Author Archives: Woodlore Limited

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About Woodlore Limited

Woodlore, The School of Wilderness Bushcraft, was founded in 1983 by the British Bushcraft expert, Ray Mears. Paving the way for Bushcraft courses in the UK, Woodlore began with Ray teaching small groups of students the knowledge and techniques that he had spent most of his early life honing. With Ray’s ambition and perserverance, Woodlore has since grown into a world-renowned and highly respected school, offering in-depth courses on a wide range of bushcraft and survival subjects.

Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears – Episode 3 – ‘Snowdonia’

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Ray Mears on location in Snowdonia

Ray Mears on location in Snowdonia

Ray’s latest series, Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears, hits the halfway point next week with its third episode, airing at 7:30 PM on Tuesday 28th October, on ITV1. For viewers in Wales, episode 3 will be aired at 12:10 PM on Sunday 2nd November.

In episode three, Ray visits Snowdonia and discovers how, in the rugged landscapes around Britain’s highest mountain, there are forms of wildlife which survive against all the odds, and can only be found in this very special part of Wales.

In one segment, mammal traps are laid overnight to see how much wildlife is roaming on a particularly tightly-cropped hillside, and Ray is surprised at the results:

“Putting those traps down has completely transformed my understanding of this landscape – I would never have thought there could be so many small mammals in ground that’s so heavily grazed; it makes you think again, and that’s the beauty of that kind of research.”

If you missed episode two, which saw Ray travelling down the River Thames by canoe, you can catch up on the ITV Player here.

Wabakimi Adventures, by Ray Mears

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Ray-Mears-Campfire

Canadian canoe journeys are always special; they have a unique ability to purge the spirit of the unwanted static that accumulates in our technological lives. I am not sure why, whether it is the simplicity of life as a canoeist, or the pristine quietude of the wilderness; perhaps it is the honest labour of muscles propelling you through the lakes and waterways. Whatever it is, the effect is to cleanse and rejuvenate the soul. So when I was asked if I could squeeze a late September reconnaissance expedition to Northwest Ontario into my schedule, I took a crowbar to the fixtures in my diary. Continue reading →

Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears – Episode 2 – ‘Thames Path’

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You can now watch the long-awaited second episode of Ray’s brand new series, Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears, online. Simply click on the image below to be taken to the official ITV Player website:

Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears - Episode 2

 

The Perfect End to a Beautiful Season

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This week marks the end of the UK course season at Woodlore.

Our first course this year, the Advanced Tracking that took place in April seems so long ago and so much has happened since then. We have run a wide variety of exciting Bushcraft courses throughout East Sussex and further afield, meeting and enjoying spending time with clients from all walks of life.

Woodlore courses

Woodloreans taking notes during the salmon lecture on the Woodlore Fundamental Bushcraft course

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A Labour of Love

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Ray and Ruth Mears

Ray and Ruth Mears

“Today is a very special day, my 5th Wedding Anniversary. Traditionally, gifts for this celebration are of wood, so I have carved a special gift for my darling wife. It was a joy to make, a labour of true love. Sitting, carving with axe and crooked knife, in the October sunshine that we have been blessed with, gave me time to reflect on how much she has enriched my life. We all need a soul mate for our journey through life’s wilderness.”

Ray Mears, Founder of Woodlore

Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears – Episode 2 – ‘Thames Path’

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Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears on ITV

For those of you who have been searching for the second instalment of Ray’s latest series, fear not; episode 2 of Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears will be aired at 7:30 PM on Tuesday 14th October, on ITV1. For viewers in Wales, episode 2 will be aired at 11:10 PM on Wednesday 15th October.

In episode two, Ray visits the Thames Path National Trail, travelling by canoe along the mighty River Thames from Oxfordshire to London. Along the way, Ray spots kingfishers and water voles, reveals an unusual use for the horse chestnuts he finds lining the river bank, and camps in one of the world’s most precious and exclusive woodlands.

Wood Mouse Spotting

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During the UK course season, our team of instructors often find themselves gaining a unique level of intimacy with their surroundings at our various course sites. A number of our team are also keen photographers, and occasionally this blend of interests pays off in spectacular ways:

The common wood mouse

The common wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus)

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Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears – Episode 1 – ‘Dartmoor’

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You can now watch the very first episode of Ray’s brand new series Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears online. Just click on the image below to be taken to the official ITV Player site:

Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears - Episode 1 - Dartmoor

New Series: Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears on ITV

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Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears on ITV

“I have explored some of the wildest places on earth – but my favourite is still Britain.”

Ray returns to our screens this September with a brand new series on ITV. Starting on Tuesday 9th September, Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears aims to take viewers on a trail of discovery through some of Britain’s most spectacular and diverse landscapes.

The series begins with Ray returning to one of his favourite places in Britain – Dartmoor. Ray travels across granite peaks and through mysterious oak forests, searching for the country’s largest ground beetle and the elusive wood warbler. He also visits High Willhays, the highest point in the area’s National Park.

Each episode cuts a path through a different landscape, with Ray travelling from dawn till dusk to explore each unique habitat and the incredible wildlife that exists there. Along the way we encounter rivers, dense forests and mountains peaks, as Ray goes in search of some of the UK’s greatest natural treasures.

Episode one will be shown at 7:30 PM on Tuesday 9th September 2014 on ITV.

Bergans Lavvo 4-6 Person Tent Review

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The following review is easily the toughest test we’ve seen of one of our favourite group shelters, the Bergans Lavvo Tent. Pitched in the vast wilderness of the Cairngorm mountain range in the midst of Hurricane Bertha, the Lavvo became a welcome shelter for Julian and his team at Cairngorm Wilderness Contracts, a company dedicated to maintaining safe access routes throughout the mountains and wilderness areas of the UK.

The team's Lavvo Tent, pitched on Cairn Gorm Mountain

The team’s Lavvo Tent, pitched on Cairn Gorm Mountain

Hi there Woodlore team,

Firstly, a huge thanks to you all for a top notch service once again. We order quite a lot of gear online for our company and for our own personal use, and yours is by far the best service we have ever had; consistently good and very fast, thank you.

Our latest purchase was of a Bergans Lavvo 4/6 Person Tent – fantastic price and a great bit of kit. As a company that specialises in hand-building mountain paths, mainly in the Cairngorm Mountains Range, we are out there in all of the worst weather that comes with working on the highest area of land in the UK!

The Bergans Lavvo could not have arrived at a more opportune moment; the day after receiving it, the tail end of Hurricane Bertha hit, and boy did it hit! Torrential rain and very high winds with gusts of around 80+ mph and a pretty cold wind chill, gave us and the tent a stern test… Continue reading →