Updated - 08/02/08
A short YouTube video of instructor Werner at a Stone Age re-enactment camp.
The Art of the Bushcraft Tool maker - Ben Orford mas made an appearance on BBC Hereford, giving an interview and tour of his workshop. To view it in RealPlayer - click here.
To download the latest version of RealPlayer - click here.
Read all about Werners recent trip around Namibia - when he took the Bushmen on tour!
Read his press release here - Bushmen on safari
Updated: 20/03/06
Belize Challenge
"It's not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or when the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, who's face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood: who strives valiantly;.....who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions: who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails at least fails whilst daring greatly - so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt.
We hope that the highs and lows, the laughs, the tears, the struggles, the team work, the challenges, the successes and the personal rewards will stay with you all. Not forgetting the mud, the sweat, the insects, the cahune palm, the spiders, the snakes and the unseen lurking peccaries.
Ben, Lisa and Phil would like to say a huge 'Well done!' to all you guys who took part in the first Belize Challenge....you were all an inspiration.
'Once more a massive well done and thank you for everything you did for us in Belize - I think everyone can honestly say it couldn’t have all happened without you and everyone appreciates that. Hope you can make it to whatever reunions get arranged, I’m sure there'll be a few!'- Lizzie Wale (Team Synergy)
'Ben / Lisa - Thanks for your invaluable contribution to the Belize Challenge which helped make it all a fantastic experience and has wetted my appetite to learn more about bushcraft nearer to home'
- John Fairhurst (Team Xtreme)
‘Venture Challenge Group would like to formally thank you both for your outstanding hard work, extraordinary expertise and commitment to the competitors throughout the Challenge. Your unfailing loyalty to them ensured their safety, well being and enjoyment throughout their learning process. Your passion for Bushcraft and Survival has inspired everyone. We are very privileged to have worked with, and been taught by such professionals in your field’
- Tony Martin
Managing Director - Venture Challenge Group Ltd
'On a personal note, I just wanted to say thank you to you both for your support in Belize. Lisa for being compassionate and comforting the rocking and dribbling wreck I became after the Monkey tail walk and Ben for excellently tending to my Blisters – that tape was not going to come off without a struggle! You were both fantastic and incredibly supportive to all of us so a very big THANK YOU!'
- Tina Outlaw (Team Synergy)
Venture Challenge Staff
'In particular we were impressed with Sgt Phil Gubbins, Ben McNutt and Lisa Fenton from We are aware that this is the first time this particular challenge has been run and the tireless efforts of these three people both before and during our time in country ensured that the experience was a positive one for us. Their professionalism, knowledge and attitude were first class throughout our entire experience.'
- Team: Belize Bankers
Back in September, Ben and Lisa helped out a little with one of Hugh Fearnely-Whittingstall's 'River Cottage Road Trips' that was set in the Lakes. In return, Hugh invited them to join the feast!
Steve is off on expedition again too - this time New Zealand. He is already in-country and is currently making a small fleet of 'stitch and tape' plywood canoes for his expedition to paddle around the Northern coast of New Zealand's North Island! Steve will be back in March to run our Woodlanders and his own 'Open River Canoe Adventures' courses.
He is also planning on adding a new moving-water course, the 'River Runner', next year.
Werner continue's to work with the San Bushmen in Namibia. He is currently 'on tour' with some of the San people. Through sponsorship, he managed to raise enough money to enable some of the bushmen to take a trip around Namibia.
Werner took them on a very special journey to see their ancestral cave paintings at Twyfontaine, and to see the Ocean for the first time.
He is also now leading archelogical explorations, investigating possible prehistoric sites and documenting the evidence of the stone works that he discovers.
We look forward to Werners bow making course and his new Stone, Bone & Antler course next Summer.
Above - Werner's trusty van - hand painted by Ben in Namibia 2003
Ben Orford is having a new workshop built, which will enable him to work more efficiently, and possibly run short one-to-one courses in woodwork, tool making and leather-craft, from his base in Herefordshire.Ben has already got two trips planned for 2006. One to Sweden for 10 days in August, helping to run a Greenwood workshop, and a similar workshop in the south of France in September for another 10 days.
There is also talk of Ben going back out to Hoopa California, to run some more greenwood furniture workshops with the Hupa and Yurok Indians, and many are keen to learn how to make their own knives, as they are all keen hunters and outdoors folks.
Ben is currently making some beautiful Woodsmoke machetes for Ben and Lisa’s trip to the jungles of Belize.
This autumn the team were joined for one month by Marcel, who took part in many aspects of Woodsmoke courses as part of a months internship for his Master Degree.
An environmental scientist, Marcel worked along side Ben and Lisa several years ago whilst studying cheetah populations, on expedition in Namibia, with Biosphere Expeditions.
Once a member of the German National Gymnastics team, Marcels' antics kept us all entertained (and occasionally a little worried!).
Thanks for all your help Marcel!