Woodlife

I’m not really a person given over to Hero Worship, but there has definitely been a number of influences in my life in the world of Wildlife, Tracking and Bushcraft. I’ve been lucky enough to meet and personally learn from some of them.

What I’d like to do is introduce them and say why they have influenced me.

The woods and wildlife has always been my first love and when not in the local woods netting newts, my earliest days saw me glued to the TV watching wildlife films. Even then Simon King was on the ‘box’ and involved in wildlife films (The Fox–1973) and often accompanied adult presenters. An early wildlife series “Man and Boy” stuck in my mind as they roamed Britain searching for wildlife. Of course in later years, I’ve admired Simon King as a  superb wildlife photographer.

No self-respecting countryman of around my age would fail to mention Jack Hargreaves as an early influence, especially if you came from the south of England as I do. I’ve never pretended to be a true countryman and it appeared Jack wasn’t either but nevertheless, I can’t help thinking that those early TV programmes with Jack in his shed full of clutter talking about the countryside and days gone by have had an influence in later life.

When I left the army in the 80’s I soon found out that I missed a number of things. One was the comradeship of the services and the other was the time spent outdoors. I didn’t necessarily enjoy digging deep holes where someone told me to dig, but I did miss crawling around in the dirt and the excitement of escape, evasion and practising the few survival and  field craft techniques I’d learnt.

It wasn’t long before I found John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman’s ‘SAS Survival Handbook’ (1986) book in the shops which kick-started new adventures in my own little wilderness near the Devil’s Punchbowl in Surrey. Under the uncomprehending stare of the Forestry Commission (some things never change!)  I built a couple of shelters and stayed overnight in them listening to the chur of the Nightjars on the heath. The book was a huge influence on me and I never went out without my survival tin and old sheath knife (which I still have.)

You can’t help being influenced by Ray Mears during his early career and Country Tracks days. I think this started to fuse my philosophies of survival, wildlife, being close to the natural environment and the as yet unknown craft skills like carving, leather craft and cordage making  plus a smattering of other natural world interests (astronomy, meteorology and geology). Despite a busy career and manic attempts to catch up on academia lost during formative years, I continued local outings and realised that the tarp and hammock was the only way to sleep in the woods!

My quest for missing skills became frustrating until I found a book by Mors Kochanski grandly entitled ‘Bushcraft’ and realised that this guy was “The Grandfather” of wilderness living. This was confirmed when I followed him around for 4 days soaking up as much information as I could get on one of his rare visits to the UK. I’ve never met anyone with as much energy for his age and knowledge. I remember him saying “Oh, you again,” as I turned up to an axe demo followed by, “Can I borrow someone’s axe?” I rushed to oblige only to be informed (with a wry smile) that rule one was, “Never lend your axe to anyone.” I retaliated with, “Rule two is never ask, perhaps?”

Primitive technology tried to evade me and I couldn’t quite get into it until I met up with the venerable John and Val Lord. I spent a weekend knapping arrow heads, scalpel-sharp blades and my pride and joy, a primitive fixed blade. Just when I’d nearly finished making the wooden handle for it, John came over. “Why are you using a Laplander saw on that. You’re going to ruin it.” Needless to say, I started the handle again and fashioned a serrated blade out of flint to cut the wood for the handle.

To me, there is only so many times you can make fire-by-friction and although acknowledging that I have so much more to taste in the huge cooking-pot they call bushcraft, I was not following my true path which was wildlife and nature. Banging and crashing about the woods building and making things wasn’t exactly endearing myself to the wildlife.

Part of wildlife observation has always been looking at the signs that the animals leave behind. And this was a typically reactive view of tracking that I had. When I bought Lofty’s book, the section on animal tracks led me to purchase Brown, Pope and Lawrence’s “Animal – Tracks, Trails and Signs.” But I was convinced there was more to just looking at tracks and identifying the animal. I got introduced to another aspect of tracking by a good friend, Rod Anderson Boyle, who had been trained by Shadowhawk.

After subsequently attending a Shadowhawk course and meeting Ian ‘Max’ Maxwell I was literally blown away by the whole world of tracking. It’s had a profound influence on me on the way I see wildlife and nature. For the last 5 years I’ve traipsed down to Devon to learn this ancient art from Max and I suppose the rest is history, but nevertheless history still in the making. I’ve still so much to learn.

There have been so many others I’ve met, spoken to or followed on the internet over the years who have influenced me. They may not be household names or TV stars. I could name some, but it wouldn’t be fair on the others who’s names I can’t remember. I’m proud to call many of them my friends, meeting with them often. Many of them I will probably never meet, but I should say that each and every one has had an influence on my later life. I think you know who you are.

Thanks for the visit.