Participants: If you are interested in any of the courses detailed
below please contact ONLY the person, centre, telephone number or email
address.
Providers: If you wish to advertise a training course
for rates
or contact CJS for more
information.
Where a course title
or provider is listed in bold it means there is more information
available. Click on the bold type and go straight through to see further
details.
Short Training Courses (10
day consecutive maximum)
All courses available as a downloadable
Excel spreadsheet.
Country Craft Courses
This section covers craft courses which can be anything
using traditional skills eg hurdle making, felting or basketweaving.
Although some of these may not be necessary to your ultimate work
related goals they are complementary to an all-round countryside
knowledge and are vital in keeping alive ancient skills and traditions;
and they all make for a enjoyable, informative experience.
10.30am 3.30pm. Looking at simple photography
tips & editing digital photos using computer software. This workshop is
run in a urban woodland in South London & there are only limited spaces
available. 020 8670 1221
john.c@myembrace.org
http://embraceenvironment.wordpress.com/
Attenborough Nature Centre
Including a briefing from an expert instructor, supervised session in
one of our hides, and a chance to use some professional camera equipment
as well as hearing some tips on getting the most from your camera.
Suitable for beginners. £32. Booking essential. 8am - 10.30am 0115 972
1777
enquiries@attenboroughnaturecentre.co.uk
www.attenboroughnaturecentre.co.uk
Learn a variety of basket making techniques with
willow & other colourful prunings to make giant insects to take home.
Tutor Olivia Keith. Materials & tools supplied. 09.30-13.00 at Blashford
Lakes, Ringwood. Cost £30 www.hwt.org.uk
01489 774400
Spend a practical weekend with Stephanie Bunn & Jon
Warnes, experts in willow & its uses, & leave with a deep knowledge of
the history, diversity, botany & uses of willow.
www.cat.org.uk/shortcourses
Learn & experience all the skills you need to build
your own yurt with the Sustainability Centres on site yurt-builder, &
make your own crown to take away with you. Non-residential £300
Residential £358.50 01730 823166
courses@sustainability-centre.org
www.sustainability-centre.org
Get a taste for the traditional art of using a
non-powered pole lathe at our woodland with CATs woodland manager Grace
Crabb & local woodland expert Bob Shaw.
www.cat.org.uk/shortcourses
A practical day giving you a whole experience of
using willow. From creating small 'take away' objects using dried
willow, through lantern making & larger structures, to having a go at
making big outdoor growing structures like screens & shelters. Fees:
£110/ £165 + VAT 0121 359 2113
etn@btcv.org.uk
Learn how to split hazel rods in preparation for
weaving your hurdle. Then weave them into a strong, long lasting &
pleasing to the eye wattle hurdle. Ideal for the farm, small holding or
garden. 10 4.30pm
www.ajscrafts.co.uk
You can choose to make either a conical (wig wam)
type plant support, trellis or a woven willow hurdle panel. All made to
measure for your own garden using Willow &/or Hazel. 10 4.30pm
www.ajscrafts.co.uk
Using both traditional & contemporary techniques
learn to weave a round basket from a wide variety of willows using the
stake & strand method. History, cultivation & preparation of materials
also covered. This workshop is suitable for both beginners or those with
experience wishing to improve their techniques. 10 4.30pm
www.ajscrafts.co.uk
Join Bob Shaw, local woodland expert & Grace Crabb,
CATs woodland manager to learn how to make traditional hurdles, gates &
fences using traditional hand tools in our woodland Coed Gwern.
www.cat.org.uk/shortcourses
From a hand full of round logs learn how to make a
useful shaving horse device. An ideal introduction into working with
green or round wood. It involves many of the basic coppice craft skills
such as cleaving, shaving & mortising. 10 5pm
www.ajscrafts.co.uk
Plaiting, weaving, tying & binding will all be used
to create several different animals & geometric shapes. Then you can
have a go at creating your own masterpiece. 10 4 pm
www.ajscrafts.co.uk
Splitting & cleaving small diameter rods & poles
into skeins, splints & taws suitable for bonds & basketry use. Willow,
Hazel, Sweet Chestnut & Ash will all be used but split in different ways
& planes. Proper use of hooks, knives & cleaves will be shown as well as
several hand techniques. 10 4 pm
www.ajscrafts.co.uk
The focus on this day will be on poles & logs from
2"s in diameter upwards. Learn to cleave laths, spars, shingles, rails,
pailings & stakes from Oak, Hazel & Sweet Chestnut. Proper use of froe,
brake, riving post, bill hook, axe & wedges will all be shown. 10 4 pm
www.ajscrafts.co.uk
Robust, beautiful & organic, hurdles blend into the
landscape & the materials are renewable & are harvested from sustainable
woodlands. We will teach you the practicalities of making a continuous
wattle hurdle fence using mature hazel rods woven between upright
supports.
www.cat.org.uk/shortcourses
Build a clay oven & enjoy a delicious pizza cooked
in the Sustainability Centres own fantastic version. You will learn
everything you need to build one at home & sample the enjoyment having
one can bring! Non-residential £60 01730 823166
courses@sustainability-centre.org
www.sustainability-centre.org
Using a combination of Willow & Hazel, learn to
make a gypsy style frame basket. From forming the frame to randing the
last weaver. Suitable for both beginners or those with some basketry
experience. 10 4 pm
www.ajscrafts.co.uk
How to grow fruit, nuts, salads & perennial
vegetables as a low maintenance, highly productive garden ecosystem.
Includes a site visit.
http://www.brightonpermaculture.org.uk/
Create a beautiful chair for the home or garden
from locally grown Kentish Oak using simple hand tools. The beauty of
this ancient design lies in its simplicity. 10 4.30pm
www.ajscrafts.co.uk
How to grow fruit, nuts, salads & perennial
vegetables as a low maintenance, highly productive garden ecosystem.
Includes a site visit.
http://www.brightonpermaculture.org.uk/
Get to grips with cleaving, shaving, mortising &
shaping tenons. Then brace & strop your mini sweet chestnut gate hurdle
together. Ideal for the farm, allotment or garden. 10 4.30pm
www.ajscrafts.co.uk
Using completely natural materials you can create
some very striking & creative forms in both 2D & 3D. Spend the day
exploring various transformation techniques whilst creating your work of
art from the natural environment. 10 4pm
www.ajscrafts.co.uk
Learn to make a sculptural bird figure of your
choice using 'random' weaving techniques from willow & hazel. Makes an
ideal gift or unique garden ornament. 10 4pm
www.ajscrafts.co.uk
Explore different methods of charcoal production.
Learn how to construct & use a charcoal retort. Retorts burn gases as
they are emitted making the process much quicker & cleaner.
www.cat.org.uk/shortcourses
Spend a weekend based at CAT learning about
greenwood crafts. This course is designed as an introduction to making
things from green wood using traditional hand tools & is based at our
woodland Coed Gwern.
www.cat.org.uk/shortcourses
Bob Shaw, an inspirational, knowledgeable tutor
will take you through the art & practicalities of green woodworking. You
will be taught the properties of different woods & what they are best
used for. You will choose your wood from our beautiful forest &
transform it.
www.cat.org.uk/shortcourses
Using both traditional & contemporary techniques
learn to weave a round basket from a wide variety of willows using the
stake & strand method. History, cultivation & preparation of materials
also covered. This workshop is suitable for both beginners or those with
experience wishing to improve their techniques. 10 4.30pm
www.ajscrafts.co.uk
Although twining is an ancient technique, the
thrust of this workshop will be on more contemporary shapes & ideas. You
can choose from a wide variety of natural or recycled materials to
create your twined basket. The twining technique lends itself very well
to more creative & organic forms. 10 5pm
www.ajscrafts.co.uk
An essential tool for the house & garden, learn how
to make your own entirely from locally coppiced wood. Just in time for
the Halloween festivities. 10 1pm
www.ajscrafts.co.uk
Make a traditional chestnut gate hurdle & a woven
hazel wattle hurdle to take away with you. Non-residential £136
Residential £155.50 **Do one day of the hurdle making course for £70.
Choose to make either a hazel woven hurdle or a chestnut gate hurdle
contact us for more details.** 01730 823166
courses@sustainability-centre.org
www.sustainability-centre.org
Coppicing native broadleaf trees in winter is a
traditional form of woodland management which also benefits wildlife
biodiversity. Learn the basic skills using hand tools & find out what
different products can be fashioned from the freshly cut wood. 10- 4pm
www.ajscrafts.co.uk
Learn the theory & undertake the practice of
coppice management. Coppice trees, hand tools use & maintenance,
assessment & planning, health & safety products, restoration & pests
will all be covered. Non-residential £350 Residential £428 01730 823166
courses@sustainability-centre.org
www.sustainability-centre.org
Welcome spring with an artistic & sustainable
outdoor activity. Become familiar with the wonderful nature of willow as
a material, learn about its preparation for use & practice techniques
for simple sculptures.
www.cat.org.uk/shortcourses
Covers the basic skills required to survive, & is
based on the four main principles of survival- fire, food, shelter &
water. Through out the day learn how to build an emergency shelter,
collect & purify your water, prepare your own food, & how to light a
fire. www.woodland-ways.co.uk
During these forages we will cover flora
identification techniques, & some of the useful edible & medicinal
plants available to us in our British Woodland. Further to this, through
hands on training, you will learn how to harvest these resources in a
sustainable manner, & finally how to prepare each ingredient.
www.woodland-ways.co.uk
Top Lodge, Fineshade Woods,
Northamptonshire. Expand your knowledge of photography with this course,
ideal for those with digital SLR cameras. Start/duration:6.30 8.30pm
£10 per person (car park charges apply) RSPB on 01780 444691.
Top Lodge, Fineshade Woods,
Northamptonshire. Tired of disappointing photos? Learn how to take
better pictures on a friendly and intimate course. Start/duration:1:00pm
3:30pm £10 per person (car park charges apply) RSPB on 01780 444691.
Provides a useful taster
covering the basic skills of cleaving, shaving and turning. These skills
are then put to use in a wide range of projects such as candlesticks,
spoons, baby-rattles, hay-rakes, mug racks, tool handles, shaving
horses, stools and more.
www.living-wood.co.uk
Chairmaking courses with Mike Abbott
concentrate on the skills used in making a range of post and rail
chairs, such as ladder-backs, spindle-backs and lath-backs. This
includes all the basic green wood skills, as well as steam-bending,
seasoning, chair assembly and seat-weaving. Each student should finish
the course with a completed chair capable of lasting a lifetime or more.
www.living-wood.co.uk
Green woodwork and Chairs
courses with Mike Abbott give the option of concentrating on chairmaking
or undertaking a range of projects covered in the introductory courses.
www.living-wood.co.uk
Working on a frame you will
learn techniques to make different patterns, to enable you to make
inspiring creative artworks. With Rosie Green. £90+VAT
www.moelyci.org
Come along and make a felt bag
using wool in a variety of natural colours from undyed fleeces. We will
use the soap method of felting. With Jackie Thomas. £45 + VAT
www.moelyci.org
Always fancied having a go at
basketry? Nows your chance. Come along and learn some of the basics
while making your first basket. A 2-day course. £90+VAT
www.moelyci.org
A course for beginners or those
with some basketmaking experience. You will make a log basket with a
handle incorporated into the design. £90+VAT
www.moelyci.org
Working in hazel, learn the
techniques of creating greenwood furniture by creating your own piece of
furniture. Depending on your ability, it is usual for students to make
a chair over two days which can be taken home at the end of the course.
www.dorsetruralskills.co.uk
Buckland St Mary village hall
TA20 3SP. Make a Beautiful chair, a useful trug or a pretty basket from
hedgerow materials with expert tuition. Margaret Edwards 01460 234222
Cover the fundamental
photography skills required to capture wildlife photographs that stand
out from the crowd. Include some classroom time as well as time outdoors
putting the theory into practice. Suitable for beginners and improvers,
especially anyone with a digital SLR camera. Topics will include using
camera controls, exposure and metering, composition for wildlife and
computer image processing. Cost £35.
Meet and park at Swanwick Lakes Wildlife Reserve Centre, off Sopwith
Way, Swanwick, SO31 7AY (Map ref. SU 893 549). Please bring your own
lunch. www.hwt.org.uk
Covering the fundamentals of
carving: including choice of wood & stone, tools, safety procedures,
design, finish. Try both wood and stone with guided carving throughout
the day. www.four-winds.org.uk
Spend the day learning the
skills of traditional and contemporary basketry. You will be able to
complete you round fruit basket by the end of the day.
www.four-winds.org.uk
Learn to make a traditional
frame basket, using similar materials but different techniques to the
round fruit basket. Anthea will guide you through choice of materials
and use of tools and provide tuition and support throughout the day
enabling you to take home your finished basket at the end of the class.
www.four-winds.org.uk
New to 4 Winds this year ~ Learn
this attractive, contemporary style of basket making by weaving bunches
of willow into a twisting roll. This technique produces an unusual and
practical round basket.
www.four-winds.org.uk
Learn the skills required to
create a wide range of frost proof garden art, able to withstand the
rigours of the harsh Scottish climate ~ stepping-stones, tabletops, wall
slates, birdbaths, decorative planters.
www.four-winds.org.uk
We will show you how to produce
felt using natural coloured fleece direct from the sheep. Learn the
techniques involved in carding, preparation and felting. Design and
produce your own hat or wall hanging in this enjoyable and productive.
class www.four-winds.org.uk
Covering a range of illustration
techniques with an emphasis on botanical accuracy. Cost:
£12/session or £33/ 3 sessions or £44/4 sessions.
wildlearning@suffolkwildlifetrust.org tel. 01473 892430
These
courses will provide you with an insight into the whole production
process of creating a hazel hurdle. Learn about: Coppice management.
Select and harvest material for hurdle-making. Develop skills in
hurdle-making and make a small wattle hurdle.
www.sparsholt.ac.uk
Explore some local, seasonal
plants and their various uses. Identify and gather some edible and tasty
varieties and look at different ways to prepare and cook them. Leave you
with enough knowledge to sample and harvest a variety of plants in your
own days out in the countryside.
www.wildwise.co.uk
Explores the many different
applications of fire, and the skills taught/demonstrated include various
and creative methods to generate fire, including fire-by-friction.
Practical demonstrations and experiential activity. Fire-making has such
wide-ranging appeal that all ages and abilities can be catered for.
All materials are provided.
www.wildwise.co.uk
Various plaiting, weaving, tying
& binding techniques will all be used to create several different animal
& geometric shapes. Then you can have a go at creating your won
masterpiece in willow.
www.ajscrafts.co.uk
Using both traditional &
contemporary techniques, learn to weave a round basket using the stake &
strand method from a wide variety of willows. Numerous weaves will be
used along the way as well as some basketry history & preparation of
materials. www.ajscrafts.co.uk
Ever wished you could learn and
practice Bushcraft and Wilderness Survival Skills - in a relaxed female
group? On this ground-breaking course - youll be shown vital wilderness
survival skills - at a relaxed pace - in an exclusive all woman group
with lots of hands on experience.
www.natural-pathways.co.uk
Introduction to the history and
practices of green woodworking (the working of unseasoned wood in log
form), with emphasis on pole-lathe wood turning.
www.lowimpact.org
You will be using a variety of
coloured willows on the day. You will need a pair of secateurs, sharp
pen-knife and a cushion to kneel on. This is a straightforward first
basket to make, and so this is a perfect workshop for beginners.
www.lowimpact.org
Discover the fascination of bowyry as you convert by hand a yew log so
that it will bend into a semicircle without breaking. Over a three day
period we will cover the following: bow design, selection of wood,
preparation of staves, thinning of sapwood, tillering, making horn
nocks, finishing & shooting.
mwhiteman@ukonline.co.uk 01884 32234