I've been involved in re enacting since the age of 7 and have dabbled in many historical skills (such as spinning, weaving, dyeing, felting, pottery and basketry) in addition to the fire lighting, shelter building and trapping that are the core of bushcraft. More recently I began working with expert Flint knapper Will Lord, conducting stone age school visits, and last summer took over the running of that part of the business. I and my fellow Caveman visit schools all over the UK, giving the children hands-on experiences of stone age life.
My main interests center around using plant and animal materials for food, cordage, weaving material and leather, and getting out in my canoe. For several years I have also worked as a dressmaker, creating one-off wedding dresses and historical costumes. Sewing is one of the areas where three of my greatest interests cross over- Bushcraft, history, and making clothing- it might seem an odd mix , but without sewing, our ancestors would not have been able to move beyond the warme equatorial regions. It's a fascinating part of our history.
For me the draw has always been more than the skills themselves. Seeing a person's eyes light up in wonder when they've lit their first Bowdrill fire, or the pride in learning a new plant is a beautiful moment that never stops being magical. The skills that make up Bushcraft, Primtech etc are part of a way of life that all our ancestors knew; understanding those skills gives us a tremendous link to our past and to what it means to be human.
