The man who sat on the ground in his tipi meditating on life and its meaning, accepting the kinship of all creatures and acknowledging unity with the universe of things was infusing into his being the true essence of civilization. And when native man left off this form of development, his humanization was retarded in growth.

Chief Luther Standing Bear,
Oglala Sioux.

Woodsman and survival expert Richard J. Taylor

My journey into rediscovering the intimate relationship we all once had with the natural world around us began in my childhood with the Scouts, walking holidays and time spent alone or with friends in the woods, hedgerows and streams of the Lincolnshire countryside. Even at a young age the natural world had a powerful pull on me and I knew that a deeper knowledge and understanding of this ancient world would hold greater truths and personal fulfilment than the artificial trappings of civilisation ever could.

A combination of martial arts, bushcraft and woodland working has aided physical fitness for me.

The search for these ‘greater truths’ began in earnest in my late teens and early twenties during a time of serious study of the martial arts which included unarmed combat, pragmatic defensive weapons training, First Aid, herbal medicine and bushcraft. This period of my life also brought me into contact with John (Lofty) Wiseman of ‘The SAS Survival Handbook’ fame and the only person I have ever received any formal ‘survival’ training from.

A semi-permanent ‘earthlodge’. The circular design is strong, economical and a reminder of the circular movement of power in nature

Due to the unfortunate association of ‘survival’ outside of the military with guns and ‘lunatic’ fringe elements in the 1980’s, I continued to quietly hone my skills in remote areas such as the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Here could be found the closest thing to wilderness in Britain and the isolation this provided rekindled what became an increasingly spiritual affinity with the nature.

Grilling freshly caught trout on an open fire. Such foods are genuinely ‘free range’ and killing for food is part of the natural cycle of life.

With time also came the fundamental realization of modern humanity’s ultimate dependence on the natural world, something really brought home when faced with the task of providing the basics of life such as shelter, fire, water and food for myself. I also began to feel more secure in wild places than I did anywhere and the powerful sense of belonging and ‘oneness’ that flowed from the heart of such places helped blot out the more uncomfortable aspects of primitive living.

Friction fire lighting with the bow drill something that for me has a spiritual as well as physical dimension.

By the end of the 1980’s and into the 1990’s I had reached a high level of expertise aided also by the various casual poachers and country characters I feel privileged to have met along the way. I had also started to journey down the path of teaching others and to study and be influenced by the various so called ‘primitive’ indigenous cultures of the world who I regard as being both the true survival experts and being in many ways more advanced than we are.

Snake catch! Observation, tracking and stalking are important skills to get closer to nature.

By the mid 1990’s I felt that I had the knowledge, skills and attitude to potentially survive indefinitely anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere. I began to specialize in some of the more advanced aspects of bushcraft. This ultimately led me to many of the artisan country crafts I am involved with either as a hobby or commercially today.

Natural shelters are a reminder of our ancient connection to the Earth.

To me bushcraft is about harmony, balance and the respect and reverence for all living things which have as much right to life as ourselves. It is also about getting out there and experiencing the real world, having fun, building confidence and making new friends. If you are interested in joining me on your own journey of self discovery then please contact me for details of any bushcraft courses or events I am involved with.

A thorough knowledge of natural history is a vital part of serious bushcraft study. Here I am sharing some of this knowledge on a guided walk.

Click on the link below to be taken to an article at the BBC