Natural Cordage. Pine and Silver Birch Roots.

In this video, I will be digging up some Pine and Silver Birch roots to see how well they will work as a natural survival/bushcraft cordage. I will put the roots to the test by lashing poles with them and then test their suppleness and strength. I hope you enjoy the video, thanks for watching!

[@eddiekeylon323]

Your channel has quickly became my favorite in all of KZbin land. Because of demonstration videos like this one, I thoroughly enjoy your style, camera work and energy. Thank you so very much for your time, experience and effort to bring this channel to life.

[@mr.fisher3973]

Great video Simon - those larger roots you can take and splice them in half and essentially double your cordage. Good luck on your challenge!!!

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

Thank you! Yes, I’m going to try splitting the roots - less digging sounds good to me!! 😁 cheers buddy! Alb, Simon.

[@WyeExplorer]

Excellent video Simon. It had the excitement that said, 'This here is a solution and I'm stoked to see how it works.' And wow it worked brilliantly! All the best. Mark

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

Thanks Mark! Yes, I was definitely stoked - I want to use natural materials more often - the roots are brilliant! Natural paracord! Well, almost! 😆 cheers mate, Simon.

[@WyeExplorer]

A pleasure Simon. This was a fabulous take on cordage. I could see you were buzzed up and stoked with it mate. Peace!

[@MTwoodsrunner]

Well done Simon!...i am very impressed...you'll do well in the contest...i'm "rooting" for you my friend! LOL...woods

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

Hahaha! Thanks mate! Really quick and easy bindings - I’m converted! Atb, Simon.

[@TrailguidePictures]

Great video Simon. You've inspired me to give it a go over here once it warms up.

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

Thanks Jason! It is amazing stuff - I was really surprised at how supple they are, a couple of people have since suggested splitting the roots along their length to give more cordage and improve the flexibility even more. Natures paracord. Super strong too! Thanks for stopping by. Atb, Simon.

[@1967AJB]

Far too happy for a man sitting in the mud! Nice film. Best wishes, Andy.

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

Hahaha! Never happier than when I’m sitting in the mud! Cheers Andy. Simon.

[@awesomeoutdoors1786]

Good stuff Simon and best of luck with the coarse sounds like fun 👍🏼

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

Thanks - I’ll need it! Can’t wait, it’s going to be an amazing challenge! Atb, Simon.

[@andrewoutdoorski6113]

Cool video.

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

Thanks Andrew, useful emergency cord, strong and easy to collect. Atb, Simon.

[@DannyWalker1949]

Nice video, Simon. I hope you can find ALL the Roots you need for your cordage in the Wild for your challenge coming up. 🔪⚒🌍

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

Thanks Danny - I hope so too!! 👍 cheers, Simon.

[@martynjones7824]

Great video again Simon, thank you .

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

Thanks Martyn, glad you enjoyed it - I was really surprised at the strength and how bendy the stuff is! Cheers, Simon.

[@dianejacklin4338]

Another good one Simon. I learn so much from your videos thank you

[@TheBushcraftPadawan]

Hi Simon, I'd never considered using Silver Birch roots as I usually gravitate towards (as I suspect many people do) Pine roots. Thanks for the 'nudge' towards this additional resource, I'll be checking it out tomorrow when I head into the East Sussex woodlands.

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

Cheers! If I’d had a bit longer to investigate on that day, I’d had tried to find some bigger ones to make a fair comparison against the pine roots - the thinner ones seemed strong enough to use for thin lashing though. Let me know how you get on! Atb, Simon.

[@billygoatfilms7531]

Brilliant as usual Simon and I was amazed at how strong those tiny thin roots were. Surely you could sneak some of them into your pack when you attend the course. ⛺️

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

Thanks Mike! Hopefully I’ll source them when I get there - I can save space for smuggling in Mars bars then! 😁

[@magicdrshoon]

Another great video! Cheers Si!

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

Thank you - glad you enjoyed it buddy! It’s great stuff, strong and really easy to collect with minimum effort! 👍👍👍 Atb!

[@magicdrshoon]

Simon, a bloke in the woods I've collected it before. For pines/firs, the technique I use is to go about 1.5 m out from the trunk, dig my heel into the ground and drag it backwards (keeping it 1.5m from the trunk, going around the tree) for a meter or so. This tends to expose a selection of roots to choose from.

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

magicdrshoon - That sounds like a much better technique than my random diggings!! Thanks for the tip! 👍

[@timothylongmore7325]

Make yourself a digging stick. It's worth the time. Spruce roots are the best. All species. Hemlock roots are not as strong but are pretty and easy to gather. Good for baskets ect.

[@animalbeats]

Digging stick!

[@jmvreest]

Awesome.. 👍👍

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

Thanks! Natural paracord! 😉 Atb, Simon.

[@bigfatpear]

great video

[@buzzburrows5641]

Great stuff mate

[@donwalker3949]

Hi Simon Do you think roots from wind fall trees would be of use. Might be easier to harvest?

[@martinoutdoors6941]

Just a thought if you do find thicker roots, split them in half, double your cordage. Very little drop in strength. It takes a bit of practice to split them over a good length mind....👍🏻

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

Thanks Martin - great idea - I’ll try that! Less digging has to be a good thing! Cheers! Simon.

[@robertm4050]

Nice intro music on this one. Was that gunfire at 7:11 and if so is there a lot of hunting over on your side of the Atlantic?

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

Hi Robert, thanks! Yes, that was a shotgun. Hunting is popular over here, perhaps not to the same level as in the states, most likely to due to VERY strict gun laws here. Pheasant, Partridge, wood Pidgeon, rabbit, hare, deer all popular to shoot - they often get sold on to game registered butchers so those of us who don’t have a gun licence can enjoy nice wild meat! 😁 Atb, Simon.

[@jimksa67]

Wheres your digging stick? Surely you must know of that! Take a boo at the Aussie Abbo's! They are professionals. ...or get some new gloves somewhere in the bush under a finger tree lol

[@branni6538]

That's a young tree fella and I'm wondering how many roots from one tree you took..................Too many from a single tree isn't good.

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

I didn’t take many and they were only the thin surface roots - nothing that will damage/harm the tree.

[@branni6538]

That's not true. There is a purpose for every root and part that's why it's there. Taking some has an effect but won't cause stress or serious harm. Removing lots from one tree causes stress and is not good. Pollarding and coppicing although done to many species it is a wrongful practice creating severe stress in the tree. The same is true for root stripping. The wounds turn to scars like ours and can but don't always heal. There are functions within trees our species has no knowledge of. Taking afew is ok..............Removing lots or all is not ok. They do quickly restabilize if compromised in balance and do indeed grow a mat quickly. Stress in any living being is not good.

[@OregonMikeH]

Ps: Instagram will be a breeze and is dependable for a Creators reply making it back to his new Subscribers. It's what us Old Time Creators are doing now. Later #1. ... M & K

[@deedowning3327]

Doesn't that harm the tree? Pack some paracord, dude.

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

It doesn’t harm the tree in the slightest. The point of this video wasn’t to pull out a hank of nylon from my pack, it’s to show you where you can get some natural cordage if you don’t have any with you.

[@deedowning3327]

Simon, a bloke in the woods Simon, I understand the point of the video but just seems like pulling up roots would definitely hurt the tree. Anyway, I wasn't trying to be overly critical! I love your videos. Thanks for replying.