Africa Geographic Magazine: Ian Player

Wilderness Foundation patron and founder Dr. Ian Player is featured in the April issue of Africa Geographic Magazine

Game ranger, conservationist, author, Wilderness Leadership School founder − Ian Player is a man of many parts. He speaks to Ian McCallum about his rewarding career.

Published in South Africa, the magazine is available on subscription from the Africa Geographic website.

In Bear Country: A Global Journey in Vanishing Wilderness

Joining WF-UK Director Jo Roberts on BBC Radio 4's "Excess Baggage" was author, travel writer and explorer Brian Payton. Brian's latest book In Bear Country was published to much acclaim on 1st May 2007:

“High adventure mixed with dazzling passages of nature writing” Booklist

In a series of remarkable journeys, Brian Payton travels the world in search of the eight remaining bear species. Along the way, he confronts poachers in the jungles of Cambodia, pursues polar bears across the arctic in futuristic ice-buggies, witnesses the cruelty of the bear bile trade in China, and delves into the politics of panda sex.

From the reclusive spectacled bears of Peru to the man-eating sloth bears of India, via the ill-fated brown bears of Umbria, Payton captures the power and beauty of these fascinating creatures while exploring their unique place within very different cultures. Vivid characters, exotic landscapes, and deft storytelling make for an unforgettable trek down the
braided path of bear and human history.

Brian Payton is a travel writer and explorer. His work has appeared in many publications, including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, The Globe and Mail, and Canadian Geographic. He is the author of the novel Hail Mary Corner. He lives with his wife in Vancouver, Canada.

In Bear Country is available now in paperback published by Old Street Publishing Limited. You can purchase it online from our Amazon Bookshop.

For further information on Brian visit his website www.brianpayton.com

WFUK on BBC Radio 4 Programme "Excess Baggage"

The Wilderness Foundation UK was recently invited to participate in the popular BBC Radio 4 travel programme "Excess Baggage". The edition on which WF-UK Director Jo Roberts guested was broadcast on Saturday 26th May 2007, with the theme of the show being "wilderness".

From the BBC Radio 4 website:

Once upon a time the wilderness was everywhere but mankind brought about a distinction between hearth and home and the great outdoors. Agriculture tamed and harnessed the wilderness of the natural world. In the twenty first century how much of it is left and should we even contemplate going to what remains?

John McCarthy asks what is wilderness and talks to Jo Roberts, Director of the Wilderness Foundation and to DrNick Middleton, Supernumerary Fellow in Physical Geography at St Anne's College, Oxford whose main research interest is in the nature and human use of deserts and their margin

Jo described the work of the Foundation and how it acts to promote and protect the value of wilderness areas. She also discussed the importance of wilderness areas and wild landscape, in Scotland and South Africa, as a forum for establishing a lasting peace between former adversaries in the Northern Ireland conflict, under the Glencree Sustainable Peace Programme.

The broadcast was very well received. Thank you to everybody who took the time to contact the Foundation and offer congratulations to Jo on raising the profile of wilderness.

Don't forget that you can aid us in our work through renewing your membership or making a donation.

If you missed the programme when it was broadcast you can use the BBC iPlayer "Listen Again" feature.

Wilderness Foundation SA wins prestigious Kudu Award

The Wilderness Foundation South Africa has been recognised in the 2007 South African National Parks Kudu Awards - They specifically won the 'Contribution by Non-Profit' category.

As reported in the The Herald:

"The foundation‘s Imbewu programme, which helped the organisation win the award, has over the last 12 years used retired game rangers to guide youths from disadvantaged areas in wilderness areas, growing their environmental, self- and social awareness. Eight thousand youths have graduated from the programme." - Read the full article in here.

Here's the director of the Wilderness Foundation South Africa, Andrew Muir, accepting the prize:
Well deserved!

The Wilderness Foundation UK continues to support Imbewu through fundraising and awareness building. If you'd like to learn more about this (and other Wilderness initiatives) then do get in touch. Our UK office can be reached on +44 1245 443073 - If you'd like to make a contribution towards this work, please use the Donate/Raise Funds buttons in the right hand margin.

An Evening With Andrew Muir

The Trustees of The Wilderness Foundation UK
invite you to a lecture by

Andrew Muir
CEO Wilderness Foundation South Africa and Project Director of



A groundbreaking skills based programme working with HIV/Aids and other orphaned and vulnerable youth, based in Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Outstanding results reveal what can be achieved in helping vulnerable youth find their own potential, through training, mentoring and the healing power of nature and wilderness.

Thursday 14th June 2007
6.30 for 7.00 p.m.
£10.00 per person including wine and refreshments
South African High Commission, Trafalgar Square, London

Funds raised will be directed to the Umzi Wethu programme

RSVP
jackie@wildernessfoundation.org.uk or
Telephone 01245 443073

"Our graduates of Umzi Wethu discard the label of 'highly vulnerable youth' and replace it with 'trained skilled confident youth accepting their first employment', with all the future that holds of contributing to a sustainable community and society" - Eastern Cape Premier Nosimo Balindlela.

Circle of Life Rediscovery

The Wilderness Foundation UK is pleased to bring you news from our friend Marina Robb at Circle of Courage, who has the following opportunities for young people this Summer:


The John Muir Award is being offered at three camps this year run by Circle of Life Rediscovery, an East Sussex Centre. This award is a nationally recognised conservation award set up in honour of John Muir, the ‘founding father’ of the world conservation movement.
All camps encourage you to enjoy the outdoors, get to know more about nature and wild places, explore creativity in new ways, learn wilderness and life skills and
provide a journey of self-discovery!

Circle of Life Rediscovery draws on a team of professional facilitators (CRB checked) who are wilderness experts, carry a deep experience and respect of nature and other cultures, and who know how to have fun!

This year you can join us at:

Deer Camp (June 22nd-24th): a woman-only camp for 14 – 17 year olds Cost: £140 (Discovery Level Award)

This camp offers pathways to womanhood, through living and cooking in the wild, myth and stories. The freedom for women to be themselves young and old together; to share stories, collaborate and support one another.

“ I’ve learnt that people aren’t always judgemental, its ok to be yourself”

Thundering Years Camp ( June 28th – 1st July) mixed camp for 15 – 18 year olds Cost £ 210 (Discovery Level Award)

An introduction to an experiential hands on approach to learning, based on traditional cultural teachings. Join us on a magical journey of adventure and self discovery. You will develop woodcraft skills, challenge yourself, sleep under the stars, learn Native American ways, fire making. There will be drumming and storytelling around the fire, laughter, games, carving, and celebration. and storytelling around the fire, laughter, games, carving, and celebration.

“ I’ve enjoyed everything, and sleeping under the stars.”

Night on the Mountain Camp (6th August – 12th August) mixed camp for 16 – 19 year olds Cost £370 (Explorer Level Award)

A longer more intense experience in the woods during which you will create a sweat lodge, play games, have physical challenges, receive teachings and personal support and have the opportunity to spend a night solo. You will explore differences; experience a sense of community and connecting to the earth in a way which will empower you.

“You don’t need a T.V if you have a fire!”

There are concessionary places available on a first come first serve basis.

We also run Wild Day Programmes for 11 – 15 years olds.

Please visit our website for more information www.circleofliferediscovery.com or call Marina Robb on 01273-470793/07966 514469. Please mention Wilderness Foundation UK when responding.

Book launch - Wild: An Elemental Journey

The Gaia Foundation and The Wilderness Foundation are pleased to invite you to the book launch of:

Wild: An Elemental Journey, with Jay Griffiths
Wednesday, 23 May 2007
Drinks and buffet at Gaia House, 18 Well Walk, London, NW3 from 6pm
(Nearest tube Hampstead – Northern Line)
A contribution of £7 will be appreciated

7.30 pm Talk and Discussion at Burgh House, New End Square, London NW3 (Opposite Gaia House)

Join us for the book launch of Wild: An Elemental Journey, with author Jay Griffiths. Recounting her extraordinary odyssey to the wildernesses of the world, she will describe her journeys among the Earth’s indigenous peoples; meeting cannibals; drinking shamanic medicine with Amazonian healers; visiting sea gypsies and journeying to meet freedom fighters in West Papua.

Jay is keenly interested in indigenous thought. She challenges the intellectual apartheid of the dominant global culture arguing that wild land is intrinsic to the health of the human mind. Her story will also take us into the uncharted lands of the wild mind, exploring the words and meanings and ideas of the wild: her book, passionate, political and provocative, is a manifesto for the essential need for wildness for the human spirit.

"Wild is precisely the right name for this book - it goes deeper into the experience of actually living on our home planet than almost any book I've ever read.’ – Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature

“A book of staggering power, honesty and wit” – BBC Wildlife Magazine

Jay Griffiths is the author of Pip Pip: A Sideways Look at Time; for which she was named best new non-fiction writer in the USA, 2003. Her writing has appeared in The London Review of Books, The Guardian, The Ecologist, New Internationalist, Utne, and The Idler.

Signed copies of Wild will be available for purchase on the night.

We do hope you can make it.

RVSP to Lizzie Cooke on lizzie@gaianet.org or telephone 020 7428 0055

Living on the Earth - Exploring what it means to be Human

The Wilderness Foundation UK is pleased to bring you news of the following residential course being offered by Nick Totton and Mary-Jayne Rust:

How on earth do we live together?
How do we live together on earth?

As we face these demanding times, we need to find a way of life which not only is sustainable, but sustains us, nourishes us, holds and supports us, as the earth does beneath our feet.

On this residential workshop on the North Yorkshire Moors we aim to explore the space between psyche, body and land.
To create spaces which enable us to listen to our bodies, sharpen our senses for listening to the earth and its inhabitants.
To walk together in silence.
To be with the land on our own.
To lie on the earth, to open to our dreams, to share our feelings, to see what happens of its own accord.

We will use a number of approaches including dream matrix, bodywork, art and group process.

Barmoor is a large early 20th century house on the edge of the moors just outside Hutton-le-Hole, N Yorks. It is not very accessible by public transport, and we will try to
arrange lifts from Malton if necessary. There are a number of shared rooms, but
most or all people may have their own rooms. www.barmoor.org.uk
Part of the group experience will be making our own meals together from wholefood ingredients provided.

Cost: £350 Deposit: £100 (All cheques made out to Nick Totton.)
Venue: Barmoor, North Yorkshire
Dates: Monday July 2nd to Friday July 6th 2007

BOOKINGS AND INFORMATION
To book, or for any further information, contact Allison Priestman, allison@priestman.demon.co.uk, 01453 768524.

When booking please mention that you heard about the course from The Wilderness Foundation UK.