About Us
Wildwood Bushcraft's ethos is to use natural resources sustainably, while providing realistic, educational and practical outdoor courses.
We believe that once people re-awaken a connection with the natural world, they will value it more and want to protect it.
We have been running our courses year-round since 2005. We run many scheduled courses, private events and expeditions throughout the year. Corporate clients over the years have included the Natural History Museum, Bioregional, Scottish Sea Farms, Viacom Outdoors and Crown Paints, amongst many others.
We also offer outdoor learning experiences for young people and have worked with school groups ranging in size from 6 to 400, across the UK from Rogart in the far north of Scotland to Roedean on the south coast of England.
One important point is that we operate from an ecologist's perspective - which may suit some people better than the military approach.
Leon leads most of the courses in person, but we also call upon a number of like-minded, accredited instructors and trained assistants to help when needed.
We look forward to seeing you on a course soon!
Leon Durbin
Founder and
Chief Instructor
Leon has had a lifelong passion for wildlife and wild places. He grew up near Leith Hill in Surrey and spent much of his childhood learning about local wildlife and the outdoors.
Leon is a qualified and experienced wildlife biologist with a BSc (hons) in Ecology and a PhD based on otter research in Scotland. He has over 13 years' field experience, studying badgers, foxes, grouse, otters, loggerhead turtles (Greece), kodkod cats (Chile), and Asiatic wild dogs (India). This has included 10 years ecological work in Scotland, expeditions to remote wilderness regions such as Patagonian Chile where he was a biologist for Raleigh International, and a three month research visit to South Africa. He also led a two year research project on the endangered Asiatic wild dog in central India which gave him the opportunity to work with local tribes in the jungle. He is a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and the Institute of Outdoor Learning, Bushcraft Special Interest Group.
In 2004, Leon formalised his bushcraft interests and achieved a nationally accredited qualification (with distinction) to teach the subject. This year-long NCFE course covered all aspects of leading groups, including bushcraft skills, understanding of the natural environment, teaching and learning, legislation, health & safety.
Here is a list of his most relevant accredited qualifications:
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NCFE Certificate in Bushcraft Leadership
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Summer Mountain Leader
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IOL Foundational Bushcraft Competency Certificate
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NCFE Foundation Certificate in Creative Craft in Wood Crafts
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NNAS Provider of Bronze and Silver Navigation Awards
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Certificate in Outdoor Emergency First Aid
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Food Safety and Hygiene Certificate Level 2
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Level 1 BCU paddlesport coach (Canoe and Kayak)
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4 Star BCU Open Canoe
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BSc Hons Ecology
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PhD (Thesis on Otter Ecology)
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Leave No Trace Trainer
Craig Fordham
Instructor
Craig was born into the outdoors way of life: his parents were Scout leaders and his Grandfather was ex-military and taught him a variety of outdoors skills. At 12 years old he received Lofty Wiseman's SAS Survival handbook, and his passion for survival was born.
He started his survival training with ex special forces soldiers at Outward Bound. Throughout his career of more than 20 years he has been lucky to have worked with, and been trained by, some of the very best in the worlds of Survival and Bushcraft. He has worked throughout the UK, teaching children and adults from all walks of life and all levels of both physical and mental abilities.
He specialises in Survival and Bushcraft, but also has extensive experience teaching Paddle sports, High and Low Ropes, Abseiling, Archery, Rifle shooting, Team Building, Navigation and First Aid.
Over the years he has made a name for himself for his friction fire lighting skills, with bow drill and hand drill as his specialities. Three years ago he was delighted to be given the award of Bow Drill Master by his friend and mentor Dave Watson, an LPIOL, and one of the UK's most respected authorities on Bushcraft.
In recent years he has been made a brand ambassador for Craghoppers, the manufacturers of outdoor and travel clothing. He has written articles and blogs for various magazines and newspapers and has been interviewed on TV and Radio many times, as well as giving talks, demos and lectures.
Craig's qualifications:
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Approved Survival Instructor
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Institute of Outdoor Learning approved Bushcraft Practitioner (FBC Certificate holder)
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Shotgun and Firearms License holder
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DSC1 Deer Stalker
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Lantra Large Game Hygiene
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Level 2 Therapy and mental health awareness
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Bow Drill Master
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GB Archery Instructor
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UKCC Paddle sports Coach
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Swift water rescue technician
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Wilderness First Aid Certificate
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High Ropes Instructor
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Search and Rescue Technician
Emily Bosley Carr
Instructor
Emily is passionate about nature, going on adventures, and bushcraft. She has worked as an outdoor instructor teaching people of all ages and experience mostly around the South of England for over 10 years. When she is not working, she enjoys sea-kayaking, hiking, foraging and mushroom hunting!
Emily's qualifications include:
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Level 4 NFCE Bushcraft Instructor
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IOL Bushcraft Competency Award
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Outdoor First Aid
Alison Durbin
Communications/ Forest School
Alison is likely to be your first point of contact at the Wildwood office as she works on communications, marketing and social media as well as expedition support. She is also a Forest School practitioner and artist with many years' experience working with groups on outdoor learning and creative projects. She qualified as a CQFW Level 3 Forest School Leader in 2010.
Alison's qualifications:
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Level 3 Forest School Practitioner
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Certificate in Outdoor Emergency First Aid
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Community Arts Training
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BA Hons Fine Art