What's On |
|
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.
2023
February
|
Hedgelaying
£90 Friday 3rd February 2023 |
On this training course, 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 Workshop
£85 per day 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.
|
|
Willow Living Tree
£45 Morning or Afternoon sessions 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.
|
|
Compost Toilets
£75 Saturday 25th February 2023 |
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.
|
March
|
Willow Weaving Weekend
£170 Saturday 4th & 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.
|
|
Kitchen Gardening Weekends
£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.
|
|
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.
|
April
|
Medicinal Herb Workshop
£90 Saturday 1st April 2023 |
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 with professional herbalist, Sarah Hillyer, learning how to identify and use medicinal herbs growing in our gardens and the wider countryside to detoxify and revitalise the body.
|
|
Spoon Carving Course
£85 Wednesday 5th April 2023 |
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.
|
|
Composting Masterclass
£70 Saturday 22nd April 2023 |
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.
|
MAY
|
South Downs
Green Fair Online - Adult 10.00 Child 5.00 Gate - Adult 12.00 Child 6.00 Sunday 7th May 2023 |
A fantastic family day out with a difference, whatever the weather. A truly eye opening event where you can connect with other people involved in practical sustainability.
Our Green Fair Charter is a promise from our stall holders that they will recycle everything and not use things like one use plastic at our event. Our aim is to eliminate rubbish that goes to landfill. To achieve this we have colourful recycling facilities from Nifty Bins all over the fair. |
|
Devon Stave Basket Making
£240 Saturday 20th - Sunday 21st May 2023 |
This course will cover the construction of a heritage Devon Stave Basket made from sweet chestnut and white willow. Learn from a professional basketmaker how to cleave, shave, steam and make your own, original Stave Basket, a Devon speciality used for harvesting crops such as potatoes and now on the Heritage Crafts Association red list for endangered skills.
|
|
Nature Led Meditation
£20 - £30 Tuesday 23rd May 2023 |
A progressive series of nature-led meditation workshops, each with an individual flavour. Jonathon will guide you gently through meditations and natural connection practices designed to restore your connection with nature and to bring healing to yourself and to the land to which we belong. Take some time in our peaceful woods to find calmness and connections with the landscape.
|
|
Women's Woodland Retreat
£65 - £85 Friday 26th May 2023 |
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. 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.
|
|
Foraging, Fire and Folklore
£30 Wednesday 31st May 2023 |
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. The walk will end with a primitive fire-lighting demonstration and you will experience a Celtic Fire Ceremony around the glowing embers of the fire and learn the folklore of native trees.
|
June
|
Medicinal Herb Workshop
£90 Sunday 25th June 2023 |
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 with professional herbalist, Sarah Hillyer, learning how to identify and use medicinal herbs growing in our gardens and the wider countryside to detoxify and revitalise the body.
|
July
|
Foraging, Fire and Folklore
£30 Wednesday 5th July 2023 |
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. The walk will end with a primitive fire-lighting demonstration and you will experience a Celtic Fire Ceremony around the glowing embers of the fire and learn the folklore of native trees.
|
|
Clay Oven Course
£115 Saturday 8th July 2023 |
Learn the techniques to build a clay 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.
|
|
Advanced Knife Skills
£85 Sunday 16th July 2023 |
This knife skills training course will explore how to use a fixed blade knife as a wood craft tool. Throughout the day progressive skills will be taught working with both green and seasoned wood. Through gentle guidance and experiential learning, you will become confident and comfortable handling a knife, from basic skills to advanced carving techniques.
|
|
Wildflower Meadows Course
£85 Saturday 22nd July 2023 |
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.
|
August
|
Stool Carving Course
£130 Friday 4th August 2023 |
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.
|
|
Wildflower Meadows Course
£80 Saturday 5th August 2023 |
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.
|
|
Spoon Carving Course
£85 Saturday 19th August 2023 |
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.
|
September
|
Gate Hurdle Making
£130 Friday 1st September 2023 |
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.
|
|
Foraging, Fire and Folklore
£30 Wednesday 6th September 2023 |
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. The walk will end with a primitive fire-lighting demonstration and you will experience a Celtic Fire Ceremony around the glowing embers of the fire and learn the folklore of native trees.
|
