Adult Courses Diary |
2023
December
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Willow Reindeer
Sold Out £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 or 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
Sold Out £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
Sold Out £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
Place 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
Sold Out £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. |
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Forest School Taster Day
Places Available £65 Friday 17th May 2024 |
An experience day for teachers, early years practitioners and parents to give a taste of the Forest School approach to learning in our beautiful woodland site in the Hampshire South Downs. Have a go at fire lighting, den building, tool use, plus other woodland crafts and activities. Find out how Forest School supports children and adults of all abilities to learn in the outdoors.
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Foraging, Fire and Folklore
Places Available £35 Wednesday 22nd May 2024 |
A series of seasonal events, each one a special 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.
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Spoon Carving
Places Available £90 Friday 31st May 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
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June
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Nature Led Meditation 2
Places Available £25 Wednesday 5th June 2024 |
Join us to lean how to switch off and meditate on this summer evening guided meditation session. 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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Wooden Stool Carving
Places Available £135 Saturday 15th June 2024 |
Learn green woodwork techniques and make your own rustic stool on this training course in the Hampshire South Downs. Our tutor, Paul Phillips, will teach you how to use traditional hand tools and woodcraft skills, to craft your stool from locally grown wood.
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Foraging, Fire and Folklore
Places Available £35 Wednesday 19th June 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.
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Women's Woodland Retreat
Places Available £80 Friday 21st June 2024 |
Our day retreat for women is designed to give you time and space to connect, recharge and relax in the glorious natural surroundings of our woodland in the South Downs National Park. You will learn a mixture of bushcraft and natural craft skills, taking time to relax and unwind in the company of other women. This retreat is designed to support your wellbeing, help you connect with nature, learn something new and take some time to just be. Jonathon Huet will close the course with a guided meditation session.
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Medicinal Herbs
Places Available £90 Friday 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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Gardening in a Changing Climate
Places Available £95 Saturday 13th July 2024 |
Be inspired by Tom Nielsen who is a garden designer and nursery owner specialising in naturalistic design using nature positive plants that are reliable, tough and beautiful. Discover how carefully selected planting true to a particular soil type can behave as a natural landscape saving the need to artificially suspend the garden with extra watering and soil enrichment. Tom's own garden was featured on BBC Gardeners' World this year.
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Wildflower Meadows
Places Available £90 Saturday 20th July 2024 |
This wildflower meadow 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. Rachael Mairey will take you on a guided tour of The Sustainability Centre’s beautifully vibrant buzzing meadows and teach you how to establish and manage your own meadow effectively.
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Wildflower Meadow 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, where you will learn the names and defining features of a selection of wildflowers and become confident in telling the difference between similar plants using specific botanical features.
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August
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Wildflower Meadows
Places Available £90 Saturday 3rd August 2024 |
This wildflower meadow 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.
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Spoon Carving
Places Available £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
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September
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Foraging, Fire and Folklore
Places Available £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.
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Mushroom Cultivation
Places Available £120 Saturday 7th September 2024 |
Join James from the Fungi Club on a day’s adventure into the mycelial world of cultivating gourmet mushrooms here, at The Sustainability Centre situated in the South Downs National Park. 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.
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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, a learning and study centre, a beacon for sustainability, based in the heart of Hampshire's South Downs National Park in the UK. Includes 3 year access to ongoing support through the MHFAider Support App® and Community, all course materials & certificate.
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Youth Mental Health First Aid Course
Places Available £275 Thursday 25th - Friday 26th 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. We train the adults in a young person’s life to have the skills and confidence to step in, offer first aid and guide them towards the support they need. In doing so, they can speed up a young person’s recovery, stop issues from developing into a crisis, and ultimately save lives.
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Men's Woodland Bushcraft Retreat
Places Available £80 Saturday 28th September 2024 |
The day will start with a walk around the beautiful woodlands at the Sustainability Centre in the South Downs National Park including tree and plant identification, wild foods, and herbal medicine. On our return to base camp, you will explore ways of creating natural cordage using plants found on our walk. After a campfire lunch amongst the trees you can learn about ways of creating a fire using different fire lays.
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october
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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. 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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Climbing Frames, Ropes and Ladders with Jon Cree
Places Available £100 Saturday 12th October 2024 |
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. We will be sharing techniques and know-how on building safe but slightly risky (!) structures with children that can enhance creativity and physical play at your forest school site.
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Supporting Children Through Anxiety and Trauma with Jon Cree
Places Available £100 Sunday 13th October 2024 |
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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Coppicing
Places Available £120 Thursday 24th or Friday 25th October 2024 |
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. 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 allow new plants and habitats for form.
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Natural Cleaning
Places Available £95 Saturday 26th October 2024 |
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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