OUR STORY
Meet Claudia and Lou, the driving force behind The Wild Life.
Hi guys,
We’re Claudia and Lou! As children we were never happier than when we were outdoors. Running out in the early hours, with our backpacks crammed with a cheese sandwich and apple or a can of baked beans (Claudia), a trusty pen knife, a firelighter, and a notebook- ready to explore and experience a new adventure.
Lou would spend her days barefoot climbing trees, camping out for the day with her binoculars. She was always fascinated by nature, collecting wild flowers and grasses to press and keep. She adored all wildlife, even believing she could communicate with them. Many of her adventures would end up with an animal that needed rescuing: a fledgling to save or an injured hedgehog to care for in her shed for the winter- much to her mother’s dismay!
Claudia, a daring soul, would set off into the woods to build her own campfire to cook her tin of beans. She would often enjoy a wild swim, plunging herself into the local Beaulieu river, collecting anything that catches her eye along the way. She would even go hunting for her own food in the sea with her miniature harpoon. Thankfully she’s now a vegetarian!
Their love of all things wild then lead both girls onto careers of working in nature. Lou studied Ecology and Conservation and has worked for The Wildlife Trusts, The Bat Conservation Trust and Ecology firms; finally being able to put all those animal rescue missions to good use. Claudia worked in the Natural History Museum, being able to immerse herself in everything that she loved. She then moved back to The New Forest to set up a Montessori nursey with an organic working farm. Independently, they both then trained to be Forest School leaders, with the aim to be able to offer the childhoods they experienced to local children.
From here, their love for sharing nature-based arts and skills has developed. From being passionate growers of cut flowers and vegetables; designing vegetable gardens for local schools and founding Ginger and Wild Flower Farm. To being inspired by the local wildlife, finding inspiration for their next creation, coastal walks collecting seaweed for pressing, working with green wood for spoon carving and foraging flora from the beautiful forests for printing to name a few.
Their years of knowledge and teaching has now come together to form The Wild Life, a place for others to enjoy what they love and live for.
We can't wait to welcome you,
Claudia + Lou x