Ray Mears announced as part of Reading Climate Festival

Global nature authority Ray Mears will deliver a unique talk in Reading this summer against the stunning backdrop of the world-famous earth artwork Gaia.

Reading Town Hall hosts Luke Jerram's replica globe - created from 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface and measuring seven metres in diameter – from June 10-18, as part of Reading Climate Festival. The exhibition, which has so far visited four continents and cities including Melbourne, Paris and Shanghai, is accompanied by a surround-sound composition by BAFTA-winning composer Dan Jones.

A wide range of events will take place alongside the striking sculpture in the Concert Hall, with Reading’s Business Improvement District (BID) and REDA, Reading’s Economy & Destination Agency presenting Ray Mears: The World Around Us on Friday June 16 at 1PM. “When you look at the planet earth you realise that everything is connected,” explains broadcaster and bestselling author Ray. Noting that Britain’s biggest town has made its own contribution to global culture via biscuits, text messaging, music festivals and even Paddington Bear, his specially created guide to “our spaceship we travel on” will show how we are connected to every living thing on earth. Tickets, which are £15 (£10 concessions) are available via whatsonreading.com/gaia. 

In the 40 years since he founded Woodlore, the School of Wilderness Bushcraft, Ray has continued to expand his horizons - literally travelling the World many times over – as well as those of his huge international audiences on screen and page. From Tracks, World of Survival and, alongside Ewan McGregor, Trips Money Can’t Buy on the BBC to Survival with Ray Mears and Wild China with Ray Mears on ITV, he has brought his bushcraft and survival expertise to unprecedented millions of viewers, while his books include We Are Nature: How to Reconnect with the Wild, Wilderness Chef and the upcoming British Woodland.

In addition to Reading BID and REDA, Gaia has been brought to the town as a joint partnership between Reading Borough Council, Reading Climate Change Partnership (RCCP) and the University of Reading.

Alexa Volker, Manager of Reading’s Business Improvement District, said: “Gaia is not only visually stunning but a truly thought-provoking piece. With so many of Reading’s businesses and communities already working out how we can shape a better future, to have one of the leading experts on the natural world share his wisdom and experience is a real honour.”