Blades: What can you do with a 4" Knife?
British Red

The purpose of this shelter building was to erect a fast shelter using only local seasonal materials. The object was to be warm and dry within one hour (now you see why I abuse my knives- 21 bundles of around 25 bracken stems cut in 20 minutes!)

Okay - Step 1

The normal way to build a "lean to" is to drive in two Y shaped stakes and put in a crossmember. On this site ther are loads of hazel stools so finding two trees close enough togetherto make side supports is no poblem. A cross member is placed into the natural branchsupports. The cross member must be at least 6’ high.

Step 2

Indents are chopped out of the cross member to support three upright stakes that are sharpened and pressed into the soft clay soil. These are ties in with natural material. Now on this site we have the choice of willow bark, nettle fibres or bramble. Given I was doing some on site coppicing, we used green willow bark (later we switched to a hank of 550 in my pocket for speed - this was more to prove it was possible).

The angle must be steep (>60 degrees) to let water run off.

Step 3

Additional hazel cross members are tied into the uprights to create a framework on which the thatch can be supported. About 25 bracken stems are tied together into a thatch bundle. Thatch bundles are tied to the framework starting from the bottom.

Step 4

Thatch is tied across the bottom horizontal layer – really push the bundles together – youneed a really tight fit to keep the water out!

Step 5

Put the next layer on further “down” than you think and slightly offset from the layer below.The point is to make the water run down over several layers of thatch. Each higher layer should fill in any gaps of the top of the layer beneath.

Step 6

Finish each layer off. Each layer is half a bundle offset from the layer below (like a Flemish bond in brick laying)

Step 7

Finish right up to the top of the shelter.

Step 8

Tie additional hazel withies over the top of the bracken to keep the bracken flat. This helpswater run off and stops any risk of your material “blowing away”

Step 9

A thick, 3’ wide layer of branches is put into the angle of the lean to. This lifts you off theground for insulation. Branches are quite springy – like the springs in your bed – but like themthey need a softer top layer.

Step 10

A HUGE layer of soft vegetation is placed on the branches – this was 18” thick before we layon it – it packs down to 2” of thick solid padding.

The shelter was built by two people in an hour of continuous hard work – if theres two of you,you could build one big enough for two in an hour and a half (3 man hours). But on your own,think two hours realistically. But, thatched well and with a trench fire in front, you will be dryand toasty for a week or so - and more comfortable than any "closed cell" kip mat.

The brew was to prove the knife was sharp enough to feather a firestick at the end ;)

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