Courses Update

​Our courses are up and running, operating within Government guidelines at all times. Our courses team are ensuring everything is safe and COVID secure for all of our visitors, course attendees and tutors.

​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. ​

As well as our Course Listings below, we also offer private bespoke courses for your adult family group or organisation.  Please contact us on courses@sustainability-centre.org for more information.

2021

July

Mental Health
​First Aid ​
£225
Wednesday 28th - Thursday 29th July 2021
09:00 - 17:00
​Ali Johnson  
​Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognised training course which teaches people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide help on a first aid basis. MHFA won’t teach you to be a therapist, but just like physical first aid, it will teach you to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis. ​

August

Woodland Management for Forest School Leaders
£75
​Saturday 7th August 2021
10:00 - 17:00
Tutor: Nick Ward
​
A one day Woodland Management 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.
Willow Dragonflies & Fish
£40
Saturday 21st August 2021
10:00 - 13:00 or 13:45 - 16:45
​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. 

September

Foraging, Fire & Folklore
£25 
Wednesday 1st September 2021
​18:00 - 20:00
Tutor: Jonathon Huet
A series of seasonal events, each one a special evening experience of wild food foraging, Celtic fire and folklore.  Jonathon will take you on a guided walk to forage for wild food and impart his knowledge on different native trees in each season.
Willow Bird Feeders
£35 
Thursday 2nd September 2021
​10:00 - 13:00
Tutor: Louise Arthur
Do you like to help our native wildlife? Create naturally stylish, biodegradable feeders to hang in the garden for feeding wild birds. Using UK grown willow, you will weave at least two different designs feeders.
Willow Bowls and Platters
£35 
Thursday 2nd September 2021
​14:00 - 17:00
Tutor: Louise Arthur
Spend a few hours learning new skills with sustainably grown UK willow. We will start with tension trays or 'platters' used to present bread, cheese or baked goods. You will then create another with added curve to use as a fruit or egg bowl. 
Clay Oven
£105
​Saturday 11th September 2021
​09:30 - 16:00
Tutor: Sara Collins
Hot drinks 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 sandwich lunch. 
Natural Wellbeing ​
£75
Saturday 18th September 2021
10:00 - 17:00
​Sarah Hillyer & Suzanne Burnett  
​A health and wellbeing workshop focused on herbal medicine and awareness.  This powerful one day course will engage us with the techniques needed to build resilience using only natural and intuitive processes; offering ideas, knowledge and tools we can use to strengthen and bring resilience and wellbeing into everyday life.  ​
Art, Sound and Meditation ​
£75
Sunday 26th September 2021
10:00 - 16:00
​Janet Hammerton,  Jonathon Huet & Sam Britton
A workshop focused on the healing properties of sounds and pattern and the restorative qualities of the natural world. Spend a day focusing on your own wellbeing. We will explore the way experiencing sound and nature can spark our creative responses. ​

October

Introduction to Permaculture Design
£320
Reserve a place  
£75
Thursday 7th to Sunday 10th October 2021
09:30 - 17:30
​Aranya
​This course 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. 
Willow Frame Basket​
​£80
Thursday 28th October 2021
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.
Climbing Frames, Ropes and Ladders​
​£95
Saturday 30th October 2021
09:00 - 17:00
​Tutor: Jon Cree
​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. ​
Lost Words
​£75
Sunday 31st October 2021
09:00 - 16:00
​Tutor: Jon Cree
​This day course explores nature through the curriculum using literacy, art and pictures. Participants will discover the natural world through sensory observation, sketching and wordsmithing.

november

Coppicing 
£75
Friday 5th November 2021
09:30 - 16:30
​Les & Toni Brannon
​​This course will give you practical, hands on experience in the traditional art of coppicing.  You will work on a section of hazel woodland which is being coppiced as part of a wider woodland management plan to undertake conservation work on site.
Unwind in the Woods 
£75
Saturday 6th November 2021
10:00 - 16:00
​Jonathon Huet
​​Combining meditation and an introduction to basic whittling techniques, this workshop will give you the time and space to get away from a hectic everyday life and connect with nature.
Forest School Leader Training 
£1,170
Starts Tue 16th Nov 2021
09:00 - 17:00
​Adrian Goodhand
​​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.
Natural Cosmetics Workshop 
£75 
Saturday 20th and/or Sunday 21st November 2021
10:00 - 16:00
​Dee Dade
​​Learn 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. 
Hedgelaying 
£80
Friday 26th November 2021
09:30 - 17:00
​Les & Toni Brannon
​​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. 

december

Willow Trees & Rush Reindeer
£35
Thursday 2nd or Friday 3rd December 2021
10:00 - 12:30
​Louise Arthur
​​A fun hands-on session weaving natural festive decorations. We will create a freestanding Christmas tree using colourful willow then follow instructions to fold a reindeer from rushes. 
Festive Wreaths & Stars
£35
Thursday 2nd or Friday 3rd December 2021
13:00 - 16:00
​Louise Arthur

2022

january

Willow Garden Sculpture
£80
Friday 14th January 2022
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!
Willow Frame Basket
£80
Tuesday 25th January 2022
Learn how to 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. 
Fabric Baskets
£95
Saturday 29th January 2022
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. 
Hedgelaying Course - SOLD OUT
£80
Friday 4th February 2022
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.
Natural Cosmetics 
£75 for one day
£135 for both days
Saturday 11th February 2022 &/or
Sunday 12th February 2022
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.
Willow Living Tree
£45 
Friday 25th February 2022 
Join us in learning how to weave your very own living willow Harlequin tree from willow grown at our site on this course in the Hampshire South Downs. Living willow rods plaited into what is known as a Harlequin tree make a wonderful addition to your garden.  You will to take away your tree with the knowledge of how to nurture and care for it through the seasons to come. All materials and tools will be supplied to craft at least one tree. Louise from Rough Around the Hedges will guide you through the workshop. ​
Willow Lampshade
£45 
Friday 25th February 2022 
Learn how to weave a lampshade from locally grown willow on this half-day course in the Hampshire South Downs. With a rising awareness of sustainable natural materials and handcrafted techniques willow lampshades make a wonderful choice for your home. On this course you will learn how  to weave a drum shaped lampshade onto a 25cm metal hoop for a standard light fixing with an LED bulb. ​