There are many television programs showing entertaining viewing about surviving alone in the wilderness, but you know that somewhere out of camera, is a truck load of supplies. The o!d, "now if this goes wrong I'm in serious trouble" is nonsense, are the camera team really going to run away and leave you ?

Back when the world was a safer place, me and my pals would take off during school holidays and wild camp. Basic tents, fishing rods to catch fish to eat, and a diet of beans and soup. We were ten years old. At that time, the old style tramp was still a common sight, some of these guys would hide when they saw us, but others would come and talk, and teach us skills. What I realise now is that many of these men were suffering from post traumatic stress, as a result of what they'd been through in the second world war, and couldn't cope with "ordinary" life.

What the television programs often omit to highlight, is that the people who lived in the way they are trying to show, were more often that not, p!$$ poor, so no high priced Scandinavian hand made axe's, or hand made bushcraft knives. The tools they used were, cheep, modified or home made. Here's a commercially available cooking tripod.

Here's a home made "snotrum" made from a length of rebar, that was given to me by an old traveller.

Cutting tools are always a case for great debate. I found that a £10 "Bolo" from El Salvador is perfect for my needs. It'll take an edge like a knife, and cut like an axe.

For cutting larger wood, a cheap "open" chainsaw chain with home made handles works perfect. £8 worth.

and for a comfortable nights sleep, forget about high tech self inflating sleep mats. An old jute sack stuffed with heather works fine, and it rolls up nice and small. A word of warning though, avoid Bracken.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/spores-for-thought-1364558.html

Also a must, a tick hook.

Regardless of how hot the weather may be, I always wear full length trousers, and knee length socks to avoid picking up these evil b@$tards, but even after taking these precautions, I've still had to remove them from my stomach area and back.

My Polish army tent was successful, but heavy and bulky. Next trip I'll go back to using my "parachute" tipi. It can sleep six and it is light and packs small.