Izzy grew up in rural South Devon, spending as much time outside as possible, at the beach, in the woods or walking the South West Coast Path.  She joined a Guide unit at 11, where she began to learn to whittle and light fires.  At 17 her first introduction to Survival School was an axe making and canoeing course in Sweden.  Izzy brings a new dynamic to the team and has a lovely personable teaching style.

She studied Conservation Biology at Plymouth University, with an aim to work outside in some capacity, but without a clear idea of what she would be doing.  While studying at university, Izzy began training with Survival School on their scholarship programme (finding weekends out in the woods a welcome break from studying) becoming an instructor, and continuing to teach after completing her training.

After graduating, Izzy continued learning skills in practical conservation and is now employed as a countryside ranger with the National Trust South Devon Coast and Countryside Team. She teaches on weekend courses for Survival School.  Her ranger role includes using traditional skills like coppicing, hedge laying and green woodworking. This experience and her knowledge of UK ecology translate well to teaching at Survival School. And likewise, the skills she learnt through her instructor training helped her enter the conservation industry.

She is currently training to become a rural skills instructor with Devon Rural Skills Trust having previously completed a hedge laying traineeship in the South of England style and the Devon style is coming along nicely.  Izzy volunteers as a Guide Leader, believing it is important for other young women to be able to learn practical, outdoor skills. You never know where they will take you!

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