New Blog November 2023
I have been asked time and again why I don’t have a blog. Plus what is the meaning of the Forestknights tagline, Wilderness Wildlife and Warrior Arts? So bear with me whilst I attempt to find my feet with this initial post. I thought a quick biography might put the tagline into context.
Wayne Jones is a passionate and experienced outdoorsman who has dedicated his life to learning and teaching various skills related to bushcraft, wildlife, and nature. He is the founder and CEO of Forestknights, a company that offers courses and workshops on topics such as bow making, tracking, greenwood working, and wilderness medicine. He is also a moderator of BushcraftUK, an online community for bushcraft enthusiasts.
Wayne grew up in the Sussex countryside, where he developed a love for the natural world and outdoor activities. He spent many years climbing and mountaineering in the UK and Europe, as well as travelling to different countries and environments, such as the high Arctic and Japan. He learned new skills and techniques from different cultures and traditions, and also gained valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of living in harmony with nature.
Wayne has also been practicing and teaching martial arts and self-protection for over 30 years, which has given him a deep understanding of human anatomy, as well as the principles of self discipline, respect, and awareness. He believes that bushcraft is more than just a hobby, but a way of life that enhances one’s physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
One of Wayne’s specialties is bow making, which he considers to be both an art and a science. He teaches how to make first nation bows, from late stone age to modern bows, as well as arrows.. He also covers the history and culture of archery, as well as the ethical and legal aspects of hunting with a bow. He has made bows for various clients including museums and historical reenactors.
Another area of expertise for Wayne is tracking and wildlife watching, which involves identifying and following the signs and trails of animals in the wild. He has trained with some of the world’s best trackers. The wildlife of the worlds wilderness areas has always been his inspiration for travel. He is never happier than when exploring remote northern forests or canoeing in Northern Canada and Finland.
Wayne is also a qualified wilderness emergency medical technician, which means he can provide first aid and emergency care in remote and challenging locations. He completed his training at Glenmore Lodge in Scotland and requalified in the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland.
Wayne is a friendly and enthusiastic instructor who enjoys sharing his knowledge and skills with others. He is always eager to learn new things and challenge himself, and he believes that every day brings a fresh opportunity to discover something new and improve one’s skills. He is never happier than when he is outside, surrounded by nature and wildlife.
Those that know me best understand that I’m never comfortable with self promotion. Some folk are amazing at it. I find it deeply embarrassing so this blog will be more a random selection of my thoughts on various aspects of wildlife observation, activities and the trials and tribulations of running a successful bushcraft school. A quick sojourn through our website will show that forestknights is not a typical bushcraft school. My guiding principal when founding the company was to be as client centred as it is practical to be. Every client should feel that for the duration of their time with us they are the most important part of our lives. When that focus no longer inspires me to run courses I will close the business.
Forestknights over the years has received fantastic support from our staff and volunteers. It would be remiss of me if my first blog post didn’t heap copious praise on my team. Every member of the team gives their absolute best to achieve a consistent high standard of teaching and customer experience. I will be forever in their debt.
