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Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Answer	—	A: Protection while working with acetone Acetone is often used in nail polish removers, if it's at this strength no you would not need a mask, just make sure you're in a well ventilated room. For high percentage acetone cleaners used to remove resins and such, you should think about wearing a ventilation mask, gloves, and also possibly gog... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Question	—	How to transport diving knives / shears? If I am required to transport my diving equipment (in the UK and Abroad) what are the best practices of transporting my diving knife / shears? If on a plane this can just go in the hold luggage same as transporting any knife, but the UK seems to allow knives and other weapons which are part of sport... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Question	—	What wetsuit thickness is recommended in which temperatures for diving? I'm soon to embark on a chilly scuba dive around 5-7C at 18m, of which we'll be wearing 7mm semi-drys with shorties. The next thickest I think is actually a drysuit for really cold waters, but not sure if there is a thicker wetsuit. However this got me thinking then about diving in warmer temperature... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Inflatable pole less tents Yes, this isn't an uncommon practice for tent manufacturers nowadays. They're normally family tents, big 6-8 man, but you can get some smaller 2 mans which are inflatable. It's generally for the ease of people car camping with kids, the quicker the tent goes up the better, or car camping in general a... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do PADI and SSI qualifications match up? So researching on the net a little bit shows some slightly different certifications than I had thought, however the specialist diver is something you get every 2 specialisations with SSI and the course material tells you you get it before Advanced Open Water, so there may not be a PADI equivalent. ... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Question	—	How do PADI and SSI qualifications match up? In a similar manner to this question: When describing my PADI qualifications with a CMAS diver, is there a well know equivalence table? How do the PADI qualifications match up to the SSI ones? Is there an equivalence table for these two as well? My friend is PADI Advanced Open Water (AOW), however t... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Dozens of dead little spiders in the snow These look like common garden spiders, which range from tiny to about the size of a 50 pence piece, and come in colours from yellow through to green. They're common to see between May and November but you can see them later in the year, potentially. However this maybe another species, but these ones ... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Question	—	Deer activity in the wet Over the years, when out walking and on my commute through the countryside I've noticed that, when it's intensely pouring with rain, Roe deer seems to come out of the forests into open fields to eat. I would have thought being out in the rain would reduce their ability to hear predators sneak up on ... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Question	—	What locations to scuba dive inland in the UK? My husband and I are learning to Scuba dive this year with a friend. We're doing the SSI courses, which require a large number of dives to progress through each qualification. Open Water through to Advanced Open Water requires a minimum of 24 total non-pool dives. We will be doing our open water di... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Nice forest 'around' London for a 2 days hike It is illegal to wild camp in England outside of Dartmoor. A lot of our woodlands are privately owned. It maybe relaxed in places, as in, people get away with it, but you might find that harder down near London. You may need permission to wild camp some areas. However... for forests near London to v... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is there a device to hook anything on a branch? You could look at bungee cord hooks. They're pretty cheap and come in a bunch of sizes, plus you can bend and adjust them to suit your purpose. You can get them attached to bungee cord, as a length of cord or as a loop, or you can purchase them individually. Another option if you do want to use an... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: From the point of view of wildlife, what is the most dangerous component of roadside litter? The thing here to consider most is the biodegradability of what is littered along a roadside. There are items which you can leave and will breakdown pretty quickly - like tissues, papers, and thinner cardboards - though 'quickly' is relative, they will degrade faster than plastics. And most food wast... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can you use a pull buoy in tidal water easily? After having a look on Google I found that yes you can use a pull buoy out in open water, and that they are often used in Triathlons to help the swimmer as they will often be very tired at this point and can allow their legs to rest between the bicycle stint and the running stint. This is as they are... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Question	—	Can you use a pull buoy in tidal water easily? Ok so I'm getting a pull buoy to help with my pull exercises when swimming (and a kickboard for the same with kick exercises) and I want to know if I were to go to a lake or the sea and swim, is it advisable to use a pull buoy in tidal water / open water? Is it easy to use one out on big open water,... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Question	—	Is there anything specific required for a dog first aid kit? You can go into almost any pet store in the UK, especially the big chains, and see first aid kits for your dog. Is there anything specifically required for a dog first aid kit, or will a human first aid kit cover what is needed for a dog as well? (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What's the purpose of dog boots? These boots are designed for a few purposes actually. Firstly, dogs paws can be affected by snow and ice - especially in breeds or dogs unused to colder climates. The boots help protect their paws from the colder temperatures, and also help prevent the build up of snow on their paw hair - which can ... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Question	—	What's the purpose of dog boots? I'm not actually asking about the fashion items, the kind celebrities buy for their dogs... but actual outdoor designed dog boots. What is the purpose of dog boots? Why / when would you use them? (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why do you not aim for the head while archery hunting? It does apply, in some cases - it's actually a preference. For small game such as rabbits a neat little shot to the head with a high powered air rifle will kill the rabbit and save you from having to get the shot out afterwards. This is also most likely with small game that it's going to be much har... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: When/Where do foxes attack humans? Urban red foxes have been known to be a tad vicious or territorial and attack people... but it is not a common occurrence by any means, usually it's due to the fox having gotten itself into a cornered situation, they then act as any wild animal will and potentially strike. There is always the odd new... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to Shoo away a stubborn Stray Dog/Dogs who decides to tag along with you on a hike? I think the biggest issue here is that you're likely to find strays won't respond to commands that, for a normal dog, would work at keeping them from following (stay or wait). I've actually had this experience as well when walking along a canal with my husband, a narrow boat owners dog followed us f... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What precautions need to be taken when night-caching? There are a few, many of which are in common with simply hiking at night, but some are specific to geocaching. Firstly, the old scouts saying of be prepared! Make sure your torches, whether hand held or head, are properly charged (or you have spare batteries for them) as you don't want to get caught... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Question	—	What precautions need to be taken when night-caching? This has really come about since doing some night caches and the issues that arise from doing them. What precautions should you take before under-going a night cache? (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Hydration for pets I actually answered a similar question over on Pets not long ago... Warm weather walkies and water... however you've asked in a bit more detail so here goes... How can I know that the dog is perfectly hydrated? The dog will refuse water given to them if they feel like they've had enough to drin... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Question	—	What are some heavy-duty alternatives to a long line for walking a dog on rugged terrain? Ok so we've a Shetland Sheepdog, roughly 6kg for his max weight, and he has a pretty decent harness (as in you can pick him up from it and it doesn't hurt him, choke him etc) but he only has a decent short lead. It's thick, ropey like climbing rope, and has a massive clasp that can support his weight... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Question	—	Why / when to limit how much you gather? I've often read and been told that with foraging less is often more. Whilst you may need X kilograms of a berry or flowers (like elderflowers) you should never pick a bush clean. How can you estimate when to move on to the next bush, or not pick at all, would it be like leave at least half? What's... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Question	—	Are Hawthorn berries edible? Being a bright red berry the old saying about avoiding red berries sticks to mind but I do remember reading that Hawthorn berries, or Haws, are edible... Is this true? Is there a seed to watch out for in the Haw, or are they like a raspberry / blackberry? (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to start foraging in the UK? Foraging is actually really easy in the UK, there are plenty of easy start plants and berries you can look for. Do you require anything specific to start doing this? Realistically, no not at all, as some plants you can forage in your own back garden. However, it's a good idea to get yourself a ... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Question	—	How to start foraging in the UK? For someone who has never done it before, what is the best way to start learning how to forage in the UK? Do you require anything specific to start doing this? (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to tell if it's safe to jump an obstacle on horseback? Firstly, the best way to test if an obstacle (commonly called a jump) is safe to jump is to walk around it and give it a once over. This can be mounted or dismounted leading the horse. What you want to look for is holes or unevenness in the ground - usually caused from jumping in the wet and the gr... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Question	—	How to tell if it's safe to jump an obstacle on horseback? How would you tell, either from dismounting or from horseback if it's safe to jump an obstacle? Can you always assume a cross country obstacle will be safe to jump as well? (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Prohibited to walk through/over historical significant areas? Great question. In the UK a lot of historical sites are not only accessible but encouraged to explore! You can hike around and in many hill forts, for example, many of which are on National Trust property so they often signpost how to get to them. You can (and I have!) hike over the Nine Barrow Downs... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Question	—	Are there any inedible seaweeds on the UK coastline? So I'm quite into foraging, and seaweed (the real thing not chinese take away stuff...) is supposedly very nutritious for you and very easy to forage up, but are there any seaweeds which are not edible, or possibly not worth eating, on UK shorelines? (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Question	—	Does Life Paint effect waterproofing? I got given a free can of Volvo Life Paint, the idea being you can spray any material and it'll become reflective under a light source. On the can it simply says it's less effective on shiny materials and that it'll wash off. Does anyone know if this will have any negative effects on the waterproofi... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What locations am I likely to find sloe bushes? Yes loads! They're currently a very popular hedge bush. You'll likely find them along all new housing developments. Especially speaking for in the South of the UK, my development is only 4 years old and we have them there - much to my pleasure! My old development is now around 15-20 years old and has... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What time of year is best to forage sloes in the UK? The best time of year in the UK to go foraging for sloes is from mid-October to early-November, with the best time being after the first frost in this time frame. Allowing a frost will help the berries be less tough - their skins should burst slightly. Some people say don't worry about the frost and ... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Question	—	What time of year is best to forage sloes in the UK? What is the best time of year and conditions required to pick Sloes, in the UK, for gin and jellies? (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Question	—	How to prevent frost / ice damage camping equipment? When camping in summer rain overnight or dew in the morning is fine as it'll likely all evaporate off in the day. When camping in winter dew, rain, or sleet could lead to frost and ice on the tent overnight. Ice tends to make things brittle. My line of thought is along the lines of having to pack up... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are there mouflons without horns? Quoting Wikipedia: The horns of mature rams are curved in almost one full revolution (up to 85 cm). You could have seen a young one or a female. Females can be horned or polled. (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What does a dark colored fur mean regarding a jaguar It's possible that what you saw was normal for a jaguar. The Panthera species (leopards [Panthera pardus] in Asia and Africa, and jaguars [Panthera onca] in the Americas) can have melanistic colours like many species. They're commonly known as Black Panthers. Sometimes you can still see a leopard / ... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Plus size wet suits? I cannot say this for all brands - as with any clothing item brands have different versions of sizing. I can be an 8 in one store but a 12 in another, go figure. I'm looking at Rip Curl as they had a great size chart. You'll have a few factors here as having the incorrect wetsuit size can lead to a ... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to keep my legs warm in winter? One thing you can look into are long-legged thermal underwear - this wouldn't effect how you look on the outside as they go under your clothes and create an insulating layer to help keep you warm. Women can get away with this in everyday life with a nice pair of tights. So for city life, as you state... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can you identify flying bats? I absolutely love bats and always have. In the UK we have eighteen species of bat. The Bat Conservation have a nice list for all the common UK species, including those which breed in the UK (which is 17 out of the 18 species, so we're doing quite well!). The above link also has a recording of the ... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to help birds with water? Providing water for birds in summer is always a brilliant idea, not just to drink but for them to have a nice bath in! Usually bird baths are actually kind of shallow, or rather the edges usually are dipping gently into a deeper pool in the middle. This kind of dish on a balcony would suffice. Our... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What type of bird seed attracts the most amount of birds? This answer may apply to other countries but is pretty cert for the UK. Bird feed sold in the UK (from big chain pet stores, to garden centres, to little corner shops) usually comes with a time of year printed on the packet. This can be Spring-Summer, Winter or All Year for example. Which is because... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do you keep your dog cool while hiking on hot sunny days? There is a rule of thumb here that our dog trainer taught us which is, if you cannot hold your hand on the ground for more than 5 seconds, pavement, dirt etc, it is too hot for your dog to be walking on or be out in. This can be taken with a pinch of salt if you are for example at a beach, the sand m... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Question	—	Is there a difference between Trail and Fell running? I recently read an article by Ordinance Survey about trail runners for beginners (my interest has sparked due to my recent uptake of running which I do cross country through parks and fields), in which is stated that Trail and Fell^ running are often used synonymously, but that they are in fact diff... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Question	—	How to make a traditional torch? How would you go about preparing an old fashioned torch for use in survival situations where an electrical torch has failed? (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the best way to store paddles? Overall I think you should be okay with just making sure that the contact points on the oars are a bit padded, or at least, the contact point is not sharp. That way it shouldn't rub on the oar and degrade or scratch the finish. Rubber is a common way to keep oars in place without scratching the finis... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Where/how can I catch American signal crayfish in the UK? First things first you need to contact the correct authorities. You require written permission to trap crayfish in the UK. There was an episode of River Cottage where they trapped them on the River Kennet. The Gov website doesn't list where you can or cannot trap signals, as you need landowners and... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What should I bring home foraged mushrooms in? You could actually try a mushroom bag, which is basically a cloth bag with a plastic liner that usually has a draw string to keep it tight. My mother in law has one, she uses it for shop brought mushrooms sometimes (you can also get similar potato ones) but the idea then is you can store them straigh... (more)	—	over 9 years ago