If you intend to light a camp fire you will have to pack firelighters and possibly some charcoal. You can send out volunteers to collect wood and kindling - lots of it, especially if the weather has been very dry.

Before building your fire do remember to check wind direction, the last thing you want is sparks or smoke blowing into your tent, or anyone else’s.

To be honest there are several ways to build a fire, but safety must come first. Always start off with a small fire and build up as needed. I like to use bricks or stones laid out in a circle, this contains the fire and enables you to place a metal mesh over the top once the flames have died down, to cook on. A very useful gadget is the two handled mesh clamp. Simply place your food between the mesh, close and away you go. Potatoes are great, but the foil is best 3 or 4 layers thick because the heat can even through foil burn your spuds.

Avoid cooking large pieces of meat i.e. chicken quarters to avoid raw meat inside and burnt on the outside. Burgers, sausages, bacon, fish, steaks, chops, kebabs are perfect for cooking on an open fire or BQ served up with a fresh salad and heated bread (wrap in foil & heat for 5 mins.) Wonderful.

When you have finished cooking, you can kick away the stones and enjoy a tranquil evening around the fire - we never did sing camp fire songs, so I apologise there are none included here *s*.

If leaving your fire early always remember to put some earth over to extinguish, NEVER use water, but ALWAYS ensure your fire is completely out.

Instant, easy and great flavour. OK not quite back to nature, but almost. I do suggest you pack a small portable gas BBQ. They are not expensive to buy, or maybe you could borrow one, but ideal and perfect for cooking breakfast and boiling the kettle on. Cooking methods are basically the same as for an open fire.

KEEPING FOOD FRESH