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John Rhyder is a tracker, naturalist, woodsman and author with decades of experience in wildlife tracking, bushcraft and natural history.
Through Woodcraft School, face-to-face training, books, films, talks and online learning, John shares his knowledge and experience, helping people develop a deeper understanding of the natural world.
Books by John Rhyder
Explore wildlife tracking, ethnobotany and bushcraft through John’s books.
Senior Tracker
John’s work and life as a tracker, naturalist and woodsman were recently documented by filmmakers Misha Pishalnik and Tia Georgiou in Senior Tracker. The film has been selected for the Documentary – Features category of the 2026 Big Syn International Film Festival, which promotes the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Skills rooted in the past, shaping how we read the land today: ecological fluency through tracking, ethnobotany, and woodcraft.
COURSES
Our woodland camp is set in 250 acres of ancient woodland on a private estate in the South Downs National Park, providing an ideal location for wildlife tracking, bushcraft, and ethnobotany courses. With a three-acre lake, streams, and meadows, students gain hands-on experience in natural history, plant identification, and traditional outdoor skills. Beyond the South Downs, we run tracking programmes and Cybertracker evaluations and wildlife tracking tours across the UK, Ireland and Europe, bringing participants closer to nature in inspiring landscapes.
Wildlife and Tracking
Understanding our animal world using track and sign identification and following the animals using trailing techniques
Ethnobotany
Identification of plants, trees and fungi with a deep exploration into wild foods, medicines and bushcraft uses.
Bushcraft
Covering the traditional outdoor living skills and crafts that are wedded to our region. essential skills for any naturalist