British Woodland, Ray Mears
British Woodland, Ray Mears
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British Woodland
How to explore the secret world of our forests

Author: Ray Mears

Narrator: Ray Mears

Unabridged: 9 hr 22 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Ebury Digital

Published: 05/04/2023


Synopsis

Brought to you by Penguin.

Nobody sees and understands woodland better than Ray Mears.

With deep natural history knowledge and practical woodcraft skills, gained over a lifetime of learning from the world's last remaining indigenous peoples, Ray offers a different way to experience our wooded landscapes. He challenges the old concepts. He looks to our ancestors and shows how man's hand in shaping woodland is critical. We are not separate from nature, we just need to ensure that our interactions have a positive impact.

With the emphasis on interaction, British Woodland is structured by usage. We learn that sycamore and clematis are among the best woods for burning, pine and oak help us navigate, and hawthorn and beech have edible leaves. Rope can be made from willow, utensils and tools from hazel, and historically, weapons were made from yew and wych elm.

With Ray as our guide, encouraging this aboriginal sense of connection to individual trees, our appreciation of wooded landscapes will change. We can learn how to live inclusively in nature, for our own wellbeing and enjoyment, and also for the future of our planet.

©2023 Ray Mears (P)2023 Penguin Audio

About Ray Mears

Born in 1964, Ray Mears has travelled the world studying and teaching the art of survival. He has appeared extensively in TV programmes such as Bushcraft Survival , The Real Heroes of Telemark , Wild Food , and Ray Mears Goes Walkabout. As well as his TV and writing work, Ray founded Woodlore, School of Wilderness Bushcraft, in 1983, and has been teaching his unique bushcraft skills there for the past 25 years. In 2003 the Royal Geographical Society honoured him with the Ness Award for the popularisation of geography.


Reviews

Goodreads review by a rabbit with a hot beverage on September 14, 2025

twees......more

Goodreads review by Ginebra on February 01, 2025

An overwhelming dose of facts about British trees. Wish I hadn't loaned it and could keep it for reference.......more

Goodreads review by Peter on August 03, 2024

Not a bad book necessarily but not for me. Ecology sections of book are quite dated and could have done with a proof from an actual ecologist. Not really about woodlands, more about the 'uses' of trees. Too much focus on 'boy' and 'scout' stuff - section on weapons bored me to tears. If this is your......more

Goodreads review by Simone on November 27, 2025

Great book about the history of British trees and how they have been historically used. It does my favourite thing when describing historical events, that is, turning the events into a story, and a good one at that. Mear's descriptions of the past really humanise the people who lived amongst the anc......more

Goodreads review by James on April 13, 2024

Outstanding book, great lay out as well with chapters dedicated to different aspects of history, and different uses of trees and wood. You can use this book to revisit different trees as you learn about them. Ray Mears is as always, a captivating guide......more