About Us

Chris

Down in the Woods Ltd is run by Christopher Pryke.

Christopher was born in North London and moved to the Surrey countryside when he was 8. It was there that his interest in nature started by spending many hours walking, building dens and watching wildlife. Little did he know what a lasting effect this would have.

Christopher’s out door training and interest continued with the Air Cadets and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. He obtained Bronze, Silver and Gold awards by the age of 17.

Christopher believes that Bushcraft is the practical process of learning from the environment you find yourself in, adapting the knowledge and training you have to it and living comfortably in it. Bushcraft is not about carrying round big knives and looking like Rambo but learning how to choose and then use the appropriate tool for the job at hand in a safe manner. Christopher teaches a policy of leave no trace in all of his activities ensuring that as little impact is made on the land as possible.

Christopher volunteered as an Assistant Ranger on Frensham common and then went on to gain formal qualifications in Applied Biology specializing in plant sciences and Horticulture from N.E.S.C.O.T and Merrist Wood respectively. Christopher has continued his training with a “Forest School Level 3 Qualification from Bridgwater college ”and the “Level 4 Certificate in Bushcraft Leadership” with John Ryder’s “Woodcraft School” in West Sussex.

Christopher has the “Countryside Leaders Award-CLA”, The Hill and Moorland Leader qualification from the MTA. These allow Down in the Woods to be an “Approved Activity Provider” for The Expedition section and Expedition Leader at Bronze and Silver and Gold level.

Christopher is an accredited D of E Award Assessor and will be able to assess Bronze, Silver and Gold Expeditions all over the UK. He is currently logging hours for the Mountain Leaders Award (ML). The ML will allow him to train candidates for Expeditions at Gold level in wild country above 600M for example in the Lake District, North Wales and Scotland.

Christopher also has up to date First Aid, Safeguarding, Food Safety level 2 in catering and an “Enhanced D.B.S” check.

Zhanina

I was born in Burgas – a lovely city by the sea in Bulgaria. Our seaside has diverse nature and a big part of it is covered by amazing Natural reserves, where I used to camp with my family from an early age. I remember going for the weekend, putting our tents by the beach and waking up with the sunrise.

However, my mother comes from the mountain region in Bulgaria, where I spent half of my childhood hiking in the woods, looking for wild animals, catching frogs in the ponds and helping my grandparents with farming.

Spending my childhood in nature, had a left a warm memory in my heart and I wanted to be able to provide these unique experiences for children, especially in a city like London. When I first came to London, I enrolled in Roehampton University, where I graduated Early Childhood Studies. When I heard about Forest Schools in my first year of study, I knew that this is what I wanted to do, and that someone like me would fit perfect in a wild “classroom”. I was lucky to meet Chris in my second year, while doing my work placement, who shared with me his knowledge and skills and inspired me to pursue my Forest School Leader dream. I have been assisting him in wild adventures, outdoor education events and forest school sessions ever since ?.

Currently, I’m on my way to obtain my Level 3 Forest School Leader certificate. I have up to date Outdoor First Aid and Enhanced DBS check.

Yara

Yara is a Bushcraft, Survival & Archery Instructor, Presenter, Public Speaker, Environmental Campaigner and Creative Media Artist.

Yara first encountered tribal communities in Indonesia and spent time living with the Mentawai tribe whilst traveling at 19. Living with rainforest communities changed her life path and Yara began a journey; learning about the skills of self-sufficient cultures that depend on natural environments to survive.

When living with indigenous cultures in Borneo; Yara learned to survive in the rainforest using only a machete by adopting valuable skills from remote rainforest communities.

She spent time with Shamans in the Amazon rainforest in Peru studying medicinal plants and has a strong connection to woodland and rainforest environments.

These days, Yara teaches Bushcraft & Survival skills to both young people and adults in the UK and internationally.

As an ambassador for the Woodland Trust the UK’s leading woodland conservation organisation. Yara campaigns for the protection, preservation, regeneration and restoration of trees and woodlands and promotes tree-planting projects to schools and communities.

Having founded the Natural Healing Show on UK Health Radio, a platform raising awareness on natural health and the environment. Yara is a big advocate on the physical & mental health benefits of spending time around trees, woodlands and nature.

She was featured in the Bushcraft & Survival Skills Magazine Sept 2017 issue on ‘Women in the Wild’ and presented The Bushcraft Show 2018, introducing guest speakers Ed Stafford and John Lofty Wiseman.

Yara has appeared on ITV News speaking about the importance of having a positive mental attitude in survival psychology.

Yara’s love for trees and the natural world encourages others to embrace new experiences and to ‘step outside of the comfort zone’ to accomplish goals; to become self-reliant and feel self-empowered in the outdoors.

Maite

Maite is Christopher’s wife.

Maite was born in a small village in France and spent her childhood in the countryside. She then went on to live in various countries around the world.

Maite is now cooking from home, on demand only, and runs Pain de Vie – French Baking. She makes sure that the children and adults alike, coming to Downinthewoodsltd are generously and well fed.

Dylan

Dylan is a level 4 Bushcraft instructor who passed the Instructor course at the John Ryder Woodcraft school.

He has been a instructor of outdoor pursuits for twenty years in various centers.

around Britain and the world instructing in, kayaking, canoeing, caving, mountain biking and archery. Dylan’s start in Bushcraft was self taught around 10 years ago and he then decided to formalize his training with The Woodcraft School 3 years ago. He now to teaches Bushcraft to groups of adults and children over a wide range of topics.