Adult Courses
Our courses and workshops in green living, rural skills and bushcraft take place in our beautiful learning Centre in the Hampshire South Downs, near Petersfield. We are proud to host a range of excellent tutors, including renowned permaculture teachers: Aranya and Caroline Aitken; Forest School pioneer, Jon Cree; bushcraft and nature connection leaders: Jonathon Huet and Nick Ward; herb and foraging experts and a host of highly skilled craft teachers.
2019
November
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Willow Garden Sculpture
£75 Saturday 23rd November 2019 10:00 - 16:00 Tutor: Amanda Rayner |
Learn how to willow weave a sculpture for your garden. Choose what you would like to weave from a small animal to an abstract form. Previous participants have made: dragonflies, hearts, cats, dogs, chickens, pheasants, obelisks and garden decorations - the choice is yours! This course will take place indoors.
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2020
January
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Willow Garden Sculpture
£75 Friday 10th January 2020 10:00 - 16:00 Tutor: Amanda Rayner |
Learn how to willow weave a sculpture for your garden. Choose what you would like to weave from a small animal to an abstract form. Previous participants have made: dragonflies, hearts, cats, dogs, chickens, pheasants, obelisks and garden decorations - the choice is yours! This course will take place indoors.
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February
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Willow Frame Basket
£75 Thursday 6th February 2020 10:00 - 17:00 Tutor: Louise Arthur |
Willow weaving training course in the Hampshire South Downs. Participants will make a hand woven gypsy style frame basket from sustainable locally grown willow. Use your basket for gathering berries, mushrooms, eggs, herbs or displaying treasures.
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Hedgelaying
£75 Friday 7th February 2020 09:30 - 17:00 Tutor: Les Brannon |
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.
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Vegan & Vegetarian Wine Tasting
£60 Saturday 8th February 2020 10:00 - 16:30 Tutor: Phillip Humphries Wines/Teas/Coffee included |
A day spent enjoying wines suitable for vegans and vegetarians, and exploring the world of wine. This course will explain how wine is made and the various styles of wine through tasting a variety of vegan wines. We will also unravel the differences between sustainable, vegan, vegetarian, biodynamic and organic wines.
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Eco-Refurbishment
£50 Sunday 9th February 2020 10:00 - 16:00 Tutor: Sally Mareike |
Learn to make your home more healthy, eco-friendly and economical on this one-day course. You will learn how to use low-tech and natural options to refurbish your space from using clay paint and insulating lime/cork plaster, to finding out where and how to source second-hand and new materials, as well as repurposing items.
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Willow Obelisks
£35 Thursday 20th February 2020 10:00 - 13:00 or 14:00 - 17:00 Tutor: Louise Arthur |
Experience the delights of creating a support for climbing plants like sweet peas or green beans. Come with enough space to transport your work home and plant up your creation into a pot or straight into the ground.
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Deer Butchery
£150 Friday 21st February 2020 09:30 - 16:30 Tutor: Jamie Corry |
A whole deer in a day course - learn butchery and cookery skills on this training course in the Hampshire South Downs. We promise you the most delicious, melt-in-the-mouth meat that you will have ever tasted, all prepared by your own fair hands.
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Hand-Sewn Book Making
£60 Saturday 22nd February 2020 10:00 - 16:00 Tutor: Angela Thames |
Learn to make your own notebook, sketchbook or unique gift book, using three different hand-sewing techniques. You will take home 2-3 books made from decorative paper and card such as postcards, notecards, envelopes, packets and old calendars.
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March
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Forest School Leader & Assistant Training (Level 2)
£600 Weds 4th - Fri 6th March & Thurs 2nd - Fri 3rd April 2020 Cost: £600 Tutor: Adrian Goodhand |
This course is for people wishing to assist in the delivery of Forest School programmes. Practical skills covered include fire lighting, campfire management, safe use of hand tools, games and activities. Participants will also learn woodland identification skills and about the Forest School approach to risk management and learning.
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Kitchen Gardening Weekends
£240.00 7th & 8th March 2020 and 20th & 21st June 2020 09:30 - 17:30 Tutor: Caroline Aitken |
Two seasonal weekend courses on creating and managing a successful and abundant food garden. The courses will include hands-on practical sessions and all the theory you need to make your kitchen garden grow and keep your larder full.
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Deer Butchery
£150 Thursday 19th March 2020 09:30 - 16:30 Tutor: Jamie Corry |
A whole deer in a day course - learn butchery and cookery skills on this training course in the Hampshire South Downs. We promise you the most delicious, melt-in-the-mouth meat that you will have ever tasted, all prepared by your own fair hands.
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Spoon Carving
£65 Saturday 21st March 2020 10:00 - 16:00 Tutor: Jonathan Huet |
Learn how to carve a spoon, spatula and butter knife on this wood carving course in the Hampshire South Downs. Our tutor, Jonathan Huet, will teach you how to use a knife, saw, crook knife and axe to whittle items from locally harvested green wood.
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Pendant Carving
£75.00 Saturday 28th March 2020 or Sunday 29th March 2020 09:30 - 16:30 Tutor: Giles Newman |
Learn how to carve your own beautiful wooden pendant with simple knife techniques on this one day course. Create your own unique piece of wearable wood art with nothing more than a knife and a little imagination.
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April
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Climbing Frames, Ropes & Ladders
£95 Friday 3rd April 2020 09:00 - 17:00 Tutor: Jon Cree |
A one day course in building your own play structures with rope and natural materials. This course is for educators wishing to be a little more adventurous with creative play structures at their sites, building them out of wood and rope and combining these with the natural features at your site.
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Lost Words: Nature Literacy for Educators
Saturday 4th April 2020 09:00 - 16:00 £75 Tutor: Jon Cree |
This day course explores nature connecting through literacy, art and pictures. Participants will discover the natural world through sensory observation, sketching and wordsmithing using the ‘Lost Words’ book and other nature poets and painters as inspiration.
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Clay Oven Building
£100 Saturday 4th April 2020 09:30 - 16:00 Tutor: Dr. Sara Collins Lunch and refreshments included |
Learn the techniques to build a clay oven 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. The course includes a pizza meal cooked in a completed cob oven.
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Trug Making
£140 Wednesday 8th to Thursday 9th April 2020 10:00 - 17:00 Tutor: Dominic Parrette |
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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Woodland Folklore
£60 Tuesday 14th April 2020 10:00 - 16:00 Tutor: Jonathan Huet |
On this one day introduction course, discover the spiritual practices of the Celtic Bard: stories, poems, woodland traditions and meditation. This unique course will take you through an in-depth exploration of the trees, plants, landscape and seasons. Discover how woodland traditions and folklore are relevant to our lives today and explore nature-based meditation.
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Blacksmithing Weekend
£240 Saturday 25th & Sun 26th April 2020 10:00 - 16:30 Tutor: Joe Tyler |
An exciting two day experience discovering the traditional art of blacksmithing, this course will teach you to create your own products including jewellery, intricate candle sticks, fire pokers or paper weights from reclaimed metal material.
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Medicinal Herbal Workshop
Leaves & Flowers: Boost Energy & Kickstart Immunity £25 Wednesday 29th April 2020 18:00-20:00 Tutor: Sarah Hillyer |
Learn how to start your own medicine chest from foraged finds on our popular course run by our much-admired local herbalist, Sarah Hillyer. This course is hands-on and practical, and will teach you how to make your own simple tincture to take home with you.
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May
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Woodland Management
£75 Saturday 2nd May 2020 10:00-17:00 Tutor: Nick Ward |
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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Wooden Stool Making
£95 Tuesday 26th May 2020 09:30 - 16:30 Tutor: Phil Clayton |
Learn green woodwork techniques and make your own rustic stool on this training course in the Hampshire South Downs. Our tutor, Phil Clayton, will teach you how to use traditional hand tools and woodcraft skills, to craft your stool from locally grown wood.
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Willow Dragonflies & Fish
£35 Thursday 28th May 2020 10:00 - 13:00 or 14:00 - 17:00 Tutor: Louise Arthur |
Learn how to weave a dragonfly in a spiral 'corn dolly' weave in brown willow and how to make a wishing fish with a 'figure of eight' weave. These can be placed outside on sticks or hung up. They make great decorations for adorning the garden, pond or even plant pots.
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June
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Medicinal Herbal Workshop
Help Heart, Blood & Nerves £25 Wednesday 3rd June 2020 18:00-20:00 Tutor: Sarah Hillyer |
Learn how to start your own medicine chest from foraged finds on our popular course run by our much-admired local herbalist, Sarah Hillyer. This course is hands-on and practical, and will teach you how to make your own simple tincture to take home with you.
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Clay Oven Building
£100 Saturday 6th June 2020 09:30 - 16:00 Tutor: Dr. Sara Collins Lunch and refreshments included |
Learn the techniques to build a clay oven 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. The course includes a pizza meal cooked in a completed cob oven.
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Cordial Making
£65 Saturday 13th June 2020 10:00 - 16:30 Tutor: Jill & Ian Sainsbury |
Learn how to make tasty drinks from hedgerow ingredients on this cordial making course. Our tutors will show you how to identify and forage tasty ingredients from our local hedgerows before turning your delicious ingredients into syrup to take home.
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July
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Medicinal Herbal Workshop
Bolster Your Body £25 Wednesday 1st July 2020 18:00-20:00 Tutor: Sarah Hillyer |
Learn how to start your own medicine chest from foraged finds on our popular course run by our much-admired local herbalist, Sarah Hillyer. This course is hands-on and practical, and will teach you how to make your own simple tincture to take home with you.
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Clay Oven Building
£100 Saturday 11th July 2020 09:30 - 16:00 Tutor: Dr. Sara Collins |
Learn the techniques to build a clay oven 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. The course includes a pizza meal cooked in a completed cob oven.
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Heritage Basket Making
£140 Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th July 2020 10:00 - 17:00 Tutor: Dominic Parrette |
Learn from a professional basketmaker how to cleave, shave, steam and create your own original Maund Basket, a Devon speciality now on the Heritage Crafts Association red list for endangered skills.
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Spoon Carving
£65 Thursday 30th July 2020 10:00 - 16:00 Tutor: Jonathan Huet |
Learn how to carve a spoon, spatula and butter knife on this wood carving course in the Hampshire South Downs. Our tutor, Jonathan Huet, will teach you how to use a knife, saw, crook knife and axe to whittle items from locally harvested green wood.
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September
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Woodland Folklore
£60 Tuesday 1st September 2020 10:00 - 16:00 Tutor: Jonathan Huet |
This unique course will take you through an in-depth exploration of the trees, plants, landscape and seasons. Discover how woodland traditions and folklore are relevant to our lives today and explore nature-based meditation.
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Wooden Stool Making
£95 Thursday 3rd September 2020 09:30 - 16:30 Tutor: Phil Clayton |
Learn green woodwork techniques and make your own rustic stool on this training course in the Hampshire South Downs. Our tutor, Phil Clayton, will teach you how to use traditional hand tools and woodcraft skills, to craft your stool from locally grown wood.
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Cordial Making
£65 Saturday 12th September 2020 10:00 - 16:30 Tutor: Jill & Ian Sainsbury |
Learn how to make tasty drinks from hedgerow ingredients on this cordial making course. Our tutors will show you how to identify and forage tasty ingredients from our local hedgerows before turning your delicious ingredients into syrup to take home.
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Clay Oven Building
£100 Saturday 12th September 2020 09:30 - 16:00 Tutor: Dr. Sara Collins |
Learn the techniques to build a clay oven 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. The course includes a pizza meal cooked in a completed cob oven.
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October
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Forest School Leader Training (Level 3)
£1,170 Starts Wednesday 21st October 2020 Tutor: Adrian Goodhand |
Our Forest School Leader training is run over a number of months with a small training group in our beautiful woodland setting. Our training offers an optimum combination of practical and tool skills, woodland and ecological management, leadership and risk evaluation and the application of learning theory.
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Willow Frame Basket£75
Thurs 29th October 2020 10:00 - 17:00 Tutor: Louise Arthur |
Willow weaving training course in the Hampshire South Downs. Participants will make a hand woven gypsy style frame basket from sustainable locally grown willow. Use your basket for gathering berries, mushrooms, eggs, herbs or displaying treasures.
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November
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Willow Garden Sculpture
£75 Friday 20th November 2020 10:00 - 16:00 Tutor: Amanda Rayner |
Learn how to willow weave a sculpture for your garden. Choose what you would like to weave from a small animal to an abstract form. Previous participants have made: dragonflies, hearts, cats, dogs, chickens, pheasants, obelisks and garden decorations - the choice is yours! This course will take place indoors.
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Hand-Sewn Book Making
£60 Saturday 21st November 202010:00 - 16:00 Tutor: Angela Thames |
Learn to make your own notebook, sketchbook or unique gift book, using three different hand-sewing techniques. You will take home 2-3 books made from decorative paper and card such as postcards, notecards, envelopes, packets and old calendars.
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Hedgelaying
£75 Friday 27th November 2020 09:30 - 17:00 Tutor: Les Brannon |
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.
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December
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Willow Festive Decorations
£35.00 Thursday 3rd December 2020 10:00 - 12:30 or 13:30 - 16:00 Tutor: Louise Arthur |
A fun hands-on session weaving natural festive decorations. We will create willow Christmas trees and rush reindeer in the morning session and willow wreaths and stars in the afternoon. A great few hours in the warm for crafty folk.
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Willow Festive Decorations
£35.00 Friday 4th December 2020 10:00 - 12:30 or 13:30 - 16:00 Tutor: Louise Arthur |
A fun hands-on session weaving natural festive decorations. We will create willow Christmas trees and rush reindeer in the morning session and willow wreaths and stars in the afternoon. A great few hours in the warm for crafty folk.
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