LUKE FUNNELL

DIRECTOR & FOUNDER OF PROJECT REWILD.

Luke has worked as an outdoor instructor and facilitator for 15 years leading transformative woodland projects for children, teenagers and adults. He is qualified as an Advanced level bush craft and survival instructor, health and social care worker. teacher and Forest School leader. He has over 25 years’ experience as a youth worker in schools, residential homes and the community. Luke has spent the last 10 years training in deep ecology, nature connection and nature philosophy.

Project Rewild has been a lifetime in the making. From my early experiences and love of nature, I grew up in Hollington (Hastings) in a council house. I would play for hours over the woods. We had no money, so we just played out, and I am so grateful for that. As an adult I have worked for years with some of the most vulnerable young people in my community. I quickly realised that the most profound changes came when working with people in nature. I care deeply about my home town and its people. Project Rewild has to be accessible. I created it to give everyone these experiences, I do not want money to be a barrier.

My personal journey in connection with the land has been nothing short of life changing. My training and experience have helped to ground my overwhelming passion and desire to help others feel and connect with their own true wild nature. For me there is nothing more pressing, nothing more important than remembering that we are part of nature, and not separate from it. Our very survival as a species depends on it.