Raymond Paul "Ray" Mears (born 7 February 1964) is an English

English people

The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...

 woodsman, instructor, author and TV presenter. His TV appearances cover bushcraft

Bushcraft

Bushcraft is a long-term extension of survival skills. A popular term for wilderness skills in Canada, The UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, the term was popularised in the southern hemisphere by Les Hiddins in Australia as well as in the northern hemisphere by Mors Kochanski and...

 and survival techniques, and he is best known for the TV series Ray Mears' Bushcraft

Ray Mears' Bushcraft

Bushcraft is a survival television series hosted by Ray Mears. The series airs on the BBC in United Kingdom, it also shown on Discovery Channel in the United States, Canada, India, Italy, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Romania and Russia...

, Ray Mears' World of Survival

Ray Mears' World of Survival

Ray Mears' World of Survival is a book written by Ray Mears and a tv series by the same name....

, Extreme Survival

Extreme Survival

Extreme Survival is a survival television series hosted by Ray Mears. The series airs on the BBC in United Kingdom, it is also shown on Discovery Channel in the United States, Canada, India, Italy, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Russia, where he...

, Survival with Ray Mears

Survival with Ray Mears

Survival with Ray Mears is a 3 part television series hosted by Ray Mears, as he tracks predators in their natural habitats. The series is broadcast by ITV, and was billed as the return of the Survival brand...

, Wild Britain with Ray Mears

Wild Britain with Ray Mears

Survival with Ray Mears is a television series hosted by Ray Mears. The show follows Mears as he explores Great Britain's inaccessible countryside and the finest habitats and wildlife within it...

and Ray Mears Goes Walkabout

Ray Mears Goes Walkabout

Ray Mears Goes Walkabout is a survival television series hosted by Ray Mears, showing Mears down under in Australia. The series airs on the BBC in United Kingdom, it is also shown on Discovery Channel in the Canada, India, Italy, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands,...

.
Mears grew up in Kenley

Kenley

Kenley is a district in the south of the London Borough of Croydon. It borders Purley, Coulsdon, Riddlesdown, Caterham and Whyteleafe. Kenley is situated 13 miles south of Charing Cross. The 2001 census showed Kenley having a population of 13,525....

, Greater London

Greater London

Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...

, and the North Downs

North Downs

The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England that stretch from Farnham in Surrey to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent. The North Downs lie within two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty , the Surrey Hills and the Kent Downs...

, where he discovered a countryside abundant with wildlife. Educated at Reigate Grammar School

Reigate Grammar School

Reigate Grammar School is an independent co-educational day school located in the town of Reigate, Surrey, United Kingdom. Intake is from 11 to 18, with the majority of its pupils entering at the age of 11, and others entering at 13 and 16.- History :...

, a co-educational independent school

Independent school

An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...

 in Reigate

Reigate

Reigate is a historic market town in Surrey, England, at the foot of the North Downs, and in the London commuter belt. It is one of the main constituents of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead...

, Surrey

Surrey

Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...

, he learned to track foxes in the forest at a young age.