The Wildman of Britain
An introduction
What secrets do our forests and wild places hold?
Have you ever stopped to think why stories abound of the Green Man? Why there are so many images and carvings of human like figures covered in hair and foilage, particularly in churches. In the UK lots of tales and folklore surround this ‘being’ and it dates as far back as the 8th century. Uusually a masculine figure, he is found in illuminated manuscripts and medieval texts. More often than not carrying a club. Do we revere this figure because he represents something we’ve lost. An archetype that repsesents the woods and all that it is. Wildness, something which is at once scary but also intriguing. A part of us deep down we subconciously long to be. Free, untethered, connected to something more.
In the UK this being goes by the name of Woodwose, which roughly translates to “Woodman.” Some English surnames derive from the same word. One of these is Woodhouse.
I’m not entirely sure how I fell into this subject. Why I’m compelled to keep coming back to it. Other than having a curious mind, finding it intriguing and a desire to know more, to seek answers. Even if the answers are elusive. Looking at folklore and oral traditions passed down through generations, it’s notable that whilst elements change they retain grains of truth. Why is it that so many cultures across the world have stories of the Wildman, the Hairy Man, the Yeren, Sabe, Sasquatch…? All different names but all relating to the same type of being. A tall, bipedal, human like figure that leaves signature signs and footprints in the forests of the world.
You’re probably thinking “Astara you’re of your rocker.” But all I ask is you keep an open mind and do a little digging of your own. So many folks going about their day have an encounter they weren’t expecting. And with so many encounters all across the globe we can’t all be of our rockers…can we? There’s also the folks dedicated to understanding these elusive, secretive beings. You need to search a little harder than whats readily presented to find those truely dedicated to researching. If you still think I’m of my rocker, I encourage to research the Ketchum report by Melba Ketchum. She analysed blood samples and tested DNA which confirmed these beings exist. Human female mitochondrial DNA with an unknown g-nome. But, still science refused to accept the findings and publish her paper.
This is perhaps the most irritating and frustraiting part for anyone who dedicates themselves to researching this subject. Evidence is collected, put out there and readily dismissed, laughed at and ridiculed. The Patterson, Gimli film is compelling footage for the existance of these beings. Proven to be credible footage but dismissed by skeptics as a man in costume. How about looking at this subject from a different perspective. One of accepting that these beings exist with all the proof to back it up rather than not believing. In other words, believing it, till it’s proven otherwise not the other way round. There are so many things in this world we have no knowledge of. New species are discovered all the time and many new species become extinct. We only find out of their existance after the fact.
There’s a notable story in our relatively recent history of an encounter with a Wild Woman. Here’s a link but you can find other sources which explain more.
The sad thing about this story is how this being was treated. Taken from the wild place she would call home, sold, bought, arguably abused and treated with little respect or dignity. And then those involved wondered why she retaliated. Isn’t that just typical. We think we have the right to do what we want with whatever we want. Even the words “subspecies of human” in this article has a seemingly derogatory air. How about using the words human ancestor or predecessor instead.
Britain’s Wildman
So what of Britain’s Wildman?
I have found to my amazment there are numerous reports of Wildman sightings in the UK. And recent ones at that. Equally astonishing, there’s also a small number of folks dedicated to researching the Wildman or Woodwose. One such person is Deborah Hatswell. She has a YouTube channel called ‘Being Believed Research’. She started this organisation in light of her own experience and to help and support others. There’s a link to her site below.
https://www.youtube.com/c/ukwildmanbigfootsightingreportsdch
Granted the UK has nowhere near as vast a wilderness as the USA and Europe. But unlike these places we don’t have to worry about all the other wildlife which might view us as dinner if we venture out. In this respect we also don’t have to decipher what is evidence of a bear, coyote or other animal, it seems to me to be a slightly easier task. Although the woods themselves can still be daunting places. You need to use all your senses and be aware. Have your eyes and ears open.
Once you learn to recognise the signs these beings leave behind, you can’t unsee them. Once you learn to observe the woods with fresh eyes, you see things which look…at odds, out of place. You begin to question, why? Who did that?, What’s it’s purpose? You have questions for which there seem to be no answers.
There’s the seemingly tangled branches wrapped by vines or held down by tree branches. Something with hands must have wrapped it, surely. It couldn’t just grow that way…could it?
The X’s, arches, bends, leans, snapped and twisted branches, tepee structures and woodworks all woven and balanced with seeming precision. Sometimes shoved into a postition with apparent force.
Things arranged in a linear fashion, glyphs, symbols and markers. What do they mean?
And the random collections of sticks woven together, leaning against trees. For some reason this reminds me of the prow of an old sailing ship.
Once you begin to see, it becomes deeply fascinating. Who or what created these woodwork structures? Humans or our Forest Friends? Why would a human do this? What would be the purpose? Does it need a purpose? Although having said that, there’s Land Art and that has to be a consideration too. But Land Art in my experience isn’t in the wilds in secluded, sometimes barely accessible places.
As part of this post I’m excited to share my first video.
It’s not perfect as it’s my first attempt at using the new camera. I was trying to gain a feel for how it worked and handled. In this video I introduce this topic and mull over the structures I found in the woods. I hope you find it interesting. It has really been a labour of love and altogether has taken about four days to write this post, film, edit, produce and upload. Plus the learning curve of editing software and hosting.
Play the videoHave you ever given this topic much thought?
Felt watched or not welcome in the woods? Had a feeling of dread or fear. Or ever come upon any of these seemingly out of place things?
I’d love to know your feedback and thoughts. Whether on the video or this subject, please leave a comment below and add to the conversation.
*3 Comments*
[…] The Wildman of Britain […]
I don’t think you are off your rocker at all! You know what I find funny about people with legends and folklore like this? In my experience, people are quicker to believe a ghost story, a haunting, a story of something that “isn’t living,” than they are to believe that there could be something in the forest, the lake, the mountain, that could be alive … walking around… existing… that we haven’t managed to capture or really learn about yet. I wonder if that is just a result of the way the world is now? I think so many of us feel that technology has made the world so much smaller, that there is no such thing as “off the grid” or “untouched”, that there is no way something could be wandering around a forest in the UK that we wouldn’t have tabs on. I don’t know why people think this – look at the ocean! We have only skimmed the surface of what is in there …. Who knows!
I’m tempted to look into the folklore of my area now! I’ve never heard of any stories of a Sasquatch or big foot, but there are plenty of other things. With Nova Scotia being almost completely surrounded by water, you can imagine the legends of sea creature see have here. I don’t have the resources or desire to crawl into the ocean to check haha. The Mi’kmaq peoples have a lot of legends about creatures and spirits in the forest. The one I am most familiar with though came from the Scottish settlers that arrived in Nova Scotia close to Antigonish, the area of Dagger Woods. A creature was said to have boarded the ship in Scotland disguised as a man and then ran into Dagger Woods. There are many strange and horrifying accounts, even people murdered or missing by what they refer to as the “Hidy Hinder” or the Demon of Dagger Woods…. I’d not like to look for him either hahahah.
About 20 minutes into the video when you are exploring the interwoven trees, a memory triggered for me. Growing up here in Canada, a love of nature and beating around the brush is instilled in you quite young – with my parents anyway – I’ve been trudging the forest for a long time and one thing I was taught to do was make shelter. The way those trees are woven together and the pressure that exists on that trunk, reminds me of the ways in which you are taught to create a shelter structure that can withstand some weather. Here, we have a lot more evergreen that we would use as part of the walls of such a structure, but you can use more sticks and wood etc of course. Maybe… it was someone/something’s shelter for a time and then was left to the elements and time, and that’s what is left?
What a fab comment, I love your new name. It suits you perfectly.
Your first paragraph says it all really. I agree.
The more I dig the more those paranormal connections seem to crop up and intertwine with the Hairy Folk. Like you don’t want to look for the Hidy Hinder which sounds remarkably like the Dogman (neither would I want to look) I don’t know I want to look for or have a paranormal sasquatch encounter either. At the moment I don’t know what to make of it. Some of the experiences researchers have and stories folks have are on the one hand intriguing and on the other terrifying. I’m happy to spot and look at the possible signs which might be attributed to Hairy Folk but do I want to encounter them or anything else. No, I don’t think I do. I don’t want to inadvertantly experience or bring something home not welcome or not easily got rid of. It’s interesting how the indigenous peoples have beliefs in these things. They never question it, they just believe. It would be great to read about and share folklore of where you live and other subscribers too. There’s an idea for another section.
How interesting you were taught to make shelters. That not the case here, I wonder if that’s because your wilderness areas are so much larger than here. I made dens as a kid out in the woods. A natural thing not taught and I think lots of childeren do. It seems to be innate. A means of expressing creativity. But never taught by an adult. If you’re interested you should look at this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm1LvR9z9-A There are other videos regarding this on the same channel. But it’s an interesting theory regarding the stick and woodworks along with other behaviours. Some structures are so small they’re more like artworks that a shelter. Nothing would be able to fit inside.