Outdoors and rural skills courses

'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...

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...

Learn how to make baskets from foraged materials which we gather on the day from the woodland site. On offer is a wide variety of techniques & materials including bramble, bark, bone, wild rose, grass, reed mace, bulrush. Learn about the whole cycle of production- harvesting the raw materials & processing them, through to completing a beautiful & useful basket to take home with you. Courses are scheduled to coincide with the seasonal availability of plants for foraging, therefore a different plant material and process is offered on each date...

One-day dry stone walling course. A unique opportunity to take part in constructing a Dry Stone Boundary wall, in the heart of the Bedfordshire countryside. These workshops are a 'hands on' experience to the introduction or improvement for DIY and interested persons over 16yrs. You will assess setting out of building pins, batter frames and lines. You will stack out material in the appropriate manner and commence building. You will consider foundation stones and continue building and assess position of placing through stones. You will continue building and have an...

Learn how to make a lip-work straw skep.  You will make your skep from a long straw wheat with cane lapping.  The course tutor, Chris Park, will explain how to split bramble and willow as needed. You will be able to make about one third of your skep during the day, and take home the skills, tools, and materials to finish off at home.

We are now open! You can make a multi-coloured round shopping basket on this one day course. Learn ancient weaving techniques and take home your own creation. Jon and Becky are both qualified teachers and have been teaching basket making for 25 years. Basketeers sit or stand to weave at table top height. We have regular workshops teaching people to make their own coloured willow baskets using locally grown and Somerset willows. If you are a beginner and you want to make a large, strong and durable basket in coloured...

COVID-19 ~ Courses started running again at Sallerton Wood from August 2020 onward. Full precautions will be taken in our spacious outdoor workshop area. These two-day courses in shave horse making 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...

How can we ensure the survival of honey bees? This is Bees for Development's Sustainable Beekeeping Course, a weekend Course held at Ragman's Lane Permaculture Farm in the Wye Valley, Gloucestershire.  The Course covers the management of bees, and natural ways to take care of them. Course content: Meet the bees - a hands-on look at honey bee colonies housed in different hives The natural life-cycle of honey bees - honey bee biology and ecology Being a beekeeper - what does keeping bees really mean? The relationship between bees and...