John
John found school disappointing (or was it the other way round?). After going on to study music then training as a gymnast, he ended up as a Head Teacher of 4 Special Needs schools.
He raised money for British and Nepalese charities by sailing non-stop round Britain in a 15 foot Wayfarer Dinghy in 42 days, windsurfing around the Isle of Wight, coracling
the entire length of the River Teifi, heading up a Continental Canoe Expedition that took him through the major rivers of France, and was the second person to cycle up Annapurna in the Himalayas.
He wanted to think that his life would become quieter when he met Julia. Wrong!
By combining their foraging passions and interests has led to a Really Wild life. He has developed an interest in the wide variety of seaweeds available round the Pembrokeshire coastline and their use within the food industry/tourism field. He is especially keen on learning about the medical benefits they could provide and is passionate about raising awareness of the use of natural resources in Pembrokeshire.
Like Julia, he consumes seaweed and wild plants daily from the local coast and countryside. They both work 7 days a week for most of the year and are fascinated by all things creative. What will they do next?
Julia
Julia trained as an archaeological conservator, photographer and draughtsman, illustrating books and carrying out restoration on excavations. She worked at the Museum of London at Kensington Palace, followed by Oxford City & County Museum.
She received an award from Prince Charles for the restoration of her 1600’s grade 1 manor house in the Brecon Beacons National Park, a multi award-winning accommodation and dining destination.
Her interest in historical food went hand in hand with her love of herb gardens and plants that have a use, be it in food/drink/health/craft/cosmetics/medicine/Â in still-room usage and 1600s food, knot gardens and mazes.
Julia is currently writing a coastal foraging book, is the author of a light-hearted novel set in Pembrokeshire and has written regularly for various magazines including Plantlife.
She has four children who try hard to pretend she is normal – in reality she eats and sleeps seaweed every day, bathes in it and talks about it a lot! She even has a dog called Seaweed who has appeared on various TV programmes with her because he is much more appealing. One of the most weird things she has done is being interviewed sitting in a bath of seaweed with Alex Jones on the street in London on the BBC One Show!
