| Foraging & Basketry with Native Hands |
|
Foraging & basketry with Native Hands - 2011
  See Gallery for lots of pictures of these workshops
Anna has extensive knowledge and experience of native wild plants. Self taught research into medicines available in the hedgerow led to a yearlong bushcraft/survival training, as well as an interest in wild foods and other practical uses of plants. Since 2003 she has been mentored by archaeo-botanist Professor Gordon Hillman. Anna currently teaches Forest School and courses for adults at Sussex University; she is also developing her work in Plant Spirit Medicine and nature awareness with teachers such as Eliot Cowen.
Ruby teaches ancient crafts and technologies to all ages, mostly outdoors. She is inspired by her ongoing training in basketry and has a special interest in using natural, gathered materials. Originally trained in 3-dimensional design and subsequently in art therapy, Ruby is also a qualified teacher of art and design. Her approach is influenced by a longstanding interest in contemplative practice and extended periods of silent retreat close to nature. She is currently involved in Jon Young’s teachings of nature awareness. About Native Hands:
Our passion is in providing a space in which participants have the opportunity to connect to the natural world and to explore this relationship through creative activity. By spending time around a fire in the woods with a smallish group of like-minded people, working with gathered plant materials in various ways, we can find connection to ourselves as well as to the natural world around us. Taking time out of our normal daily lives in this way allows space for reflection and gives us the possibility of deep nourishment, appreciation and an opportunity to touch into a sense of the interconnectedness of life; we also create beautiful, useful objects and develop valuable, practical skills. We are inspired by traditional wisdom and knowledge in the ways we work with nature and natural materials. We harvest what we need with respect and sensitivity.
2011 Workshops
Sat 26th March - Foraging 2.5hr walk with Native Hands (Anna Richardson)
10am-12.30pm
Cost £20 per person.
No previous experience required.
On this walk we will look at the fresh spring growth of some of the native plants and what they can provide for salad and tonics. Kids are welcome if they have an interest, they are half price to be paid for on day, please email us to let us know they will be coming.
Bring a notepad and pen, maybe a camera to help you remember the plants, a basket for foraged goods, wet weather gear just in case and suitable footwear for walking across farmland.
Sat 2nd April - Foraging spring greens full day with Native hands (Anna Richardson)
10.30am - 4.30pm
£35per person. No previous experience needed.
On this foraging day, Anna will be your guide to the wild plants in this area. Discover some of the old ways of working with our native plants for food, medicine and other practical uses. The morning will be spent walking through the landscape and gathering seasonally available plants for these purposes and then spending time preparing and making things round the fire in the afternoon.
Please bring lunch (ideally to share), notepad and pen, wet weather gear, matt or stool to sit on, maybe a camera to help you remember the plants, suitable footwear for walking on farmland and baskets for foraged goods.
Sunday 3rd April - Stitched willow bark containers with Native Hands (Ruby Taylor) 10.30am - 4.30pm £45per person. In this day we'll harvest willow bark together and then make stitched bark containers, processing the bark in a number of ways. Suitable for beginners as well as for those with some experience. We'll be a small group of 6-8 people.
Sat 23rd April - Foraging 2.5hr walk with Native Hands (Anna Richardson)
Description same as 26th March
Saturday 9th July - Coiled baskets with Native Hands (Ruby Taylor) 10.30am - 4.30pm £45per person. Make a small coiled basket using gathered plant materials, some of which we'll harvest together on the day. Suitable for beginners as well as for those with some experience. We'll be a small group of 6-8 people. Please bring a pocket knife (or similar) with you if you have one (for safety reasons it must have a locking device on the blade or have a fixed blade; for legal reasons the blade should be no longer than 4". If you wish to buy one, I'd recommend either an Opinel or a bushcraft knife, both available at outdoors shops or online for around £10)
Please also bring a small mat to sit on (or a small stool if you prefer), a bottle of drinking water and a packed lunch. You may also wish to bring a notebook and pen
Sunday 10th July - Foraging hedgerow medicine with Native Hands (Anna Richardson)
10.30am - 4.30pm
£35per person. No previous experience needed.
On this foraging day, Anna will be your guide to the wild plants in this area. Discover some of the old ways of working with our native plants for food, medicine and other practical uses. The morning will be spent walking through the landscape and gathering seasonally available plants for these purposes and then spending time preparing and making things round the fire in the afternoon.
Please bring lunch (ideally to share), notepad and pen, wet weather gear, matt or stool to sit on, maybe a camera to help you remember the plants, suitable footwear for walking on farmland and baskets for foraged goods.
Sunday 2nd October- Foraging 2.5hr walk with Native Hands (Anna Richardson)
10am-12.30pm
Cost £20 per person.
No previous experience required.
On this walk we will look at the fresh spring growth of some of the native plants and what they can provide for salad and tonics. Kids are welcome if they have an interest, they are half price to be paid for on day, please email us to let us know they will be coming.
Bring a notepad and pen, maybe a camera to help you remember the plants, a basket for foraged goods, wet weather gear just in case and suitable footwear for walking across farmland.
Saturday 15th October - Reed mace basketry with Native Hands (Ruby Taylor)
10.30 - 4.40pm
£45 per person
Reed mace basketry - make a 'rush' mat from reed mace (commonly called 'bullrush'), harvested from Wowo's land. Learn how to harvest and process these materials yourself. Please bring a pair of scissors with you and a plant sprayer-thing if you have one. We'll be a small group of 6-8 people, suitable for beginners as well as those with some experience.
Please also bring a small mat to sit on (or a small stool if you prefer), a bottle of drinking water and a pack lunch. You may also wish to bring a notebook and pen.
Sunday 16th October - Foraging hedgerow medicine with Native Hands (Anna Richardson) Same description as 10th July
Saturday 22nd October - Foraging full day with Native hands (Anna Richardson)
10.30am - 4.30pm
£35per person. No previous experience needed.
On this foraging day, Anna will be your guide to the wild plants in this area and autumn is abundant with wild produce. Discover some of the old ways of working with our native plants for food, medicine and other practical uses. The morning will be spent walking through the landscape and gathering seasonally available plants for these purposes and then spending time preparing and making things round the fire in the afternoon.
Please bring lunch (ideally to share), notepad and pen, wet weather gear, matt or stool to sit on, maybe a camera to help you remember the plants, suitable footwear for walking on farmland and baskets for foraged goods.
Saturday 12th November - Acorn Preparation day
10am - 4.30pm.
Cost £35 per person
This day will be focused on acorns and their uses, ending by making Acorn bread. Includes foraging walk 10am-12pm, lunch by fire 12-1pm, 1-3pm preparing food and medicine by fire. £35 per person. Office: 01825 723 414 or
Email us at:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|