Ray Mears

Ray is one of the few true outdoor legends and for over 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 extensive 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 over 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.

Nick Thompson

A profound affinity with nature has always been a major part of who Nick is.

Through childhood, fascinated by animals and plants, he enjoyed learning about the natural environment whilst maintaining a sense of the wonder, awe and appreciation of its beauty.

Having sought to be outdoors his work has included arboriculture, woodland management, landscaping and gardening.

Married to "the most beautiful woman ever created", he is the proud father of four fantastic (now adult!) children.

Nick says:

Modern Western culture seems to exorcise natural rhythms and richness from our lives. Bushcraft is one path into a more harmonious interaction with God’s creation. Working with the Woodlore team learning and sharing, 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.

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.

Wayne was promoted to Aspirant Instructor at the start of the 2024 season.

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.

In 2017, David passed the Woodlore Aspirant Instructor test and received his Aspirant Instructor certificate.

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.

Dee Whittle

Dee grew up in a rural mining village in Shropshire where she spent time building dens, catching frogs and saving slow worms from her cats.

She has been working in environmental conservation for National Trust since 2009 after many years working in community arts management. Her work in conservation focuses on engaging young people from urban areas with nature through training, volunteering and outdoor activities that help improve the environment for both people and wildlife. The job allows her to combine her passion for outdoor education and ensuring nature is accessible to everyone; with her passion for the natural environment and the opportunities it offers. She spends her free time camping, wild swimming, gardening and walking and finds them the perfect antidote to the complications of modern life.

She first attended a course with Woodlore in 2016 to improve the skills that would help engage young people in Birmingham through wild camping, bushcraft and traditional crafts. The quality of the course and the skill level and enthusiasm of the instructors inspired her to go on the Fundamental Bushcraft course in 2017. Dee joined the team in 2018 and she is looking forward to supporting these courses while taking the opportunity to learn from the Woodlore team.

Dee says:

The courses have given me the confidence and desire to challenge myself both at work and on my own adventures in the outdoors and I hope that as I continue to learn and develop my own skills and knowledge I can inspire others to do the same. I believe developing your connection with nature and understanding your part in it can have a profound impact on your approach and quality of life. The more people that can be given the chance to learn the skills and confidence to enjoy being in nature, the more likely we are to take care of it.

Rob Pascoe

Rob grew up in Buckinghamshire and was always messing about outside exploring the woods of the local Chiltern Hills. He was a passionate lover of nature and bird watcher, and interest shared with his late grandfather, with many holidays spent with binoculars in hand.

He first encountered Ray through "The Survival Handbook" in the early 1990’s which he had repeatedly on loan from the village library until the librarian finally said that "someone else might like to take that book out".

He enjoyed a lot of time outside, camping, hiking, and engaging in watersports as part of the Scouts and ultimately achieved his Queen's Scout Award and Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award. Adventures in the Surrey Hills, Brecon Beacons, Lake District, Pennines and on Dartmoor paved the way for later international trips to Sweden, Norway, Canada and Czechoslovakia.

Professionally, Rob is a veterinary surgeon, having graduated from Bristol University in 1999. His love for the outdoors led him towards equine practice, so he could avoid being stuck in an office. He is an RCVS Specialist in Equine Veterinary Dentistry and now runs his own practice. In recent years, he has completed a number of courses with Woodlore, which have brought his separate interests of outdoor pursuits and nature study under the unifying banner of “Wilderness Bushcraft”. Sharing these experiences with his daughter, Olivia, on the Woodlore Family courses has been a joy. Following the attendance of several courses and expeditions Rob joined the team in 2024 as an assistant.

Rob comments:

I feel honoured to join the Woodlore team, and hope that I can be a part of introducing others to something which has given me a lot of pleasure over many years.

It is my belief in the current world it is so important to understand the benefits of putting technology to one side, even for a short while, and to revel in the natural world around us – this is not only good for our wellbeing as individuals but also for the planet.

There is so much to learn it is sometimes hard to know where to start, but my experiences as a client have been that Woodlore, and the team, offer a great stepping off point for lots of adventures. I am really looking forward to being part of this, as well as continuing my own education. I hope to meet many of you in the field.