the extra 0.5m of hammock coverage made me feel well protected, the only thing that I'd say needs tweaking is the middle three loops on the ridge line are much larger than the two on the end and once you've got a couple of prussic tensioners in place the ridge line takes on a concave appearance. I've modified the loops with an overhand knot and I'll have to see if this holds next time out. 



As for the whoopee sling system...I'd always felt that they looked faffy but decided to take the plunge and try them out. I took Adrian Rose's advice and put a split ring on the loop as it could easily disappear into the main body of the loop if you pulled to much. Consequently I'm converted to the point where I wonder if DD Hammocks should sell their hammock with the choice of either whoopies or webbing. Nick from DD hammocks answered my ridge loop question via email which you may be interested in reading: 

Regarding the loop sizes you're not really missing a technical point. They are bigger because once the tarp is pegged out (in the middle), there is often more pressure on the middle points (if they are pegged downwards, straight to the ground) and so being a little longer prevents excess stress on them (as the middle of the tarp is likely to be slightly lower than the ends of the tarp). The middle loops are still very strong but not as super strong as the side attachment points are due to the placement on the tarp and use of re-inforcement patches at the sides (that makes it sound like the middle ones are weak but they certainly aren't and we do not hear of any weaknesses/ issues with them at all). If the middle sides of the tarp are not pegged at a steep angle to the ground the loops can sit a little loose.
The middle loops on all of our tarps are like this and as you mention its possible to tie a knot to make them shorter if required.



You can read Pablo's blog entry about this and other Woodlife Trails activities on the official website, and see the discussion about this weekend (along with a link to my Facebook photo gallery of it) here.

Frontier Bushcraft 3 Day Taster Course 31st May-1st June.

I recall seeing a post on BCUK simply titled ‘Paul Kirtley’ and clicked on the link and thought ‘Hmm, I’ll keep an eye out for this chap’. Well this Kirtley chap didn’t need watching because he’s worked hard to build his presence in the wider world of bushcraft.

I was pleased that in this build up he sent me a friend request on Facebook and after a few posts I decided to ask him if he’d be happy to do a spoof email for me to use at Cubs to get them to see that knots aren’t boring, he was only too happy to help and along with one from Bushcraft & Survival Skills editor Simon Ellar and they ultimately became part of an article in Scouting magazine’s Cub supplement which in turn led to me doing articles for future issues. Paul has also done (and is indeed still doing) articles of his own for Scouting magazine and did not one but two articles for the recent Scouting book The Outdoor Manual.

The reason for this prolonged passage is to explain why I wanted to do a Frontier Bushcraft course; Paul’s former prominent position at Woodlore was one factor, the other being to meet the guy who had agreed to help The Scout Association with articles when a middle aged hobbyist bushcrafter asked him across the internet (that strange thing of getting to know someone without actually meeting them).

This happened on the Frontier 3-day taster course in late May/ early June. I’m doing a limited blog about it because I’ve done a course review article for Bushcraft and Survival Skills magazine due out at the end of June and I’ve made it more personal, as opposed to a more factual article and covered some bits that I didn’t include.

The course is in East Sussex and booking is easy and directions good. The rainy half term weekdays gave way to a sunny cloudy end of the week…it can rain on a course (of course!) and you just have to get on with it, but sunny/ cloudy is good. 

I finally met with Paul on a grassy area outside a pub (the easy to find meeting place) and Henry, who folk may recall did a fantastic blog tutorial on a folding bucksaw  (I told him that I hold it against him because it’s *too good*). Also I attendance was assistant Stuart.

The cold spring did give us the bonus of a late, and frankly stunning, display of bluebells in our corner of the 500 acre estate that we were on; the only problem was trying not to inflict excessive damage on them! Luckily there were well worn paths which helped, and when I had chosen my spot to pitch my tarp (I was a bit choosy) I found a small pathway through them to the main camp area which I stuck to.

One advantage was that there was only one other individual who had a real interest in bushcraft which meant that I could chat to the instructors without having to share too much, one disadvantage was that there was only one other individual who had a real interest in bushcraft which meant that there wasn’t much bouncing of ideas around between attendees.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds a big fresh air appetite well fear not, you won't go hungry on the course. I go into more detail in the article but there's plenty for everyone and it's by and large prepped by the attendees. I'm absolutely no fan of mushrooms (except alcohol soaked chocolate covered Judas Ear!) but a vegetarian had some Porcini mushrooms in a stew and I tried one...It must be the fresh air as I rather liked it as it had soaked up some stock.



This course is really three days…three full days of tutoring so expect early starts and late ends to cram everything in. It is also worth noting that nearly all the stuff taught is linked up; fire started with one match fire lighting, lighting then cooking on fire, ferro rod usage, then flint and steel with a tinder bundle as a good example.

I felt that Paul and Henry dovetailed well when presenting a topic, ably assisted by Stuart and if I had to pick a favourite topic from each I think that Henry’s rabbit prep was great, and Paul’s  sharpening demo was very useful to someone whose sharpening needed sharpening (*groan*)…It actually was mostly about sharpening, rather than just a knife porn session. It was a good session anyway on a subject that I needed to improve upon but Paul also looked at my custom made knife which I’d got into problems with and not only talked me through the problem and how to sort it, but also had an initial crack at it to help me on my way! I have a waterstone set at home but I've purchased an oil stone as I seemed to get on well with it…I’ll have a go at the waterstones too because it could be that I am a little more proficient in my action.

On the last day just before we broke to go home (after the stated time, it finished when it was done rather than when the clock said so), Paul called us over and said that he'd spotted some rubbish that had been carelessly dumped and asked for a sweep of the area where we had been; good for him, it's only manners to deal with rubbish properly and I'm glad he did so.

If your aim is to visit different bushcraft schools to experience different locations, styles etc then make sure Frontier bushcraft are on that list…they’ll be the ones to beat in the next Best in Bushcraft awards. I put up a selection of pictures in a public gallery on Facebook if anyone wishes to see them here. 

 



Just one final point to make; Paul explained that he spends about half the year outside so if you ever message him be patient!