BBQ season will be in full swing in a few weeks and to give you some different types of BBQ inspiration here’s a look at how BBQ is interpreted around the world!

Japan

Firstly Yakitori. This type of BBQ style is a popular street food. The bamboo skewers are loaded up with chicken grilled over white charcoal. This burns longer at a lower temperature and doesn’t produce smoke. Yakitori is also a general term for grilled skewered meat but typically refers to either chicken or chicken innards.

South Africa

The South African braai centres on cooking meat, contributed potluck-style, with a wood-burning braai stand, or grill. Popular components include skewered lamb, sosatie, and boerewors, a South African sausage.

India 

A tandoor is s a cylindrical clay oven with a heat source that’s either wood or charcoal. It’s something of a cross between a traditional BBQ and a convection oven that gets hot, up to 900°F. The results are juicy skewered meats that are baked in their own smoke creating a smoky flavour. Bread like naan and cheese or fish marinated in yoghurt in a dry spice mixture are cooked in tandoors.

Indonesia

Ikan Bakar is a method of cooking fish over a bed of charcoals. The techniques vary throughout the islands but the fish is often butterflied, marinated in a spice mixture and placed between two grates or wrapped in banana leaves that go directly on the grill. The sauce often includes shallots, coriander, garlic, tamarind, turmeric and chillies, and can range from spicy-sweet to fiery.

Mongolia

Khorkhog is an ultraportable cooking method. Lamb or goat is put into a metal or sometimes a wooden bucket. Water is then poured into the bucket along with hot stones which create steam. This cooks the meat into something similar to a dry stew.  Alternatively, carrots and potatoes can be added into the bucket. As well as the bucket is sometimes heated from the outside.

Pacific islands

Earth ovens are among the most ancient ways to cook. While most of the world has moved on from using them, they’re still used commonly throughout the Pacific islands. While the cooking methods differ from island to island, cultures throughout the Melanesian and Polynesian Islands. The rest of the Pacific, still bury their meat in a pit in the earth. For this type of BBQ, the meat is generally marinated, finished with a savoury glaze and topped with tropical fruit.

New Zealand

Barbecues are a popular activity in New Zealand. Foods cooked include beef, lamb, pork, fresh fish, crayfish, shellfish, and vegetables. Additionally, sausages are a popular element of barbecues. A New Zealand barbecue is a mix of American, British, Australian, South African and Pacific Island styles. New Zealand’s Maori have the hangi, a type of earth oven, used for cooking on special occasions.

Korean Barbecue

This type of BBQ is a popular method of grilling typically beef, pork or chicken. Dishes are prepared on gas or charcoal grills built into the dining table. There’s no Korean barbecue dish better known than Bulgogi. This is served alongside fresh vegetables, made from thinly sliced beef sirloin and is marinated with sesame, scallions, soy sauce.

United States

Lastly America, there are Four major barbecue styles in the United States that are commonly known. North Carolina and Memphis that represent the oldest styles. Kansas City and Texas, which use beef as well as pork. The U.S. has a range of contemporary suburban barbecue equipment and styles. For instance, these consist of baking, grilling (charbroiling, grid ironing, or griddling), braising (by putting a broth-filled pot on top of a charbroil-grill or gridiron-grill), or smoking various meats.

The Uk’s wildlife is declining. 1 out of 10 wildlife species are at risk of extinction. In 2016 the number of critically endangered animals reached 165. The UK is now considered one of the most nature depleted countries in the world.

To learn more about UK’s wildlife check out the Wildlife trust!

These are some of Britain’s endangered animals and some you may not know!

Tortoiseshell butterfly

Butterflies have been in decline in recent years. However, the small tortoiseshell butterfly was once one of the UK’s most common butterfly species but in 2013 it was reported that there had been a decline of 70% in the past 10 years.

Hedgehog

These cute creatures have seen a dramatic decline in the last 70 years. There were an estimated 36 million hedgehogs in the UK at one point. However, they currently stand at a population of one million. You can help these much-loved animals by being mindful when creating a bonfire [make sure to use Firemizer and Firebuilder] as hedgehogs love to hide in piles of wood. As well as this when raking leaves, check the area first for any hedgehogs hiding in leave mounds.

Scottish wildcat

Already extinct in England and Wales due to habitat loss as well as being interbred with domestic cats they are losing their genetic identity. There’s only 200 left in Scotland and conservationist are planning to release captive European wildcats to try and save the species.

Red squirrel

They have been in decline since the early 20^th century and it is estimated they have dwindled to an estimated population of only 140,000. Compared to the American grey squirrel at 2.5 million, pushing the red squirrel out of most areas. Red squirrels are most commonly found in the far north of England and Scotland.

Turtle dove

Since 1970 the turtle dove has declined around 70% since the ’70s and now are on the global red list for endangered species. Scattered around southern and eastern England locations is where you could find them. Farmers were likely to blame for their decline however many are working with the RSPB to create feeding habitats for them. As well as this many turtle doves are shot by hunters in the south of Europe further reducing their numbers.

Hazel dormouse

These dormice have been around for than 10,000 years, they’ve been in the UK since the last ice age. Over the last 25 years, the population has decreased by 75%. However, there have been efforts to repopulate these animals. Breeding pairs were taken to a location in Warwickshire in hopes of introducing them into the wild.

How To prepare for a camping trip

Before you embark on your camping adventure it’s wise to check out this page from the Woodland Trust all about where you can camp.

Packing

Make sure to pack only essentials, sleeping bag, non-perishable foods, stove, first aid kit, sleeping bag and tent! For making a fire don’t forget to pack Firemizer and Firebuilder, they’ll keep you warm during the night for longer!

Food

When cooking try using the traditional campfire instead of a camping stove. You can use Firemizer in the campfire which will get your fire to cooking temperature much quicker.

Top camping foods

• S’mores
• Hot dogs
• Burgers
• Fish

S’more ingredients

1. Cracker, if no crackers use cookies
2. Chocolate or try chocolate spread, jam, white chocolate
3. Marshmallows (there’s no alternative get some marshmallows!)
4. Cracker
5. Bonus fillings – raisins, caramel sauce, and fruit.

Wildlife

• Keep bugs away by throwing sage into the campfire.
• Use lavender or cinnamon essential oil on skin.
• Sit away from standing water and wear insect repellent treated clothing.
• Build a fire.

How to build a campfire?

What you’ll need;

dry wood, a handful of tinder, fire ring, matches and a clear area of vegetation.

1. Place Firemizer underneath tinder bundle and use Firebuilder on top to help light the fire. Place the wood in the form of a tepee around the tinder.
2. Leave an opening in your tepee so the fire gets the air it needs and will blow flames onto the kindling.
3. The flame should rise to the kindles and spread throughout the wood bundle.
4. Add wood to the structure as it starts to fall. Add tinder to maintain the fire.
5. To extinguish sprinkle water on the fire to put out embers.

Firebuilder is waterproof and is perfect in wet or humid conditions.

As there is another bank holiday on the way (Thank goodness). Trying to decide what to do, especially if you have kids can be tough. So to help we have compiled a list of days out and activities you can do over the bank holidays.

Going Away

If you want to go away for the weekend why not visit the English countryside. Perfect for dog walking, fresh air and a place for kids to run around! You could always try a bit of camping, don’t forget Firemizer and Firebuilder they’ll help you keep nice a warm in the evenings!

Museums, castles and days out

What better way to spend the day exploring with the kids or out walking the dogs in a park. The National Trust has great places to see from castles and stately homes to woods and parks.

Beach

It’s not a bank holiday unless someone mentions going to the beach! Top up on that tan, have a dip in the sea and you can’t forget an ice cream or fish and chips. This could be the perfect way to spend a bank holiday!

Picnic

If you don’t want to spend too much a nice picnic is the way to go! you can use food already at home and find a nice park nearby to enjoy the lovely bank holiday weather (fingers crossed for sun)

Rainy days

let’s be honest who knows what bank holiday weather will have in store so it’s good to have a backup plan! Maybe create your own cinema, stock up on popcorn and cinema sweets, set up a comfy, cosy seating area full of blankets and pillows and you’re ready to go. Don’t forget the films though!

Whatever you plan this bank holiday or the next we hope you enjoy yourselves and your day off!