Wilderness Survival Expert shows us how to make fire (without a match!)

Goodness gracious, a great ball of fire

As part of our Family Adventure Capital Season we've been investigating Bushcraft in Cumbria. This week we were lucky enough to meet and talk with Ben McNutt, owner of Cumbrian Bushcraft experts Woodsmoke. 


Ben did an apprenticeship with Ray Mears and has spent much of his life learning bush-craft from indigenous people around the world. Put it this way if I were to be stranded in the jungle, desert, on an icecap or even on a Cumbrian fell, this is the man I'd want to have around. Most Woodsmoke courses last a week or more; we only had an hour! But even in that he showed us a core bush-craft skill - how to light a fire using only the natural materials around you, technically called the bow drill friction fire lighting technique.

Somewhere up in a clearing in the woodlands, we are offered a lesson in the bushcraft of fire-starting

We'll be profiling Ben later in the season, but for now we just couldn't wait to share some pictures of this magic. One word of warning, please don't try this in your local woods, forest or at home unless you are absolutely sure fire-lighting is permitted and know what you are doing.

Or have Ben with you.

After clearing a space you need to prepare your materials. First comes the drill
  

Then the bow, socket and fireboard are assembled

Then you get organised and ready to generate some heat

The friction produced drawing the bow drill back and forth soon generates heat and smoke 

And where there's smoke, there's the possibility of fire, but not just yet... 

The first stage produces hot embers, from which you can hopefully light your tinder 

The embers are carefully placed in the centre of your dry tinder ball

And with gentle blowing to feed oxygen ....

You soon have smoke, and everyone knows there's no smoke without....  

Fire....

With your tinder ball alight who needs a match?

Now that's what I call a fire-starter

Have you ever made fire without matches? We'd love to hear about your experience. Click comments below and tell us more.

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This post is in the loop at some great Photo Friday Circles. Visit these sites to find more great Photo Friday stories: Delicious Baby and RWeThereYetMom.