Author Archives: Woodlore Team

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About Woodlore Team

Woodlore, The School of Wilderness Bushcraft, was founded in 1983 by the British Bushcraft expert Ray Mears.

Camping out in the snow

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While most of the nation has been stuck indoors thanks to the recent snow, Woodlore customer Garry Dutfield headed out onto the North Yorkshire Moors for a spot of camping, and even took his cross-country skis along for the journey.

After using a Hilleberg tent for his trip, he kindly sent in the following review and photos:

Dear Woodlore,

About 18 months ago I started looking for a new lightweight, 1-man tent. After many many hours of research and looking at every tent manufacturer I could find, I decided upon the Akto Tent made by Hilleberg – not the lightest, but the only one that was a four season tent. The last thing you want is it blowing down in a gale when in the mountains…

Although it has a hefty price tag I decided it would be the one to go for; I purchased it from yourselves as you offered it at the best price. I’ve used it 3 or 4 times, but never in the winter until last week, where I went to the North Yorkshire Moors. It was used for two nights while we did a cross-country ski tour across the Moors. It performed brilliantly in temperatures of minus 10 degrees centigrade and blizzard conditions – I must say what a fantastic tent in the winter.

I’ve enclosed some photos and  would recommend this tent to anyone looking for a 3/4 season tent. Well done Hilleberg, fantastic quality. 5 stars.

Garry Dutfield

Cross-country skiing on the Yorkshire Moors

Garry and friend’s skiing equipment at camp (click for full size)

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Product testing – Woodlore style

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When a new bit of kit comes in, who’s to let a light dusting of snow get in the way of trying it out? Ray Mears, Dan Hume and the team headed out mid-blizzard today, to try the new Folding Griddle for a spot of lunch:

Ray Mears Griddle Test

Ray Mears and Dan Hume put the Griddle to the test (click for full size)

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Ray Mears unveils the new and exclusive Gransfors Ray Mears Wilderness Axe

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The Gransfors Ray Mears Wilderness Axe is a new and exclusive collaboration between Ray and the Swedish company Gransfors Bruks. After many years of designing, testing and refining, Ray and the Woodlore team are extremely excited to unveil this brand new signature model:

The Gransfors Ray Mears Wilderness Axe

The Gransfors Ray Mears Wilderness Axe (click for full size)

Upon its release in December 2010, Ray sat down with us for an interview on this new axe, answering questions on its design, purpose and benefits over other models available today:

The Woodlore Team: What were your main goals when you set out to design your own axe?

Ray Mears: I thought long and hard about whether there was a need to design a new axe; I was asked to do so elsewhere a long time ago, and at first I thought there wasn’t. But I’ve thought very hard about it for a long time, and I felt there was something that could be done.

A good axe needs a combination of many features, but most importantly, it needs the right weight balanced with the right length of handle. There will always be a compromise between a small, portable hatchet and a large axe more suitable for felling; the Small Forest Axe is great, but it is lacking in weight and length for good splitting and chopping. I wanted an axe that was a little bit longer, better to swing with two hands, with a heavier head. Continue reading →

Graham Berry’s finished Julius Pettersson knife

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Woodlore customer Graham Berry recently got in touch with us to show us his finished Julius Pettersson Hand-Forged Knife Blade, which he’s been busy making a handle for. Made from Australian Cypress Pine, it’s a beautifully simple example of what can be done with these knife blades:

Graham Berry's Knife

Graham Berry's finished Julius Pettersson knife

Hello to everyone at Ray Mears! I’m unofficially your biggest ex-pat fan in Australia; I’ve been watching and following Ray since the ancient times of Country Tracks on BBC2…! Love what you guys are doing…

I was given the Julius Pettersson Blade for Christmas by my wife a couple of years ago, and I’ve finally gotten around to putting a proper handle on! I’ve made one or two other knives in a similar style, but this one is my favourite! The handle is a stainless steel bolster, and the wood is Australian Cypress Pine. I’ve almost finished the sheath, which is made of 2 mm veg-tanned leather. The wood just flames in the sun when it’s been oiled, so good. Anyway, hopefully I’ve done this awesome blade justice.

Thanks, Graham Berry

Christmas posting dates and office closing dates

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The Taiga Forest

Christmas posting dates:

To make sure your parcel arrives in time for Christmas, please place your order by the appropriate date below, as recommended by Royal Mail:

UK Mail:

  • Recorded Delivery items – Tuesday 21st December
  • Special Delivery items – Thursday 23rd December

However, we are pleased to say that all orders placed between 9:00 AM on Tuesday 21st December and 9:00 AM on Thursday 23rd December will be dispatched via Next Day Special Delivery, to ensure delivery in time for Christmas. Any orders placed after 9:00 AM on Thursday 23rd December will not be dispatched until the offices reopen in January.

Overseas Mail:

  • South and Central America, Caribbean, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Far East (including Japan), Australia and New Zealand – Monday 6th December
  • Eastern Europe, USA and Canada – Friday 10th December
  • Western Europe – Monday 13th December
Office closing dates:

The Woodlore offices will be closed for Christmas and New Year, from midday on Thursday 23rd December until 9:00 AM on Wednesday 5th January.

Reindeer in Sweden

From Ray and everyone on the Woodlore Team, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The Hand Forged Knife Blade – a guide to making your handle

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The following article was kindly written by Woodlore customer Martin Dryden. Not only is it a great review of the Hand Forged Knife Blade, it also serves well as a guide for those thinking of having a go at making their own knife handle:

Martin's finished knife

Martin's finished knife

I’ve looked at the Woodlore knife for many years and loved the craftsmanship that’s gone into it. I also saw the episode of Ray in Julius Pettersson‘s forge, while he was making a knife. When I saw the Hand Forged Knife Blade listed on Woodlore’s shop I wanted the chance to make my own knife to try out some skills and hopefully do justice to it. I’d had a go with a knife kit before and this was very rewarding but I knew I could do better.

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Flying birds of prey in Cornwall

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Zoe Ginster, a long-time customer of Woodlore’s and a familiar face on many of our courses and expeditions over the years, kindly sent in the following article with some great photos:

Hi Woodlore,

I recently spent a wonderful morning handling and flying birds of prey in North Cornwall with my mum Lyndon as her birthday treat!

Zoe with Twilight, the Kestrel

Zoe with Twilight, the Kestrel

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Animal print identification competition

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The below picture, taken by Woodlore office member Steve on a trip to East Africa earlier this year, shows an animal print found in the dirt. The first person to find and correctly identify it wins, as always, a £10.00 Woodlore Voucher:

The animal print found in Eastern Africa, correctly identified as that of a hyena

The animal print found in Eastern Africa, correctly identified as that of a hyena

Due to the angle at which the photograph was taken, this wasn’t the easiest print to identify. However, some of you got it right – it is in fact a hyena print; Steve and the group were even lucky enough to see one that day sprinting past them. Of all the comments, Zoe was the first to answer correctly, winning a £10.00 Woodlore Voucher.

If you’d like to brush up on your skills at tracking and identifying wildlife, we’d recommend taking a look at the Animal Tracks & Signs book or, even better, taking part in our Woodlore Tracking course.

Trips Money Can’t Buy for Children in Need

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Ray Mears tracking leopards in Namibia

Ray Mears tracking leopards in Namibia while filming for Survival

This past Sunday, Ray Mears offered up a once-in-a-lifetime trip tracking leopards in Namibia, which was auctioned off on BBC Radio 2 for Children in Need. The 5-day trip will be hosted by Ray next year, along with members of the Global Leopard Project, and will offer an amazing chance to see these big cats along with other game, such as lions, cheetahs and rhinos.

At the end of Sunday’s auction, the winning bid raised a fantastic £17,000 for the charity.

During an interview with Richard Madeley last week, Ray explained just what the expedition would involve:

Interview with Ray Mears on BBC Radio 2

Making your own shave horse

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Woodlore customer and Camp Craft course attendee Andy Vaughan kindly sent us the following article:

Hi Woodloreans,

Just thought I would send you a campcrafty picture – it’s been a rather long time in the making, but I finally finished my shave horse. It seems like forever since I did the Campcraft course back in April!

Andy and Susan's shave horse

Andy and Susan’s shave horse (click for full size)

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