Learn about the history, mystery, myth and magic of the landscape! In this unforgettable walk you will learn about the history of the landscape, archaeology, geology, farming, ecology, wildlife and more. Open your eyes to the landscape around you with this fascinating trip through the ages.
Learn about the history, mystery, myth and magic of the landscape! In this unforgettable walk you will learn about the history of the landscape, archaeology, geology, farming, ecology, wildlife and more. Open your eyes to the landscape around you with this fascinating trip through the ages.
Your guide, Adrian Boots, has lived and worked on the Mendip hills for over 20 years. A former university lecturer, wild food expert and ecologist, Adrian provides fascinating facts and insights into this beautiful landscape.
- Natural History of the Mendip Hills
- The geology underlying the hills and how this influences the soil and flora
- Our influence on the landscape
- Archaeology, history, ecology and wildlife of this unique area
- Farming and the changes to the managed landscape
Adrian is a landscape ecologist, researcher, tutor and adviser with a passionate interest in wild food, nature conservation and the history of the landscape. With a degree in Geography & Environmental Management and a Masters in Research, he was previously a university lecturer & researcher in conservation & biogeography.
Adrian has studied with some of the world’s greatest experts – he’s been to the Arctic with Ray Mears, done bush craft with Mors Kochanski, wild food with John Wright of River Cottage, survival with Lars Falt who taught the Swedish Military, and studied landscape ecology with the great Oliver Rackham.
He has also worked for Natural England and the Countryside & Higher-Level Stewardship Schemes, helping landowners gain environmental benefit from their land. He has designed nature trails for several local schools and charities.
Adrian has published academic papers at the International Association of Landscape Ecology and British Ecological Society, and British Geographical Society, and writes a regular monthly article for vibrant regional magazine, The Mendip Times. His first book, 8 Wild Walks, was commissioned by the Mendip Hills AONB. He is a member of the Forager’s Association and an elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
In addition to group events and activities, Adrian runs seasonal wild food forays, teaches wild food cookery, runs professional development courses, and continues to research and write.
Adrian has worked with the late, great Sir Terry Wogan on the BBC2 program ‘Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip’ in the City of Wells where he cooked Mendip Wallfish aka snails to you and I, a traditional Mendip recipe. He re-created the dish for the 2016 Food Magazine Awards event at Yeo Valley Organic HQ. He is currently preparing for a feature on Countryfile.
Adrian is passionate about wild food and using the fruits of the ‘quiet hunt’ to create delicious dishes. Rather than just teaching a list of wild foods, he enjoys helping people understand the connections between habitat and species so that they develop a more holistic understanding of wild food within the context of the landscape, and our fundamental relationship with food and the natural world.
