We have a specialist resident Bushcraft tutor Garon Hawkes who co-ordinates all of our course content and staff training - he is supported by a team of instructors and specialist "Guest Practioners" who enable us to provide the highest quality and variety of Bushcraft courses available.
Garon Hawkes
"G was really fantastic. He was inspirational and a wonderful host. He is a true credit to your company" (Banks Party, 2011).
Our Resident Bushcraft Practicioner, Garon first began developing his skills over 25 years ago in the Armed Forces, where he also Instructed Bushcraft/Survival and Tracking.
Over the years since then, Garon has had experience in many varied remote environments from Africa, to the S Americas and across Europe that have led him to put his skills to good use working with local tribesman and communities.
As an accredited Forest Schools practitioner Garon can draw on a range of skills and teaching experiences to ensure participants benefit and learn from his knowledge of the natural world.
Garon's other career background and qualifications include Master Instructor scuba diver, Medic First Aid Instructor, PTI Instructor and CSLA Train the Trainer award. This diverse range of qualifications ensures that Garon is an exceptional teacher and co-explorer through bushcraft and nature-based learning. Garon finds that spending time in the outdoors is a vital and necessary way of getting away from the hustle and bustle that modern life creates. providing an opportunity to reflect and enjoy the simpler things that the natural environment has to offer and re-connecting with his values.
We are also joined by specialist Guest Practioners who provide expert tuition for some of the elements on our advanced courses. A brief overview of their background and specialisms are shown below:
Will has been involved in flint knapping and
prehistoric technology since 1975, when his Parents Val and John
Lord became custodians at Grimes Graves, which is a series of group
Neolithic flint mines in Thetford forest, Norfolk dating back to
4000 BC. This period of his life was a training ground - you could
say they were an unconventional family living in a house in the
forest without modern conveniences such a television.
Born in Belfast, Geoffrey
McMullan served in the British Army for 22 years, where
he first learnt some of his Survival skills at The International
Long Range and Reconnaissance Patrol School in Germany. During his
Army service he received a British Empire Medal from the Queen for
establishing a Nature Reserve in Germany called the
'Zachariassee.'