Introducing Wayne

Here at Woodlore, we’re busy preparing to welcome everyone who has chosen to join us on a course this year. From the woods to the classroom, there’s a quiet sense of anticipation as we get ready to share skills, stories, and time outdoors with you.

But before you arrive, we thought you might like the chance to meet the people who make these experiences what they are.

Our team are at the heart of every course we do. Each brings their own depth of knowledge, experience, and character to the woods, helping to create the atmosphere, learning, and connection that define a Woodlore course.

So, before you meet him in person, let us introduce you to Wayne…

Interviewer:
Hi Wayne, thank you for your time today.

Wayne:
Not a problem, it’s good to finally have a chat.

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Interviewer:
I’ve met most of the course team, but I don’t really know everyone yet. So, this is as much about me getting to know you as it is for others to get to know you. How long have you been with Woodlore?

Wayne:
You’ve put me on the spot there. I think this year makes it sixteen years, I started in 2010, I believe. So yes, quite a while now.

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Interviewer:
What got you into bushcraft?

Wayne:
I’ve always been outdoorsy. From a young age I was into shooting, fishing, ferreting, things like that. It was just a natural progression. I followed that interest and eventually applied to Woodlore, went through the selection process, and it grew from there. It’s always been a genuine love of being outdoors.

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Interviewer:
What’s your favourite thing to do when you’re out in the woods?

Wayne:
I often say you don’t really know a place until you’ve woken up there in the morning. I love waking up under a tarp in a quiet woodland, with just birds and the sound of leaves, that first light in the morning. I think that’s my favourite thing.

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Interviewer:
You’ve been an Aspirant Instructor since 2024. What’s your favourite moment when teaching students?

Wayne:
I actually quite like the car park at the start. It’s where people leave their everyday lives behind and begin a journey with us, whether it be a 2-day intro or a weeklong adventure.  It doesn’t matter how fancy a car you arrive in, the car park, is a real leveller.

During the course, it’s about watching people develop. Seeing someone who’s nervous begin to grow in confidence, or achieve something they didn’t think they could, like lighting a fire with a bow drill. The moment it clicks, and you see that look on their face, that’s incredibly rewarding.

And then at the end, when people thank you and say it’s changed how they see things, that’s what it’s all about.

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Interviewer:
What’s the biggest transformation you’ve seen in a student?

Wayne:
There have been so many over the years, it’s hard to pick just one. It’s really about those moments where someone believes they can’t do something, and then they do. That shift in mindset is the transformation.

Interviewer:
That moment when a skill clicks.

Wayne:
Exactly. Even simple things, like identifying a plant for the first time. It’s not always the big moments; it’s those small breakthroughs.

I particularly enjoy working with complete beginners. People who arrive with brand-new kit, sometimes still in the packaging. They’re like sponges, everything is new to them. Watching them grow day by day and, by the end of the course, confidently setting up a bivvy, that’s fantastic to see.

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Interviewer:
What advice would you give someone thinking about booking their first course?

Wayne:
Take the leap. Don’t worry, we’ll look after you. People often have misconceptions about what it’s going to be like, but it’s not as extreme as they imagine, we don’t catch and eat squirrels. Have a bit of faith and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.

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Interviewer:
What’s the first skill everyone should learn?

Wayne:
Shelter comes first, it can keep you alive. Then fire lighting. Those are the two most important things. But just as important is a positive mental attitude. Being willing to step outside your comfort zone makes a huge difference.

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Interviewer:
What’s your favourite thing to cook over a fire?

Wayne:
Wow, ok… I wouldn’t say I have one favourite dish, but I enjoy cooking proper meals outdoors. Not just sausages and burgers, but baking bread, roasting meat, creating a full meal. With a bit of preparation, you can achieve a lot outside, and that often surprises people. We have done that on the bush chef course before; it has really blown people’s minds what we can actually produce for a meal outside.

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Interviewer:
If you could pass on one lesson to everyone visiting the woods, what would it be?

Wayne:
Oh that’s an easy one! Leave no trace. It’s one of our smallest lessons but it has such a wide bearing on what we do.  Moving through the landscape without leaving evidence beyond just the sign on the ground, is incredibly important.

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Interviewer:
Is there a skill that took you years to master?

Wayne:
Yes and no. Bow drill can be daunting at first, particularly teaching it in front of people and demonstrating it in front of people. You need it to go right and work well. But like anything, with practice it becomes second nature. It’s not about magic; it’s about doing things the right way and practising consistently. It is a perishable skill though, so you need to keep using it.

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Interviewer:
Do you get people coming back to refresh their skills?

Wayne:
Yes, quite often. Some arrive with prior experience and realise we do things slightly differently. Many adapt and improve, which is great. Others stick to what they know. It varies. Others are familiar faces that we have taught previously on a different course. It is not unusual to see the same faces more than once, from Intro to Fundamental to the Journeyman. Or any other courses or expeditions that take their fancy along the way.

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Interviewer:
What’s a perfect day in the woods for you?

Wayne:
Towards the end of a course, when we’re out on bivvy, students are more self-sufficient. They’re putting up tarps, lighting fires, getting on with things confidently, practicing what we have taught them. At that point, we’re just overseeing. Watching that progression, that’s a perfect day.

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Interviewer:
Is there a piece of kit you’re never without?

Wayne:
My brew kit. A knife, is the standard answer I would say, but mine’s my brew kit. Because I’ve got a knife in it too. I can go without food for a while but not a cup of tea. It goes everywhere with me.

Interviewer:
Is that the little luxury you won’t do without?

Wayne:
Yes, got to have a proper cup of tea.

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Interviewer:
How has bushcraft changed you?

Wayne:
It gives you confidence outdoors and helps you read the landscape and see beyond what other people see. I often compare it to The Matrix, that bit at the endwhen Neo starts to see the world as code, and it’s unlocking everything around him.Once you understand it, you start to see things differently. You notice details, understand environments, and feel more at ease outdoors.

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Interviewer:
Where should someone start if they want to reconnect with nature?

Wayne:
Start where you’re comfortable, even in your garden. Then gradually push yourself further. One of our courses can act as a springboard, giving you the confidence to go further, or outside of your comfort zone. The important thing is to start.

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Interviewer:
What drew you to teaching rather than just practicing bushcraft for yourself?

Wayne:
My enthusiasm for the subject. I enjoy sharing what I know. I did some teaching in my previous career, and it felt like a natural progression. If you’re passionate about something its infectious for other people, and hopefully that sparks them to be just as enthusiastic about it. It’s rewarding to pass that on.

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Interviewer:
What’s one small woodland moment most people would overlook but you absolutely love?

Wayne:
Oh, Stopping. I think sometimes it’s nice to take a moment, sit still, listen, and watch. People easily get caught up on getting from A to B, but when you pause, you notice far more. You quite often see a lot of things that you wouldn’t have seen before, especially wildlife.

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Interviewer:
Last but not least, you are heading out into the woods as part of the team again this year. What would you say to people who’ll be meeting you on a course?

Wayne:
Bring a sense of humour and a positive attitude, the rest we can teach. We enjoy what we do and we just want the people on the course to enjoy their time with us. Everyone arrives a bit nervous, but by the end, they’re relaxed and enjoying themselves.

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Interviewer:
Thank you for your time, Wayne.

Wayne:
My pleasure. It’s been great to chat, something a bit different for us, but really worthwhile.

You will have your first opportunity to meet Wayne as a course leader on our Introduction to Bushcraft course. And if you’re lucky enough to secure a place on our popular Tracking course, you’ll find him there too, ready to share his knowledge, experience, and passion for the natural world.