What's On
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All of our events and courses focus on green living, rural skills and education, and take place in our beautiful 55 acre Learning Centre in the Hampshire South Downs, near Petersfield.
2022
July
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Foraging, Fire and Folklore
£25 Wednesday 20th July 2022 |
A series of seasonal events, each one a special evening 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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Wildflower Meadows
£75 Sunday 24th July 2022 |
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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August
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Woodland Management
£80 Saturday 6th August 2022 |
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.
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September
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Wooden Gate Hurdle Making
£110 Friday 2nd September 2022 |
Learn traditional wood carving techniques to make your own sweet chestnut gate hurdle on this one day course in the Hampshire South Downs. Using a shavehorse and other traditional hand tools including drawknife, twybil, brace, side axe and hammer, you will learn to create your own hurdles, which you will take home with you. Your hurdles can be used as a gate opening, part of a fence or simply to add decoration and structure to your garden.
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Foraging, Fire and Folklore
£30 Saturday 3rd September 2022 |
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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Introduction to Permaculture Design
£75 deposit to reserve a place, £245 due in mid-August 2022 £320 Thursday 29th September - Sunday 2nd October 2022 |
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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October
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Climbing Frames, Ropes and Ladders
£95 Saturday 15th October 2022 |
A one day course tutored by Jon Cree 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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Supporting Children through Anxiety and Trauma
£95 Sunday 16th October 2022 |
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. 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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Willow Frame
Basket £85 Friday 28th October 2022. |
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. Suitable for beginners or improvers with some manual dexterity, hand strength and patience!
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Natural Cleaning
£75 Saturday 29th October 2022 |
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
£85 Friday 11th November 2022 |
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 to form.
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Forest School Leader Level 3
£1175* * Arrangements can be made to pay by instalments: £200 to reserve a place, £500 by the start of the course, £475 by 28th Feb 2023 Modular course start date: Tuesday 15th November 2022 Times: 9am - 5pm |
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. Participants must attend four modules, 10 training days in total between November 2022 and May 2023. |
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Natural Cosmetics
£80 Saturday 19th November 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.
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Mental Health First Aid
£225 Tuesday 22nd November and Wednesday 23rd November 2022 |
This two day course qualifies you as a Mental Health First Aider. It teaches you 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.
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Hedgelaying
£85 Friday 25th November 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.
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Youth Mental Health First Aid
£225 Tuesday 29th November and Wednesday 30th November 2022 |
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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december
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Willow Garden Sculpture
£85 Friday 2nd December 2022 |
Learn how to use willow to weave a small animal into an abstract sculptural form for your garden. Suitable for beginners or improvers, your tutor will be able to advise on a suitable project to match your skill level. Previous participants have made: dragonflies, hearts, foxes, chickens and pheasants. This course will take place indoors.
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Willow Festive
Stars and Rush Angel £40 Morning Thursday 8th December 2022 Friday 9th December 2022 |
Join a creative morning workshop, learning how to make large willow stars and rush angels. We will be crafting with sustainable UK grown materials to form these popular folk designs. All the materials and tools will be supplied with the guidance of Louise from Rough Around the Hedges. These sessions fly by so why not come early for breakfast in the Beech Café?
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Festive Willow and Ivy Yuletide Decorations
£40 Afternoon Thursday 8th December 2022 Friday 9th December 2022 |
In this afternoon workshop, try your hand at creating natural yuletide decorations for your door, porch or hallway. We will fashion wreaths and spheres from locally grown willow with the guidance of Louise from Rough Around the Hedges. To adorn you 3D sphere, ivy and mistletoe will be provided. You can bring extra foraged materials to add to you wreath or continue to decorate it at home.
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2023
January
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Willow Garden Sculpture
£85 Thursday 12th January or Friday 13th January 2023 |
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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Willow Frame Basket
£95 Friday 27th January 2023 |
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. Suitable for beginners or improvers with some manual dexterity, hand strength and patience!
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Upcycled Fabric Basket
£95 Saturday 28th January 2023 |
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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February
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Natural Cosmetics
£80 for one day, £140 for both days Saturday 4th and/or Sunday 5th February 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. 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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Willow Living Tree
£45 Morning or Afternoon session Friday 17th February 2023 |
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.
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Compost Toilets
£75 Saturday 25th February 2022 |
This course will teach you 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.
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March
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Willow Weaving Weekend
£165 Saturday 4th March and Sunday 5th March 2023 |
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 number of willow items which will give you the chance to practice basket making techniques before making your own basket.
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Kitchen Gardening Weekend
£290 Reserve a place for £75 Two weekends included: 18th & 19th March 2023 17th & 18th June 2023 |
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.
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Forest School
Taster Day £60 Friday 24th March 2023 |
An experience day for teachers, early years practitioners and parents to give a taste of the Forest School approach to learning. 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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April
Earthworks Trust & Earthworks FoundationThe Sustainability Centre is owned and operated by The Earthworks Trust (Charity No.1079866). Our trading company is Earthworks Foundation. All profits go to support our charity The Earthworks Trust. SITE VISITORSPlease be aware that our 55 acre site is privately owned. Customers and clients are welcomed at their own risk. All visitors are reminded that this is a countryside site and all tracks, paths and car parks are informal, uneven and may not all be suitable for people with mobility issues. As we are located in the South Downs National Park dark skies zone, there is no lighting on site after dark. We advise sturdy, appropriate footwear at all times and use of a torch at night. |
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Main AddressThe Sustainability Centre
Droxford Road, East Meon, Hants GU32 1HR 01730 823166
Reception01730 823166
info@sustainability-centre.org |
South Downs Eco Lodge & Camp SiteSouth Downs Eco Lodge
The Sustainability Centre Droxford Road, East Meon, Hants GU32 1HR 01730 823549
accommodation@sustainability-centre.org Cafe01730 823755
infobeechcafe@gmail.com |
Burials01730 823425
burials@sustainability-centre.org Education01730 823166
education@sustainability-centre.org Courses01730 823166
courses@sustainability-centre.org |