The MendipsThe Mendip Hills is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. From 

'top of the world', huge panoramic views across the Bristol Channel and Somerset levels, to stunning vistas through deep, forested combes. From the Chew Valley Lakes and natural nature reserves to the heritage and culture of the Cathedral City of Wells and the mysterious Glastonbury Tor and Abbey. Home to numerous Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s), and bordering some of Britain’s most important wetlands, The Mendip Hills has something for everyone, and awaits your discovery…This unique landscape contains some of the oldest hills in Britain, formed at the same time as the Alps in Europe.

It is one of Britain's richest and most fascinating sites of pre-history and archaeology. The Mendip Hills contain signs of some of the earliest human occupation in Britain, and are home to Neolithic henge monuments, Bronze-age barrows, Iron Age hill forts & evidence of extensive Roman occupation. Its network of hedgerows and dry stone walls are indicative of the eighteenth century fields of the Parliamentary In-closures. There are many sites of special scientific interest (SSSI's), designated for their rare and important flora as well as the unique geology of the area, Cheddar Gorge and Caves being of particular note.

The highest point on the Mendips, Beacon Batch on the top of Blackdown, can give a feeling of true wilderness and isolation without ever being too far from civilisation. Wildlife abounds, watch as Kestrels dive into the heather to catch their prey and Buzzards circle high overhead on thermal air currents. Blackdown provides an ever-present back-drop, swathed in purple heather in the spring, and sometimes snow-capped in winter. Deer and wild ponies are silhouetted against wonderful summer sunsets…Blackdown, the highest hill on the Mendips is a short distance from our base. This landmark affords remarkable 360 degree views across the Severn Estuary, and both Severn Bridges to Wales, across the Somerset Levels and Moors to the Quantock Hills, Blackdown Hills, Chew Valley & Blagdon lakes and Cheddar Gorge.

Cheddar Gorge 

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We deliver a wide range of activities from short taster sessions, courses, wild food walks, foraging & cook-ups, and bushcraft expeditions. New are 'backwoods camping' weekends including a mini-expedition, foraging and a night out wild camping in woodland on the Mendips for your private group.You can hire Adrian to run a private event for your own group (minimum 8), and he will tailor the content to your interests.

Our activities are not at all 'rambo' style, we take a steady pace and stop frequently to discuss features and finds. Some events are suitable for older people and children, please ring to enquire.In addition to our own programme of events, Adrian is a tutor at a number of centres including Avon ildlife Trust's Folly Farm and Goblin Combe environment Centre.

 CLICK HERE FOR WILD FOOD COURSES AVAILABLE

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For a unique corporate, team or hospitality day out on the Mendip Hills, people at all levels find our walks, courses and expeditions inspiring, thought-provoking and motivational. The activities bring people together in a positive, natural environment with interesting, useful and sometimes unexpected outcomes! People have the space to find each other and it's a more organic way to improve communication and build relationships.

Our events are environmentally sustainable and offer organisations the opportunity to provide probably the most carbon-neutral corporate activity available. Adrian can also deliver individually researched and tailored walks closer to your site, at any location.We are located near Yeo Valley's superb Lakewood Conference Centre, an ideal venue to start the day with refreshments, for facilitated sessions, or for a meeting followed by a walk. 

We are happy to tailor a package to suit your needs. 

 

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Adrian Boots (BSc Hons Geography & Environmental Management, MSc Built EnvironmentResearch) is a landscape ecologist with a passion for all aspects of 

nature and natural history. His knowledge is unusually deep and wide, covering the geology underlying the land, soil types, plants and animals, landscape history and archaeology and how the land has been shaped by our ancestors, to how it continues to change due to modern day farming, recreational use and conservation practices. He is practical, approachable and very likeable, and makes all of this interesting and relevant to our relationship with the land today. His events are always

 a journey of discovery and are enjoyed by all.

 

Adrian has carried out PhD research on the landscape ecology of the Mendip Hills, worked as a Research Associate at the University of the West of England (UWE), and lectured in nature conservation, countryside management and ecology. He has carried out consultancy, research & training for Environmental Consultancies, corporates, local authorities, 

universities, the Environment Agency and the Mendip Hills AONB Service. He has also worked on DEFRA's Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS), Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) and the new Environmental Stewardship Entry Level (ELS) and Higher Level(HLS) schemes, helping farmers and landowners achieve greater environmental benefits from their land. He has specialised in raised water levels and has been a DEFRA consulteefor the Environment Agency's Catchment Flood Management programme. He has also worked for Natural England as a Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer.

  

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 Sean 'The Silver Fox' Mulhall - Bushcraft and Wild Foods

 

Sean grew up playing in his local woods making dens and damming the streams trapping the minnows and newts. He always had a passion and love for the countryside, especially woodlands. After seeing Ray Mears on the TV back in the early eighties, Sean became fascinated with the idea of Bushcraft.

 

Sean ran his own business for many years and realised that he was living his life to work. With the support of his wife and two children they moved to Somerset. Sean now had the time to get out into the Mendip hills and woodlands and was able to 

reconnect with nature with the passion and awe he had when he was a child. 

Sean is now out in the woods virtually every weekend, either teaching groups, making videos for his popularYoutube Channel or simply just because he wants to be there. It has been described that 'Sean is at homein the woods'.

 

Sean brings a unique approach to Bushcraft with many of his teaching ideas being unique to him. Some are being adopted by other Bushcraft Schools. He also makes much of his own kit and frequently modifies shop bought items to suit his own unique needs.

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Sean and Adrian come from different backgrounds with very different skills but together they offer the complete Bushcraft experience. Neither of them come from a military background so offer a very different type of course to many other Bushcraft Schools.

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Brilliant video Sean, as all your videos are, can't wait to see the deer when you have filmed them. Many Thanks for showing us these videos.Paul

 

Great video Sean! I enjoy these kind of videos. 

Too bad more people don't make more of them!

 

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