The idea behind our joint project with the Born Free Foundation is essentially to provide training for the Kalahari Bushmen, or San, specifically the Ju/'hoan peoples of Northern Namibia. It will focus on teaching traditional Bushman skills such as tracking, healing, crafts and herbal medicine. The long-term aims being to help the Ju/'hoan find sustainable employment while ensuring the preservation of their culture as well as fostering pride and practising their traditional skills.

The link between the San and lions is an incredible one that has cemented the ties between Redbush and the Born Free Foundation. Very simply, the San believe that some lions have spiritual powers; from the people who are known to include the worlds' most powerful shaman this is something of the highest accolade. Some of the more powerful Bushman healers have the ability to shape shift; it is believed they take on an animal form to travel the earth, but becoming a lion who was also a spirit would give them additional strength and protection. When we found this out it was if this alliance was meant to be.

The funds raised will be split between the Bushman academy and Born Free's lion conservation work at their centre at Shamwari in South Africa. The centre was originally funded by friends of Julie Ward following her murder in the Masai Mara. It has since gone on to be a unique and exceptional facility, offering lions and leopards a sanctuary in a more 'natural' environment. Many have been rescued from zoos and circuses around the world.

By choosing to buy one of these special promotional packs you are not only helping us set up a much needed training facility for the San, where they can share and pass on their knowledge of living in harmony with the environment, but it will also help support Born Free's lion conservation projects.

Shamwari is currently home to 17 leopards and lions. Some of them are available for adoption, so if you would like to do more to help this amazing centre then please go to www.bornfree.org.uk