Annette grew up on the south coast of England where she had a reputation for taking in local wildlife. She had a vast menagerie of pet animals, including Giant African Land Snails, and it was not unusual for her home to have an injured or sick mammal or bird being treated.

This hands on experience at an early age stood Annette in good stead where she went on to study animal husbandry and wildlife management at Sparsholt College, Hampshire. She had a huge amount of admiration for Gerald Durrell. She went onto train as Zoo keeper. During that time she was given the opportunity to work closely with some amazing species of wildlife, some of which were endangered. She has helped hand rear amongst others an Arabian gazelle, Dama gazelles, an Okapi, a Giraffe and various exotic birds.

Conservation Breeding at Marwell Zoo

Annette chose to study the Sulawesi Crested Macaque for a behaviour enrichment project, this eventually became a written part of her City & Guilds exam. Her last two years at Marwell Zoo were spent on breeding programmes of the Bongo Antelope, Nyala Antelope and Okapi. Although being involved with behaviour enrichment projects for zoo animals, she became disillusioned with the stereotypic behaviours often seen in captive environments.

So she decided to travel to remote areas around the globe to see wildlife in their natural environments. One great memory she recalls is watching Condors soaring above the Colca canyon in Peru. This kind of experience with nature she has found puts our being on this planet into a whole new perspective. She knew she needed some training if she was to travel by herself and camp by herself, so she attended a Wilderness Bushcraft course. That was her first involvement with bushcraft in 1995 as a student at 22.

Wilderness Bushcraft

Bushcraft has influenced Annette`s own thoughts of working with nature. Taking part on that first course changed her whole outlook on life: it was the first stepping stone that led her on a new path gaining confidence and self belief. Annette went on to complete many other courses, an ongoing development of her skills, and over a 12 year period of learning the subject has carried out a three day living off the land course (which took place in a British woodland).

Annette has worked freelance for 9 years. During that time she has led courses for Ray Mears as a seasonal instructor.

When possible Annette likes to travel off the beaten track and has carried out bushcraft in some beautiful natural places, some being remote wilderness. They include the Atacama dessert, Andes- Peru, salt flats - Bolivia, Chile, Patagonia - Argentina, Australia, Kenya, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Greece, Switzerland, France and Spain.

Environmental Awareness

Annette has an eco-friendly philosophy and lives on her small holding in Hampshire.

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