Fire lighting skills in Brechfa
Written by Tir Coed / Wednesday 25 January 2023
Thanks to the Brechfa Community Wind Farm Funding our winter Woodland Carpentry course is well underway in Brechfa with a great turn-out of 14 trainees joining us at Keepers to learn new skills in green woodworking and gain accreditation.
This week, with a sudden drop in temperature, we practiced the many ways to light a fire including using a hand drill, flint, firesteels and even a magnifying glass! We collected and tried out different natural materials to use for tinder, fed our fires using kindling foraged from the woodland floor and reaped our reward as we warmed ourselves up.
“It’s great to get out and make your own fire, it’s something I used to do a lot of but not so much anymore” commented one trainee. “There’s something so rewarding about it”, said another.
Not only do you get a huge sense of achievement from lighting a fire, but tending to or watching a campfire has been scientifically proven to help you relax, and can even reduce your blood pressure.
“We’ve tried many different techniques for lighting a fire, alongside which we’ve been learning about fire safety, managing risks and protecting the natural environment. Giving people the knowledge and skills to work and to enjoy themselves responsibly outdoors so they can reap the wellbeing benefits of doing so is what we’re all about”.
-Martyn, Carmarthenshire Mentor.
