Campfire guidance and myth busting from Kindwood’s outdoor living expert.
The call to nature is an irresistible one, especially after over a year confined to our homes. One of the most primordial elements that helps us enjoy the outdoors is fire, but often we are unsure of how and where we’re allowed to use it.
“Our connection to fire is primal and is replicated in cultures across the world”, says Taylor Gathercole, outdoor living expert and founder of purpose-led ethical fireside living brand, Kindwood.
“Fire has provided humans with light, warmth and comfort for millennia, and despite modern developments, we still find ourselves drawn to the beauty of exposed flames, delighting in their natural movement, sounds and scents.
“This timeless pull toward the unvarnished nature of fire is what led me to create Kindwood. The goal is to provide an offering that enhances Brits’ enjoyment of the fireside experience year-round, both indoors and outdoors, ensuring it is enjoyed in the most sustainable way possible.”
Read on for Taylor’s tips on incorporating fire into your adventures this summer…
Fire fact and fiction
Many people think lighting a fire outside of their own property is prohibited. However, many outdoor spaces allow for campfires to be built. UK beaches are often owned by the local council, which will publish rules that can be followed if you want to light a fire. For the best experience, find a beach off the beaten path that has plenty of (dried out) driftwood to use as additional fuel.
It is also a misconception that fires create a huge amount of smoke. If the correct fuel is used, then little to no smoke should be generated. The best way to avoid unnecessary and pesky fumes is to avoid burning wet wood or green leaves. Instead, opt for certified kindling and logs with a low moisture content – less than 20% moisture is the current legal requirement for domestic burning. This way, you will also enjoy bigger and brighter flames.
Light up your night right
Starting a fire can be easy if you have the right components, and these can be easier to get hold of than you might think. Some landlords of privately owned forests will allow you to collect excess firewood from the land; just make sure to check before you collect. As long as the wood is dry it is suitable to burn.
The tinder for the fire is where you can get creative. Use natural and locally sourced elements such as pine cones, straw, dry pine needles, or wood chippings. Alternatively, recycle household waste such as lint from a clothes dryer, newspapers, or old kitchen roll tubes. Pair these with a good natural firelighter and you are on your way to making a powerful and cosy blaze to gather around.
You don’t have to be a survival expert à la Bear Grylls to start a campfire. As long as you make sure you are set up in an open area and there are no low hanging branches or wooden fences within reach of the flames, then feel confident to get started!
The fun of fire (and food!)
Campfires have a great element of versatility and add so much to the camping experience.
Whether on a campsite or in your back garden, toasting marshmallows over an open fire is a quintessentially warming experience; it’s simple, yet creates so much joy. An open flame can be used to cook all kinds of food, from skewered veg or meat and foil wrapped potatoes for your main course, to foil wrapped chocolate filled bananas for an indulgent sweet treat.
The best fire configuration for cooking is a teepee shape, with the kindling stacked over the tinder – which is positioned on top of your logs – like a pyramid. If a long lasting warmth-giving fire is what you’re after, create a log cabin style fire set up by stacking the kindling in a square on top of the logs with the tinder in the centre. Once lit, top with smaller pieces of kindling.
Fire invokes many senses; the scent of burning wood, the sight of leaping orange flames and the waves of deep warmth. These practical elements of a good camping trip allow us to connect to the nature around us; whether we are deep in the woods or just sitting in the garden on a cool summer’s evening.
Staycation essential
The great British outdoors is shaping up to be the hottest holiday destination this summer. With overseas travel still uncertain and factors such as expensive COVID tests and quarantine putting people off booking traditional holidays in the sun, many Brits are looking to try a new experience in the UK. Camping offers the opportunity to get out and enjoy the good weather, whilst also allowing for fairly last-minute planning, so you don’t have to worry about booking time off only to be left disappointingly stuck in the rain.
Camp sites around the UK are dealing with a surge in demand as Brits hop on the camping bandwagon post lockdown. Popup campsites are becoming more and more common with talk of new regulations allowing them to stay open for six months at a time rather than the current 56 days. This means a wider variety, low cost and accessible campsite options could be available throughout the summer and into the autumn. Taking advantage of this opportunity for a low maintenance, local holiday is a must. Just pack a tent, a sleeping bag, and some yummy things to cook on your campfire and you’re good to go.
Kindwood’s camping dos and don’ts
- DO make sure your firewood has a moisture content below 20% for a safe and long burning flame
- DO extinguish your fire completely before going to sleep or leaving the area
- DO check the local campfire rules as well as checking with landowners before collecting wood
- DO keep your fire contained in a firepit or purpose-dug hole
- DO check the weather to avoid high winds or an unexpected downpour
- DON’T burn plastic or toxic materials, even in small quantities
- DON’T make a fire in an enclosed space or near overhanging trees and fences
- DON’T take firewood from public parks, woodlands or footpaths
- DON’T use chemicals or accelerants to start the fire; use natural firelighters instead
To find out more or to explore Kindwood’s range, visit: https://kindwood.co.uk/
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About Kindwood
Kindwood is a leading purpose-led ethical fireside living brand.
Based in Norfolk and founded by eco-entrepreneur and ex-sustainability consultant, Taylor Gathercole. Its mission is to enhance the nation’s experience of the primal comfort of fire, whilst also being kind to the planet.
Kindwood’s Woodsure certified wood fuel range includes a variety of quality kiln dried kindling, hardwood logs and natural firelighters – both for indoor and outdoor fireside living. All wood fuel products are sustainably and locally sourced from estates within a radius of 80 miles or less from Kindwood HQ.
Already offering garden fire baskets, vintage storage crates, and thoughtfully curated kitchenware, the brand is building its range of elegant fireside and fire related home and garden accessories.
Supporting British craftsmanship and small, local businesses, all of Kindwood’s lifestyle products are hand crafted using locally sourced, sustainable materials in the UK. Crafted with care, they are designed to be iconic, stylish and offer quality and durability.
For Kindwood, sustainability is a given. Whilst providing comfort to Brits, Kindwood’s sustainability credentials are authentic and thorough, with the company using exclusively renewable energy sources, zero plastic and locally sourced product.
The brand also partners with The Woodland Trust, planting trees with every bulk order to offset any carbon produced in the manufacturing and distribution process, and plants two trees monthly for every Kindwood employee via a partnership with Planting Tomorrow’s Forests.
For more info or to explore Kindwood’s product range, visit: www.kindwood.co.uk.
