Adult Courses Diary |
2024
July
Wildflower Identification Workshop
Places Available £35 Monday 29th July 2024 |
This beginners’ evening workshop in wildflower identification is suitable for anyone who wants to get more familiar with our native wildflowers. The course will include a tour of some of our beautiful wildflower meadows at The Sustainability Centre.
|
August
Wildflower Meadows Course
Places Available £90 Saturday 3rd August 2024 |
This course will equip you with the skills and knowledge to create, restore and enhance meadows, with a particular focus on chalk grassland. Whether you want to establish a mini meadow in your back garden or on a large scale, this course is for you.
|
Spoon Carving Course
Sold Out £90 Saturday 17th August 2024 |
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
|
Shrink Pot Carving Course
Sold Out £125 Saturday 31st August 2024 |
A shrink pot is a fun, creative greenwood project which utilises the natural shrinking properties of the wood as it dries to form a pot. As the wood dries over the following weeks, the pot will shrink snuggly around its base to create a beautiful container.
|
September
Foraging, Fire and Folklore Course
Sold Out £35 Wednesday 4th September 2024 |
A special introductory experience of wild food foraging, Celtic fire and folklore. Bushcraft and Celtic folklore specialist, Jonathon Huet, will take you on a guided walk to forage for wild food and impart his knowledge on different native trees in each season.
|
Mushroom Cultivation Course
Sold Out £120 Saturday 7th September 2024 |
This comprehensive workshop aims to provide participants with practical skills in mushroom cultivation, covering various techniques such as log drilling, cutting and turning your garden buckets/old laundry baskets into a home for mushrooms.
|
Unwind in the Woods Retreat
Places Available £90 Saturday 14th September 2024 |
Combining meditation and an introduction to basic whittling techniques, this workshop will give you time away from the fast pace of modern living and leave you with a feeling of peace and calm.
|
Adult Mental Health Refresher First Aid Course
Places Available £120 Wednesday 25th September 2024 |
Refresh your Adult Mental Health First Aid skills in the beautiful setting of The Sustainability Centre. Includes 3 year access to ongoing support through the MHFAider Support App® and Community, all course materials & certificate.
|
Youth Mental Health First Aid Course
Places Available £275 Thursday 26th - Friday 27th September 2024 |
Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognised training course for anyone who works with, lives with or supports young people aged 8-18. Gain the skills and confidence to step in, offer first aid and guide young people towards the appropriate help.
|
Men's Woodland Bushcraft Retreat
Sold Out £80 Saturday 28th September 2024 |
Learn tree and plant identification, wild foods, and herbal medicine. Explore ways of creating natural cordage using plants found on our walk. After a campfire lunch amongst the trees, discover methods of tarp rigging and different fire lays.
|
october
Introduction to Permaculture Design Course
Places Available £330 Reserve a place for £75 Thursday 3rd - Sunday 6th October 2024 |
This course is designed to introduce Permaculture principles but with an emphasis on supporting participants with designing their own homes and gardens. Aranya shows you how to apply Permaculture design to our lifestyles and homes to be both more sustainable and abundant.
|
Climbing Frames, Ropes and Ladders Course
with Jon Cree Places Available £100 Saturday 12th October 2024 |
Build your own play structures with rope, wood and other natural materials. This course is for educators aiming to be more adventurous with creative play structures and combining these with the natural features of your site.
|
Supporting Children Through Anxiety and Trauma Course
with Jon Cree Places Available £100 Sunday 13th October 2024 |
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.
|
Coppicing Course
Sold Out £120 Thursday 24th or Friday 25th October 2024 |
Learn practical, hands on experience in the traditional art of coppicing. Working in pairs using traditional hand tools such as billhooks and bow saws, you will cut the stools and drift the rods, layering in order to allow new plants and habitats to form.
|
Fabric Baskets Course
Places Available £95 Saturday 26th October 2024 |
Upcycle pre-loved clothing or favourite fabrics to make beautiful coiled fabric baskets. Make use of your children’s outgrown outfits or your partner’s favourite old shirts and turn the materials into a decorative basket of memories for your home.
|
November
Natural Cosmetics Workshop: Herbal Bathroom Day
Places Available £95 Saturday 9th November 2024 |
This fun Herbal Bathroom Day contains a blend of makes from our popular Natural Cosmetic Workshop weekends and has been designed for those who haven't previously attended. Enjoy a friendly and informative day of hands-on makes to take home.
|
Natural Cleaning Course
Sold Out £95 Sunday 10th November 2024 |
This workshop will give you practical experience in making a variety of products to take home with you along with detailed handouts. Kinder to you, the earth and your purse, these products are quick, easy and fun to make and save on single-use plastic.
|
Forest School Leader Training Course
Places Available £1180 (reserve a place for £200) Starting: Wednesday 13th November 2024 |
This modular 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.
|
Willow Garden Sculpture Course
Places Available £95 Thursday 21st November 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 training course will take place indoors.
|
Zarzo Willow Basket Course
Sold Out £95 Friday 22nd November 2024 |
This Spanish-style Zarzo willow basket is woven entirely differently from our traditional English baskets; the weaving pattern is simple in technique but extremely effective. This training course will take place indoors.
|
December
Willow Festive Wreaths Workshop
Places Available £45 Thursday 5th December 2024 or Friday 6th December 2024 |
Sustainable festive decorations made from our own home-grown willow! Join us for a few hours learning how to weave up a wreath to adorn your door or use as a table setting.
|
Willow Festive Trees Workshop
Sold Out £45 Thursday 5th December 2024 |
Learn how to weave a cute little willow tree for your home on this craft workshop in the Hampshire South Downs. Use natural sustainable materials to decorate your home for the festive period or to make as a beautiful gift for a loved one.
|
Willow Festive Stars Workshop
Sold Out £45 Friday 6th December 2024 |
A fun hands-on session weaving natural festive decorations. Learn to make a large tension willow star and several small star wands with our friendly tutor, Louise Arthur. A great few hours in the warm for crafty folk.
|
Willow Reindeer Course
Places Available £95 Sunday 8th December 2024 |
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.
|
2025
JaNUARY
Willow Garden Sculpture Course
Places Available £95 Thursday 9th or Friday 10th January 2025 |
Learn how to willow weave a sculpture for your garden on this craft course in the Hampshire South Downs. Previous participants have made: dragonflies, hearts, foxes, chickens and pheasants.
|
Off-Loom Weaving Workshop
Places Available £75 Friday 17th January 2025 |
Discover Off-Loom weaving on this creative workshop focusing on using found items from nature i.e wood, shells and rocks.
|
Willow Weaving Weekend
Places Available £190 Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th January 2025 |
Spend a weekend engrossed in developing your skills in willow weaving and basketry on this course in the Hampshire South Downs.
|
FEBRUARY
Compost Toilets Course
Places Available £85 Saturday 1st February 2025 |
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.
|
Living Willow Tree Course
Places Available £50 Friday 14th February 2025 |
Living willow rods plaited into what is known as a Harlequin tree make a wonderful addition to your garden. You will visit our willow beds and cut your own willow for the project.
|
Living Willow Bird Feeders Course
Places Available £50 Friday 14th February 2025 |
Do you like to help our native wildlife? On this training course in the Hampshire South Downs, you'll create naturally stylish, biodegradable feeders to hang in the garden for feeding wild birds.
|
Natural Cosmetics Workshop
Places Available £95 Saturday 22nd and/or Sunday 23rd February 2025 |
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.
|
march
Kitchen Gardening
Places Available £350 Two weekends: 15th & 16th March and 7th & 8th June 2025 |
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.
|
Willow Frame Basket Course
Places Available £100 Friday 28th March 2025 |
Willow weaving training course in the Hampshire South Downs. Participants will make a hand woven gypsy style frame basket from sustainable willow. Use your basket for gathering berries, mushrooms, eggs, herbs or displaying treasures.
|
April
Medicinal Herb Workshop
(Spring) Places Available £90 Saturday 5th April 2025 |
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.
|
Devon Stave Basket Course
Places Available £260 Thursday 10th & Friday 11th April 2025 |
This course will cover the construction of a heritage Devon Stave Basket made from sweet chestnut
and white willow. |
Compost Masterclass
Places Available £75 Saturday 12th April 2025 |
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.
|
may
Willow Peony Plant Support Course
Places Available £50 Friday 2nd May 2025 |
Use willow grown at the Centre to create shorter plant supports perfect for tall flowers. There will be several designs to inspire those who wish to experiment.
|
Willow Garden Obelisk Course
Sold Out £50 Friday 2nd May 2025 |
Use willow grown at our Centre to create a beautiful obelisk for climbing plants like sweet peas.
|
Men's Woodland Bushcraft Retreat
Place Available £85 Saturday 10th May 2025 |
Spend the day away from it all on this bushcraft-focused day retreat. The course has been designed to give men time away from a PC screen, switch off mobile phones, and get outdoors to enjoy the rhythm of the woods.
|
Natural Ink Making Workshop
Places Available £75 Sunday 11th May 2025 |
This friendly workshop will teach you how to make your own natural inks from a variety of plants and minerals.
|
june
Kitchen Gardening
Places Available £350 Two weekends: 15th & 16th March and 7th & 8th June 2025 |
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.
|
Medicinal Herb Workshop
(Summer) Places Available £90 Saturday 28th June 2025 |
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.
|
WAITING LIST
If there are no spaces available on the course you are interested in, do join our waiting list. |
BESPOKE COURSES
As well as our Course Listings above, we also offer private bespoke courses for any group or organisation. Please contact the courses team for more information. |