Outdoors and rural skills courses

FEATURED

Dry stone walling for beginners - 2 days including artisan locally sourced lunch. A fun, informal and uplifting experience for all. Cheshire, Derbyshire and Lancashire.

Gold AWARD

(13)

Dry stone walling for beginners - 2 days including artisan locally sourced lunch. A fun, informal and uplifting experience for all. Cheshire, Derbyshire and Lancashire.

Lancashire - Next course on 18th April 2020

£149

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 instructors, these events span over two days. They are open to all abilities and ages, and involve the rebuilding of...

FEATURED

Rustic oak garden bench - one day course

Platinum AWARD

(10)

Rustic oak garden bench - one day course

Leicestershire

£300

This rustic oak green woodworking experience is for a full day for 1 or 2 people working together to make a piece of garden furniture - a small bench. The course is aimed at friends or couples wanting to share a very unique experience together but individuals are more than welcome too. No prior woodworking skills or experience is needed just lots of willingness to get stuck in and enthusiasm. You'll be shown lots of hands on techniques working with the grain & encouraged to use some beautiful old hand...

FEATURED

Introduction to green woodworking - make a stool or small table

Gold AWARD

(14)

Introduction to green woodworking - make a stool or small table

Cornwall - Next course on 11th April 2020

£160

This relaxing, enjoyable and satisfying 2 day course provides a great introduction to traditional ‘green wood working’ skills and includes all materials and lovely home made food. You’ll learn all about ancient woodcraft techniques (no power tools here!) and out of a recently felled ‘green’ log you’ll create your own unique furniture to take home. The course is suitable for absolutely anyone who’d enjoy learning a traditional skill in a beautiful rural Cornish environment, with the added bonus of the satisfaction of creating their own piece of furniture from scratch....

FEATURED

Build your own beehive

Isle of Anglesey - Next course on 23rd November 2019

£45

An instructional day during which I demonstrate how I build affordable national hives using easily available materials. It assumes no previous woodworking knowledge or experience. New hives are expensive items to buy and it is easy to get caught out without enough spare kit when bees are preparing to swarm or we need to make a split. It's always useful to have a spare empty hive or at least a spare brood box and of course we always live in hope that we will needed spare supers! During the day...

FEATURED

Gold AWARD

Natural Christmas Wreaths

Cumbria - Next course on 7th December 2019

£32

Join us for a fun, festive workshop and create a stunning Christmas wreath using natural foliage, cones and dried flowers, all sourced locally. Alongside a roaring wood fire, chat, make, munch on some Christmas eats and be inspired by artist and gardener Belinda Worsely and her natural approach to wreath making. The perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit! Belinda Worsely trained in Fine Art at Maidstone College of Art. She has worked in Milan for many years as a Prop Maker and Set Designer. For the last 15...

FEATURED

Gold AWARD

Wooden spoon carving / Festive gift carving

Cumbria - Next course on 23rd November 2019

£70

Carving decorative and useful utensils from wood is an ancient skill. Learn the easy, time-honoured and low-tech way of carving creative spoons and gifts out of wood. Revel in shape and colours, whilst learning safe carving and finishing techniques to enable you to continue on your own, The Swedish carving tradition uses mainly axe and knife, which sets it apart from other carving where a variety of chisels are needed. Hannah Ehlert trained for three years in a coppice worker apprenticeship with a variety of crafts people at the Bill...

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 4th January 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...

A Dry Stone Walling Workshop Bedfordshire

Platinum AWARD

(27)

A Dry Stone Walling Workshop Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire - Next course on 14th December 2019

£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...