An evening with Ray Mears

Discover the secret world of our trees with Bushcraft and survival expert Ray Mears.

Ray has spent his life learning from the world’s last remaining indigenous peoples, sharpening his practical woodcraft skills whilst strengthening his natural history knowledge. He offers a different way to experience our wooded landscapes; challenging old concepts, looking to our ancestors and showing how man’s hand in shaping woodland is critical.

With the emphasis on interaction, British Woodland is structured by usage. We learn that sycamore and clematis are among the best woods for burning, pine and oak help us navigate, and hawthorn and beech have edible leaves. Rope can be made from willow, utensils and tools from hazel, and historically, weapons were made from yew and wych elm.

With Ray as our guide, encouraging this aboriginal sense of connection to individual trees, our appreciation of wooded landscapes will change. We can learn how to live inclusively in nature, for our own wellbeing and enjoyment, and also for the future of our planet.