Personality Profile: Jason Ingamells
Bushtucker businessman leading the way
SGBspeaks to Jason Ingamells, founder of Woodland Ways A
s a youngster growing up Jason Ingamells was fascinated with the outdoors. Little did he know that his passion for lighting fires, exploring the wilderness and independent travels to far out jungles and deserts would create a viable business model when he set up Woodland Ways in 2006.
“Growing up I didn’t realise there was a vast outdoor industry in the UK with a like minded fascination with all things outdoor”, said Ingamells. “With the skills I had learnt from growing up in the countryside and the awareness of a thriving outdoor industry, I converted this into a business model and Woodland Ways was born.”
A winner of Best Bushcraft School in 2011, Woodland Ways operates fun, practical and realistic Bushcraft and Survival courses throughout the UK and overseas. Based in
Oxfordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Bedfordshire, their team of instructors will work to enhance to enhance survival skills and into the realms of Bushcraft.
Woodland Ways offer courses ranging from day courses in foraging for wild food and medicinal plants to expeditions including travelling into the heart of the Massai Warrior tribe and the Sahara Desert. During this time travellers will learn skills like sourcing water, light fires, build shelters, and finding your food in a variety of desert environments. Popular perception may suggest that these types of courses are only for your real hardcore outdoor enthusiast. However Jason Ingamells suggests Bushcraft courses are for everyone regardless of demographic.
“We have people on our course ranging from 8 year olds to 70 year olds. Our main demographic however is a mainly young, skilled professional
person. With the now constant rat race that is life, individuals want to totally disengage themselves from their natural environment and learn new skills in the process.”
Bushcraft courses are only one facet of the Woodland Ways brand however. The company also retail quality outdoors equipment straight to the consumer with a difference that sets them apart from other suppliers on the market. “Anyone that has ever been on a course with us will know we have very high standards when it comes to kit,” said Ingamells. “Instead of relying on other people’s kit we decide to make our own! Our instructors have field tested each and every piece of kit we decide to sell and tells our customers exactly what they think of it be it good or bad!”
Although Woodland Ways does not currently sell to the wider retail trade, Ingamells has been keen to grow the brand as a retail body. The 7 April 2012 saw the opening of the first Woodland Ways retail outlet in Bedford. The new centre will be run by Jason and his team of expert Survival instructors and will be open for 7 days a week. The centre will act as a hub of Bushcraft with the chance for all ages to research, discuss and purchase all things relating to Bushcraft and survival.
Woodland Ways World of Bushcraft is located on the upper floor of the Chandlery Building at Priory Marina, Barkers Lane, Bedford.
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www.sgboutdoor.co.uk
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