Ever since I first began my journey into bushcraft, my purpose has been clear, to help people reconnect with nature. From the early days of Woodlore’s founding, this has been our guiding principle. When I began, the world was already moving quickly, yet today, with modern pressures mounting and technology becoming ever more pervasive, the need to step outside and breathe feels even more vital. Time in nature allows us to re-engage with the world, with cultures, wildlife, and the deeper rhythms that sustain human life. It grounds us, restores us, and reminds us of our place in the tapestry of the natural world.

2025 has been a meaningful year for Woodlore and our community. We’ve welcomed new faces, revisited timeless skills, and continued to explore landscapes that challenge and inspire us. From dawn tracking to evenings around the fire, this year has reaffirmed what we have always believed: that nature offers clarity, perspective, and nourishment for the human spirit.

This year has offered remarkable reminders of just how deep our connection to ancient skills truly runs. The British Museum recently announced the discovery of the oldest known evidence of fire-making in the UK, dating back over 400,000 years, a fascinating glimpse into our distant past.

If you haven’t yet explored it, Chapter 4, Fire, in my book British Woodland delves into the tools and techniques our ancestors used to create and maintain fire, and the vital role it played in shaping human culture and community. It’s a skill that has endured for hundreds of thousands of years and one that continues to inspire us today.

As I wrote in Chapter 4

“Firelight also lengthened the human day, enabling us to continue working long after sundown. It stimulated debate, ideas, humour, storytelling, and the shaping of cultural and religious beliefs.”

Fire has always done more than provide warmth. It gathers us, equalises us, and invites us to share.

In the same chapter, I also wrote:

“Fire has one truly profound quality that is often overlooked. A campfire is the brightest outpost of humanity in the wilderness. It has the unique ability to draw people together and to encourage them to respect and assist each other. I am sure that many of the world’s political problems would be resolved if leaders sat around a campfire, a place of equality where each in turn is tested by the smoke and feels the need to contribute in the group effort to find firewood.”

The Tools used, Pyrite, Flint Tinder of Fungus

The Method hold flint still strike with pyrite

This discovery reminds us that the simple act of tending a fire connects us directly to our ancestors. It is a skill that shaped human culture and imagination, one that continues to offer a profound sense of connection with the natural world.

As we look ahead to 2026, I feel genuinely optimistic. Woodlore has new courses on the horizon, new opportunities for adventure, and many more chances for people to rediscover the wild places that bring balance and meaning to their lives. My hope for the coming year is that you continue to seek stillness, embrace curiosity, and step outside whenever you can   and, perhaps, spend a few hours around the fire, as countless generations before us have done.

Thank you for walking this path with us.

Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful Christmas and a new year filled with adventure, learning, and the enduring joy of discovery.

Warmest wishes,
Ray Mears