Ray Mears

Ray is one of the few true outdoor legends and for nearly 30 years he has been running courses in the UK and overseas, sharing his knowledge with those who have sought to learn more about our unique world. It is often said that before Woodlore, there was no Bushcraft in the UK.

During Woodlore's near 30-year history, Ray has led courses in many diverse environments, including the Arctic, Jungle, Temperate Rainforest and Desert, and has spent time with some of the last remaining indigenous peoples in some of the remotest places on the planet. Tracking has long been a passion of Rays and with 40 years dedicated to the study and interpretation of sign, Ray brings a unique wealth of knowledge of this specialist skill to the team.

Quietly spoken, Ray is recognised worldwide as a true master of the outdoors. Having spent the majority of his life learning to be at home in places others describe as hostile, he has unparalleled experience and in-depth knowledge. It is this that enables Ray to design, develop and lead exciting expeditions for Woodlore. Ray continues to work tirelessly to share his understanding so that others may "drink from the well of bushcraft".

Ray's biography is also available to read.

Dan Hume

Dan, our full time Head of Operations was born and grew up in Suffolk. He enjoyed many outdoor activities including fishing and shooting. Dan was lucky enough to have lots of countryside near his home and was able to practice his bushcraft skills that he had learnt from Ray's programmes. It was Dan's love of the outdoors that inspired him to travel to Cape York Peninsular, Australia on the Norfolk and Suffolk Wing Expedition with the Air Training corps in August 2006.

After assisting the Woodlore team during his work experience and then attending the Fundamental and Woodsense courses Dan was invited to join the Woodlore Team in 2007. During his time at Woodlore he has gained much experience in bushcraft and is especially talented at making fire and tracking.

Dan's interest in tracking started when he attended the Woodsense course in 2006 and continued on the Namibia course in 2007, learning African Bushcraft and Tracking with Ray, which culminated in spending time with the San Bushmen. In 2009 Dan also attended our Arctic Experience course learning the fundamental skills of Arctic bushcraft with Lars Fält. In 2009 Dan passed the Fundamental Instructor test and was awarded the Woodlore Instructor knife.

During the course season Dan can be found in the woods leading various Woodlore courses. As Head of Operations he is also responsible for the recruitment and welfare of the outdoor team, as well as creating new courses.

Keith Whitehead

Keith, our full time Quartermaster and Fundamental Instructor, was born in Lancashire where he spent many long and happy formative hours with his father, exploring the moors and hills. These experiences were the foundation of an abiding passion for the outdoors that runs through his life.

After studying Horticulture at Merrist Wood college Keith worked within the industry for many years, before deciding to read a BSc. Hon. in Social Biology. This study led Keith to look more closely at the interactions between animals and their environment. He paid particular attention to humans, their ancestors and to indigenous peoples, their cultures, and technologies.

It was this shift in focus that led him to Woodlore and the Fundamental Bushcraft course. For Keith this was "a life changing experience", bringing together all the strands of his life. He applied to Woodlore as an assistant soon afterwards and joined the team in 2007. He has since learned many new skills through private study, practice, and the wisdom of his peers.

Keith says:

The passion of the people with whom I work is infectious and it is truly a pleasure to spend time with colleagues and clients in such a beautiful environment. The outdoors has always been my retreat and source of inspiration. I relish the opportunity to share this with anyone who is willing to learn with commitment.

In 2010, Keith passed the Woodlore Aspirant Instructor test and received his Aspirant Instructor certificate.

During the course season Keith can be found in the woods leading and assisting on various Woodlore courses as well as looking after all of the course equipment. During the winter Keith is in charge of maintaining, and replacing equipment used for courses as well as helping out in the office.

In 2014 Keith passed the Fundamental Instructor test and was awarded the Woodlore Instructor knife.

Sarah Day

Joining the Woodlore team in 2006, Sarah arrived at her interest in Bushcraft after a childhood spent camping with family, cooking dough twists and kippers over open fires and scouring the beaches for fossils. At the age of eight she was bought Ray Mears Survival Handbook. In the years since, she has tried many of the different Bushcraft skills including cordage using a variety of natural fibres, basketry, dyeing using vegetable dyes, pottery, flint knapping, bone working, bow making (and archery) and, of course, shelter and fire.

Many of Sarah's skills (fibre work, basketry and pottery in particular) were also acquired as a result of her continued involvement in reenactments of Tudor life at a local manor house in which she has been taking part since the age of seven. Sarah's love of creative work led her to starting a degree in fashion and textiles in September 2007.

Sarah also enjoys sailing, hiking, hill walking, and has been involved with the Scouts as an assistant leader. Sarah is working her way through solo and tandem canoeing certificates, a relatively new interest sparked by two months working at a canoe camp in Canada in the summer of 2005.

In 2010, Sarah passed the Woodlore Aspirant Instructor test and received her Aspirant Instructor certificate.

Brian Fox

Brian joined the Royal Marines in 1980 and during this time he served in many countries ranging from desert to arctic, jungle to mountains. Brian completed several survival courses within those terrains. After leaving the forces, Brian obtained a Law Degree, and is also a qualified teacher in the Longlife Learning Sector which has enabled him to teach law and procedure within the West Midlands Police.

Brian's love of the countryside has continued where he spent many a foray hill walking, scrambling and camping. Brian's interest in Bushcraft was inspired by Ray's many television programmes and books on the subject. Brian pursued this interest by attending many courses with bushcraft becoming his number one pastime. Brian joined the Woodlore Team in 2008.

Brian has recently been promoted to Sergeant at a very busy police station in Birmingham.

In 2010, Brian passed the Woodlore Aspirant Instructor test and received his Aspirant Instructor certificate.

Nick Thompson

Nick has always enjoyed being outdoors and amongst nature. Growing up in Cornwall, this took the form of hours spent investigating streams and finding their sources, and exploring the beautifully varied, fascinating coastline.

His passion for the outdoors has taken him through a career in Arboriculture, which has both sated and increased a love of trees and woodland environments. Married to "the most beautiful woman ever created", he is the proud father of four fantastic children.

Nick says:

Modern Western culture seems to exorcise natural rhythms and richness from our lives; by combining primitive living skills, agrarian crafts and modern technologies, my study of Bushcraft enables me to interact with nature in a more harmonious and profound way. Working with the Woodlore team is very rewarding; both learning and sharing with others, who have an empathy for people and nature that I recognise within myself.

Tom Seward

Tom was born and brought up in Wiltshire where he developed a love of the outdoors. On family orienteering and camping trips, Tom spent many a happy hour exploring and making shelters in the forests and landscapes he visited. With strong Welsh roots, summer holidays were spent on the North coast of Pembrokeshire where he developed his range of water skills – fishing, surfing, kayaking and coasteering. Always a strong swimmer, Tom is a former Junior Welsh surf swim Champion and professional beach lifeguard. He has worked as an assistant instructor at an outdoor activities centre in Pembrokeshire, leading surfing and coasteering groups and developing his climbing, walking and kayaking skills, also improving his knowledge of the local environment.

Tom was introduced to Woodlore through a Fundamental Bushcraft course that he was given as an 18th birthday present and after completing his Campcraft course the following year, he was invited to attend a recruitment weekend.

Tom says:

I once took a day off school (with parent's permission) to attend a book signing by Ray at a local bookshop in Marlborough, where my mother asked Ray if he did apprenticeships. Although Ray laughed and declined the offer, I am delighted to be where I am today and I'm looking forward to developing my experience further!

In 2011, Tom passed the Woodlore Aspirant Instructor test and received his Aspirant Instructor certificate.

Rob Bashford

Rob first joined the Woodlore team in 2006. He is a keen outdoorsman and qualified RYA Senior Dinghy Instructor, RYA Powerboat Instructor and Summer Mountain Leader. Rob enjoys hillwalking, skiing, camping, shooting and, of course, sailing. Rob grew up in the Kent countryside and spent his formative years in the Scouts and Cadets, including participating in orienteering and shooting competitions. Rob now resides near the Highlands in Scotland.

At the end of the course season in 2008 Rob took a break from teaching bushcraft to pursue his interests in sailing and travelling. At the start of the 2011 course season we were very pleased to see Rob back as part of the Woodlore team once again.

About working for Woodlore, Rob says:

I enjoy being outdoors in all weathers, learning lost skills, working with a diverse range of people and passing these skills onto them.

When he's not working for Woodlore, Rob tends to like to travel, either to work or for pleasure, and has travelled to New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Finland. Rob's most recent trip was leading a group on a two-week expedition to Morocco, summiting North Africa's highest mountain and camel trekking in the desert.

In 2013, Rob passed the Woodlore Aspirant Instructor test and received his Aspirant Instructor certificate.

Kevin MacLeod

Kevin has recently re-located to the Kent & Sussex borders where he enjoys the stunning wooded countryside of this area. Most of Kevin's interests revolve around outdoor pursuits including, sailing, jogging, fell walking, camping, motorcycle touring and skiing (both X-Country and Alpine.)

In 2005 Kevin attended his first Woodlore course as a client and then made this a habit over the following couple of years. Having applied for a position in 2007, early in 2008 Kevin joined the Woodlore team as an Assistant, providing support for instructors. Commenting on his time with Woodlore so far:

Commenting on his time with Woodlore so far:

I have found it so very satisfying and rewarding to see how Woodlore's customers can begin a course with uncertainty and trepidation but finish with confidence and a hunger to learn more but most of all a big smile.

Wayne Egerton

Wayne was born and bred on the Isle of Wight, where he still resides with his wife and two young children. Growing up he enjoyed many outdoor activities based around the sea, including windsurfing, fishing and coastal camping. Wayne joined the scouting movement at a young age and later became a keen outdoor sportsman including shooting and ferreting, generally anything associated with the outdoors!

Wayne has enjoyed travelling to many countries over the years, and has come to realise how this develops you as a person, giving you both experience and confidence in dealing with life's situations. Closer to home he enjoys spending time in the varied habitats the Island has to offer, from salt marshes and shingle beaches to pine forests and open downland.

A keen follower of Ray's work, Wayne embarked on the Arctic Survival Course with Lars in February 2009. This he thoroughly enjoyed and learnt a great deal about the very extreme environment. Following this, he attended the Woodlore Selection Process and began work as an assistant in 2010.

Wayne comments:

Since working for Woodlore I have been impressed by the high standards and level of professionalism demonstrated by the entire team, and have been able to add to my skills through training and guidance.

David Southey

Born and raised on Salisbury plain, David spent a lot of his youth exploring the wide open spaces, secluded valleys and copses. During his childhood he spent family holidays in the Lake District, on the south coast, Dartmoor and in the West Country.

David was a member of the Army cadets which meant a lot of his time was spent outdoors on exercises and adventurous training. His first navigational lesson was from his father on Dartmoor at the back of Oakhampton camp aged 8, which fired his great interest in map work.

Serving for 5 years in the Army, working in and undertaking survival courses in the jungle of Guyana, arid lands of the Middle East, Norway and temperate environments here in the UK showed David what a person is capable of beyond their own expectations.

Enrolling on the Woodlore Fundamental Bushcraft course in 2007, while living in Plymouth, changed how David viewed his trips out to Dartmoor; he began wanting to enjoy the journey as well as the destination.

David spent a lot of time building on the skills learnt at Woodlore by reading, watching and listening to any source of knowledge on Bushcraft, then getting out trying things, be that in the garden or the highlands of Scotland. David joined the Woodlore Team in 2011 as an assistant.

David says:

I love the countryside of Britain, though I enjoy travelling to other countries, Britain still holds me in awe of the places people seem to dismiss as found, conquered and tamed. This just isn't true; you only have to spend a night outside in any piece of our green land to know how wild it still is.