Wild about the wilderness

A world-recognised authority on bushcraft, Ray Mears tells Caroline Lindsay how foxes set him on the right track

H e has survived temperatures of -55C and had near misses with some of the world’s most fearsome creatures. Now survival expert Ray Mears is coming to Courier Country to share his knowledge of the ancient art of bushcraft – a timeless skill that transcends age, culture and language.

Ray’s unique stage show, Born to Go Wild, aims to offer audiences, from tots to grandparents, an insight into his survival techniques and the pure joy he derives from travelling in wild places.

Growing up on the North Downs, a ridge of chalk hills stretching between Kent and Surrey and abundant with wildlife, it was the perfect playground for the young Ray to explore nature.

“When I was about eight I wanted to follow foxes overnight and sleep out on the trail but I couldn’t afford any camping equipment so I had to work out my own approach to solving the problem,” Ray, 53, recalls. “Of course, I didn’t realise then that I was practising bushcraft and that it would become my career.”

His independence and spirit of adventure was further enhanced by his school judo teacher, Kingsley Hopkins, who fired his imagination and encouraged Ray to look at the world in a different way. Kingsley had fought behind enemy lines in Burma during the Second World War. “You don’t need equipment, you need knowledge to survive in the wild,” he would tell Ray.

“Kingsley was an extraordinary human being,” says Ray now. “And judo has helped me in so many ways over the years, including being able to defend myself from unwelcome attention from thieves.

“Bushcraft is living with nature and learning more about it,” says the intrepid explorer, whose popular TV series over the years have showcased his incredible adventures. “It liberates and empowers and reacquaints man with nature and his roots, and is vital for the human spirit and creativity.

“Bushcraft is about being practical and resourceful. Rather than teach 10 things, teach one which can be put to use in a wide variety of environments,” he continues.

“Once you develop a love for the great outdoors, you can never stop.”

Thinking back to his own childhood, he firmly believes that today’s children need the freedom to explore. “Countries like Finland have the right idea with their forest schools,” he says. “Part of the magic is finding things out for yourself without being shown, exploring and problem solving.

“We depend on nature and we’re a part of it – we’re not detached from it. You can see nature in action wherever you are,” he continues. “Even in the middle of a city nature is all around you – a sycamore tree, a peregrine screaming past...

“Being a part of it is vital for our mental health too – we’re happier if we understand our place in the universe. We should celebrate our part in the natural scheme of things and it’s down to us to care for the natural environment because otherwise it’s the end of us

– are we doomed to be bones in the ground like dinosaurs?”

These are just a few of the themes he’ll ponder during his Born to Go Wild tour, coming to Dundee and Glenrothes next week. The interactive show is aimed at the whole family as Ray shares some of the skills he’s learned over the last 35 years – including making fire on stage.

When I’m on a trip and I see a campfire glowing, I know it’s an outpost of humanity. It’s a comfort, support and very important to our psyche