Tinder is easily combustible material used to start a fire. Tinder is a finely divided, open material which will begin to glow under a shower of sparks. Air is gently wafted over the glowing tinder until it bursts into flame. 

The flaming tinder is used to ignite kindling, which in turn is used to ignite the bulk material, to produce a fire. Below is a selection of good natural tinder to keep an eye out for when out in the wilds.

• Sweet Chestnut inner bark
• Lime Tree / Basswood inner bark
• Juniper outer bark
• White Cedar outer bark
• Dried grass / Tussock grass
• Dead bracken
• Wild Honeysuckle outer bark
• Clematis outer bark
• Coconut husks
• Lichens / old man’s beard
• Fomes Fomentarius (Hoof fungus)
• Cramp Balls, King Alfred Cakes
• Fatwood
• Thistle heads
• Cattails