Adult Courses |
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Our courses and workshops take place in our beautiful learning centre in the Hampshire South Downs, near Petersfield. Our courses are linked to sustainability in a number of ways: from crafting with natural materials and foraging for food and medicines to connecting us with nature and supporting our wellbeing. We aim to keep traditional skills alive which help support biodiversity and low impact living, as well as sharing innovative ways of doing things.
As well as our Course Listings below, we also offer private bespoke courses for your organisation. Please contact us on courses@sustainability-centre.org for more information. If there are no spaces available on the course you are interested in, do join our waiting list:
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october
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Introduction to Permaculture Design Course
Places available £330 Thursday 5th - Sunday 8th October 2023 |
This course is designed to introduce Permaculture principles but with an emphasis on supporting participants with designing their own homes and gardens. It is no ordinary 'Permaculture intro' course, and not quite a full Permaculture Design course either. Rather, through the course, Aranya will cover the key principles of Permaculture design theory and how we can apply them in redesigning our homes and gardens to be both more sustainable and abundant.
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Supporting Children Through Anxiety and Trauma
SOLD OUT £100 Saturday 14th October 2023 |
This CPD training course shares knowledge and opens discussions about how outdoor learning practitioners and teachers can support children through times of anxiety and trauma. The course takes place in our beautiful woodland site in the Hampshire South Downs. Renowned Forest School trainer, Jon Cree, will call on current neurological understanding and share practical ideas to help you understand and support childrens’ emotional wellbeing.
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Therapeutic Storyworking
Places available £100 Sunday 15th October 2023 |
This therapeutic storywork course will equip educators with tools for working in a therapeutic way with nature based stories, storylines and storymaking, which can be used in or with the natural world. While this does not equip educators with counselling or therapy skills, it will provide a framework for educators to work with their learners in a therapeutic and playful way through story in nature.
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Natural Cleaning Workshop
One place left! £90 Friday 27th October 2023 |
This workshop will teach you how to make a variety of tried and tested recipes to enable you to start making your own natural cleaning products from simple ingredients that can be found in your cupboards or easily and cheaply bought. This workshop is hands-on, so you will have a whole variety of products to take home with you along with detailed handouts. Kinder to you, the earth these products will save you pennies and are quick and easy to make.
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November
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Coppicing Course
SOLD OUT £105 Friday 3rd November 2023 |
This course will give you practical, hands on experience in the traditional art of coppicing. You will work on a section of hazel woodland here at the Sustainability Centre which is being coppiced as part of a wider woodland management plan to undertake conservation work on site.
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Forest School Leader Training
SOLD OUT Starts Tuesday 7th November 2023 |
This training course is essential for anyone wishing to lead Forest School programmes in their own setting. It covers learning theory and practical skills, plus gives participants the confidence and knowledge needed to establish and deliver their own Forest School programmes. Our venue is a pioneering environmental education centre within a 55 acre woodland site, where we are passionate about outdoor learning and providing high quality training.
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Green Homes Talk & Tour
Places available £10 (refundable on the day) Friday 10th November 2023 |
The UK has the most poorly insulated houses in the whole of Europe and a quarter of our carbon emissions come from our homes. We can make changes to reduce how much energy our homes use - this benefits our energy bills and makes our homes greener. Hear from experts on what changes we cane to our home and go on a tour of an eco-renovated building.
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Willow Log Basket
Places available £190 Thursday 16th to Friday 17th November 2023 |
Come along and make your own log basket to grace your fireside this winter on this two day course with willow expert, Amanda Rayner. Your tutor will demonstrate and support you through the various techniques needed to complete this sustainable willow basket which you will proudly take home with you at the end of the course.
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Hedgelaying Course
SOLD OUT £115 Friday 24th November 2023 |
On this training course in Hampshire, you will gain practical, hands on experience in the ancient art of hedgelaying (South of England style). A local hedge will be laid using traditional tools i.e. billhook, broad axe and hand saws. The stock proof barrier created will then be trimmed by hand and secured with stakes and top binding. You will also learn about the history of hedgerows in our landscape and their habitat importance.
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Natural Cosmetics Workshop
Places available £90 Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th November 2023 |
Come spend the day learning how to make natural everyday beauty/bathroom products from ingredients you can find in your kitchen cupboards, herb gardens and amongst the hedgerows. We will be making a variety of products including balms, oils, hair conditioner and toothpaste. Products that are kind to you, the earth, reduce single-use plastic and will save you pennies. Perfect to make for yourself or to give as gifts.
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DECember
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Willow Reindeer
One place left! £90 Sunday 10th December 2023 |
Learn how to willow weave a reindeer sculpture for your home on this craft workshop in the Hampshire South Downs. Spend a fun day making a willow reindeer about 75cm tall to stand on a windowsill or table. Or why not place it beside your front door to welcome visitors? Using a whole range of basketry techniques, you get lots of learning in this class as well as a really impressive item to take home with you.
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2024
January
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Willow Garden Sculpture
Places available £90 Thursday 4th and Friday 5th January 2024 |
Learn how to willow weave a sculpture for your garden on this craft course in the Hampshire South Downs. Choose what you would like to weave from a small animal to an abstract form. Previous participants have made: dragonflies, hearts, foxes, chickens and pheasants. This course will take place indoors.
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Upcycled Fashion
Places available £75 Saturday 13th January 2024 |
This one day course will equip participants with the basic skills to create an accessory from secondhand clothing by learning about how to unpick and deconstruct items, cut basic patterns and sew simple seams. There will be an opportunity to learn how to use a domestic sewing machine to assist with the day’s tasks. By the end of the day, students should feel confident in producing an up-cycled hat or tote bag from pre-existing garments.
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Willow Weaving Weekend
Places available £190 Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th January 2024 |
Spend a weekend engrossed in developing your skills in willow weaving and basketry on this course in the Hampshire South Downs. On this progressive course, you will weave a lampshade and a basket, giving you the chance to develop and practice basket making techniques.
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February
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Compost Toilet Course
Places available £85 Saturday 3rd February 2024 |
This one day training course in the Hampshire South Downs will teach you the theory of how to design, build and manage your own back garden indoor and outdoor composting toilet. The course will cover the rules and regulations for compost loos, and how everyone can set up a compost loo in their house, garden, allotment, Forest School site or community area. Award-winning compost loo designer and builder, Lynden Miles, will teach you how to set up an indoor or outdoor compost loo taking into consideration your own specification, needs and family size.
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Oval Willow Basket
Places available £100 Friday 16th February 2024 |
Learn how to willow weave an oval shoulder basket on this craft course in the Hampshire South Downs. A great first time oval basket for those who have woven round willow baskets or willow obelisks before. This lovely basket can be used for storage or while out foraging herbs and flowers. You will learn weaving skills and basketry techniques using willow grown in the UK. A simple cotton webbed strap will be provided along with the tools to rivet/attach it. At the end of full day of weaving you can proudly wear your basket home.
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Hedgelaying
SOLD OUT £115 Friday 23rd February 2024 |
On this training course in you will gain practical, hands on experience in the ancient art of hedgelaying (South of England style). A local hedge will be laid using traditional tools i.e. billhook, broad axe and hand saws. The stock proof barrier created will then be trimmed by hand and secured with stakes and top binding. You will also learn about the history of hedgerows in our landscape and their habitat importance.
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Natural Cosmetics Workshop
Places available £95 Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th February 2024 |
Come spend the day learning how to make natural everyday beauty/bathroom products from ingredients you can find in your kitchen cupboards, herb gardens and amongst the hedgerows. We will be making a variety of products including balms, oils, hair conditioner and toothpaste. Products that are kind to you, the earth, reduce single-use plastic and will save you pennies. Perfect to make for yourself or to give as gifts.
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March
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Fabric Baskets
Places available £95 Saturday 2nd March 2024 |
Upcycle pre-loved clothing or favourite fabrics to make beautiful coiled fabric baskets. A great way to keep some of your children’s favourite outfits they’ve outgrown or your partner’s favourite old shirts and turn the materials into a decorative basket of memories for your home. In the morning you will learn hand-stitching techniques to create the fabric coiling and in the afternoon you will start a second basket using a sewing machine or continue with hand stitching if you prefer.
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Kitchen Gardening
Places available £300 Reserve a place for £75 Two weekends: 16th & 17th March and 8th & 9th June 2024 |
A four day course, split over two weekends, on creating and managing a successful and abundant food garden. The course will include hands-on practical sessions and all the theory you need to make your kitchen garden grow and keep your larder full. From crop planning to soil care, pest control to storing produce, this course will show you environmentally friendly and sustainable approaches to growing your own food. The course will give you time saving and energy saving tips and inspire you to create a garden that works in harmony with nature.
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APRIL
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Medicinal Herb Workshop
Places available £90 Saturday 6th April 2024 |
Learn how to use plants and herbal remedies to improve your health and wellbeing on this highly practical one day course in the Hampshire South Downs. Spend a day learning how to identify and use medicinal herbs growing in our gardens and the wider countryside to detoxify and revitalise the body.
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Trug Making
Places available £250 Reserve a place for £75 Thursday 11th & Friday 12th April 2024 |
This course will cover the construction of a traditional trug made from sweet chestnut and white willow. Learn from a professional trugmaker how to cleave, shave, steam-bend and soak the wood and make your own garden trug.
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Composting Masterclass
Places available £75 Saturday 20th April 2024 |
A one day course teaching you everything you need to know to make your own high quality garden compost. Horticulture teacher, Jane Gleeson, will guide you through how to get a successful compost heap going and get the mix of materials right, how to look after it and use the finished compost in your garden. During practical sessions, you will explore a variety of compost systems at our centre, including wormeries, hot composters and cold composters.
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Woodworking Skills for Women
Places available £115 Friday 26th April or Saturday 27th April 2024 |
Learn the fundamentals of everyday tools and DIY in this empowering woodwork workshop in the Hampshire South Downs. You will be guided on a small box project, either a storage crate, small planter or tray. With supportive guidance you will learn the entire process of designing and constructing your box, learning how to use everyday hand and power tools and grow confidence in building/DIY fundamentals. You will be welcomed to an open and compassionate environment that will help you build that groundwork and feel more confident using tools at home!
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May
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Willow Garden Craft
Places available £90 Friday 3rd May 2024 |
A full day training course learning to make willow obelisks and plant supports for the garden at our training centre in the Hampshire South Downs. Come use our home grown willow to create a beautiful obelisk for climbing plants like sweet peas during the morning session. After a lunch break (you can bring your own food or order from the Beech Café) we will make shorter plant supports perfect for tall flowers.
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Nature Led Meditation 1
Places available £25 Wednesday 15th May 2024 |
Join us on our first of summer evening guided meditation session this year. Jonathon Huet will led you through natural connection practices designed to both renew your relationship with the natural world and deeply relax the mind.
The meditation subjects will be based on Celtic folklore, storytelling and our ancient landscape. |
June
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Nature Led Meditation 2
Places available £25 Wednesday 5th June 2024 |
Join us on this summer evening guided meditation session. Tutor and woodland bard, Jonathon Huet will led you through natural connection practices designed to both renew your relationship with the natural world and deeply relax the mind.
The meditation subjects will be based on Celtic folklore, storytelling and our ancient landscape. |
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Medicinal Herb Workshop
Places available £90 Saturday 28th June 2024 |
Learn how to use plants and herbal remedies to improve your health and wellbeing on this highly practical one day course in the Hampshire South Downs. Spend a day learning how to identify and use medicinal herbs growing in our gardens and the wider countryside to detoxify and revitalise the body.
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Woodland Management
Places available £90 Saturday 29th June 2024 |
A one day course for those working and educating in the forest. From woodland ecology and basic site surveying, to trees, woodlands, wildlife and the law, this course will give outdoor educators a sound knowledge of their environment and how to maximise its potential, whilst maintaining a minimal impact approach.
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July
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Nature Led Meditation 3
Places available £25 Wednesday 3rd July 2024 |
Join us on this summer evening guided meditation session. Tutor and woodland bard, Jonathon Huet will led you through natural connection practices designed to both renew your relationship with the natural world and deeply relax the mind.
The meditation subjects will be based on Celtic folklore, storytelling and our ancient landscape. Suitable for beginners or those who have previously attended meditation workshops. |
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Clay Oven Building
Places available £120 Saturday 6th July 2024 |
Learn the techniques to build a clay pizza oven on this course at our beautiful site in the Hampshire South Downs. Participants will learn how to construct the oven from builder’s sand, clay, wood shavings and bricks. From puddling clay to constructing the oven you will get hands on with all stages of this eco building technique. If you aspire to have a pizza oven in your garden or school, this course will teach you everything you need to know to make your dream a reality.
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