Outdoors and rural skills courses

FEATURED

Dry Stone Walling for beginners - 2 days including artisan locally sourced lunch

Gold AWARD

(13)

Dry Stone Walling for beginners - 2 days including artisan locally sourced lunch

Lancashire - Next course on 18th April 2020

£175

A fun, informal and uplifting experience for all. Cheshire, Derbyshire and Lancashire. A uniquely superior choice. Would you, your friends or your family enjoy a fun and informal session building a real dry stone wall in a stunning countryside setting? Get out in the fresh air, be next to nature, and restore an important feature that defines the British landscape. Dry stone walling is a positive and relaxing experience which promotes mindfulness and boosts wellbeing in an inspirational, natural environment. Delivered by highly qualified craftsmen and Dry Stone Walling Association...

FEATURED

Platinum AWARD

(5)

Garden Willow

South Yorkshire - Next course on 9th February 2020

£95

Willow is an amazing plant. A cut stem can re-root and grow through just being pushed in the ground. It grows incredibly quickly, is tactile, flexible and a joy to work with. On this course you will develop skills and knowledge that can be used over and over in a multitude of ways. You will be introduced to willow as a beautiful material that is easy and very satisfying to work with. Having crafted your very own structure from willow, you will leave the day being able to apply your...

FEATURED

Platinum AWARD

2 day workshop exploring worsted and woollen spinning

Norfolk - Next course on 27th February 2020

£140

If you are a hand spinner who like many, is a little unclear on the difference between worsted and woollen spinning then this two day workshop is for you. It has been designed to clarify and explore the differences between worsted and woollen spinning spending a full day on each. You will have the opportunity to card and comb a variety of fleeces including our very own North Ronaldsay and Icelandic, to determine the most appropriate way of processing each. By the end of the workshop you will have at...

FEATURED

Platinum AWARD

3 day Introduction to Greenwood Crafts

South Yorkshire - Next course on 14th February 2020

£265

This three day course will introduce you to the traditional art of green wood craft. Green Wood is freshly felled, still sappy wood. To work it requires a set of simple techniques based on an understanding of how wood reacts – both to the tools, and to the dry and shrinking process. Because it is green, the wood is soft and easy to work with hand tools, and because of this, green woodwork creates little waste, and can utilise small trees and logs. It is therefore green in all senses...

FEATURED

Bronze AWARD

Cold Process Soap Making at the Rural Skills Centre Cardiff

Cardiff - Next course on 18th January 2020

£90

Historically, soap was made from animal fat and something all farmers’ wives made to keep their family clean. Contemporary ingredients make soap making a creative skill. This one-day course will enable you to make gifts just in time for Christmas that will impress special friends and relatives. What you will learn during the workshop; • Examine the essential equipment used for cold process soap making: • Discuss the characteristics of oils and fats used in cold process soap making; • Follow health and safety procedures when working with lye; •...

Spoon carving at Walderchain Wood, Canterbury with Mark Saich and Jill Swan

Gold AWARD

(26)

Spoon carving at Walderchain Wood, Canterbury with Mark Saich and Jill Swan

Kent - Next course on 7th March 2020

£80

Your tutors will guide you through the process from selecting a log through to a completed spoon. About the tutors: Mark Saich Originally trained as a carpenter/joiner, Mark has worked as an eco-builder, sustainable construction consultant and trainer. He has a degree in Environmental Sciences, obtained a post graduate diploma at the Centre of Alternative Technology. He now owns and lives in 23 acres (the venue) of woodland practicing green woodworking and sustainable woodland management. Jill Swan Studied sculpture at Kennington art school. She took up spoon carving shortly after...

A Practical Dry Stone Walling Workshop Central London

Platinum AWARD

(57)

A Practical Dry Stone Walling Workshop Central London

London - Next course on 7th March 2020

£85

'Hands-on' practical participation in learning about DSW techniques including; Foundations, Cheek Ends, Tie Stones, Jumpers, Fingers, Shims, Through Stones, Lintels and Top Stones. (One over two, two over one !!) These one day workshops are a 'hands on' introduction or improvement for DIY and interested persons of all ages and abilities aged over 16yrs. You will build a DSW and learn the heritage and craft overview and geological terms of the different material, the engineering terms and descripton of stones used. You will receive, and discuss, an overview into the...

Platinum AWARD

(17)

Make a shave horse at Sallerton Wood

Devon - Next course on 30th May 2020

£170

These two-day courses teach a wide range of green woodworking techniques whilst making your own traditional green wood shaving horse using timber sourced within the woodland. The topics covered include the properties of green wood, cleaving techniques and the use of traditional hand tools and equipment such as draw-knives and pole lathes. A shave horse is a fundamental piece of kit needed by all green woodworkers and it will be yours to keep at the end of the course, and the course fee is less than the cost of buying...

Platinum AWARD

(31)

Basic beekeeping

Shropshire - Next course on 13th June 2020

£55

Basic beekeeping at Acton Scott Historic Working Farm. An informal but comprehensive introduction to beekeeping, including a brief history of the honeybee and similar insects, and their use in the garden and agriculture. Course participants will gain an understanding of the bee’s lifestyle, individual duties and contribution to the colony’s life and development. You will learn how to identify the queen, worker and male drone bee before selecting equipment and suitable locations for hives. General handling and manipulation of bee colonies will be covered, together with honey production, extracting, processing...

A Dry Stone Walling Workshop Bedfordshire

Platinum AWARD

(27)

A Dry Stone Walling Workshop Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire - Next course on 14th March 2020

£65

One-day dry stone walling course. A unique opportunity to take part in constructing a 2m high, Permanant Dry Stone Boundary wall, in the heart of the Bedfordshire countryside. Probably the tallest DSW structure in the region !! These workshops are a 'hands on' experience to the introduction or improvement for DIY and interested persons of all ages over 16yrs. You will assess the ground and setting out of building pins, batter frames and lines. You will stack out material in the appropriate manner and commence building. You will position foundation...