I think i get what you mean with the woods ^^
And i am gaining an image myself ^^ So we can roll with that :)
What kind of magician would you create? One in training aswell? Or perhaps one that has already been trained a bit but still has to learn?

As for the magicians, i've been thinking...
You said that it would be best if they were hiding in plain sight, which is fine with me ofcourse ^^
But still... They have to get a place where they can do their hocus pocus xD Sorry just liked that word ^^
So what if they have a secret base *Sorry Harry Potter image in my head about this one xD* And like in the movie of harry potter, they can summon/create/etc etc a building/portal/whatever to their secret hide-out, where they can practice their magic, life with magical beings and stuff like that?
Just an idea though ^^ For we already have the militairy side :) So thought... Let's focus on the magical side now :)