About Us

Claire Pickman, Bushcraft Leader

Claire grew up in the countryside, surrounded by nature and animals which instilled a lifelong passion for both. She travelled and worked abroad in several countries, including Madagascar, China and Ghana. Her first degree in Philosophy was followed a few years later with a Master’s in Education for Sustainability. She now has over ten years’ experience delivering educational programmes with young people in a variety of school, college, youth, care and other group settings. Many of the young people she has worked with have faced significant challenges and obstacles in their lives, but the joy of the job is to see first-hand the deep impact the outdoor environment has had on their physical and emotional well-being. She undertook her Level 3 Forest School Leader training in October 2016. Since completing this training in 2017, she has run her own Forest School sessions in schools, youth groups and holiday clubs and worked in conjunction with a variety of partners including Bushcraft Adventure Days! She is fully insured, DBS checked and a Qualified First Aider.

Annie Llewellen Palmer – Founder and Part-time Bushcraft Leader!

Annie moved to the farm where husband Mike was brought up in 2014 and life is all go with their 3 children (Hector, Honor and Jessame), 2 whippets, chickens, horses, ponies and sheep. She loves children (other people’s as well as her own) and is passionate about them being outside in the fresh air having an adventure!

Annie is fully insured, DBS checked and paediatric first aider trained.

Dan Scull – Bushcraft Leader

From a young age, Dan has loved and lived in the countryside, from the Ridgeway with his granddad to living and growing up as a teen in the lake district. After completing his Duke of Edinburgh award, he joined the army at 16 and served all around the world experiencing differing cultures and countries.

During his time in the forces, he undertook many adventure training courses from Top Rope and Abseiling Instructor to Joint Services Mountain leader (JSMEL). Dan spent four years working with the special forces (264 SAS Signal Squadron) in Hereford, until he met and married Zena.

After leaving the Army, Dan completed a degree in Game and Wildlife Management at RAU and a Game Keeping course at Lackham Agricultural College. He is a member of BASC Wiltshire Committee, and a Bushcraft instructor for the BASC Young Shots programme in the Southwest. He teaches British wildlife and bush craft/survival skills at Brymore School in Somerset.

Dan is fully insured, DBS checked and paediatric first aider trained.

Tilly Smith – Bushcraft Leader

For as long as Tilly can remember she has lived and breathed the countryside, nearly all her baby photos are her in wellies! She grew up in a rural village in Wiltshire and summer holidays consisted of ferreting, long dog walks and country fairs. Her father was also a terrier man for the AVH so she has followed the hunt from the age of 5.

At the age of 12, she became a member of the ACF (Army Cadet Force) and over the next 6 years she learnt many things including: rifle shooting, bush-craft, team building, leadership and many other valuable life skills. She then went onto study at Lackham Agricultural College. During her time within the cadet force, and also at Lackham, she thoroughly enjoyed teaching children all the skills that she learnt.

Tilly is fully insured and paediatric first aider trained.