Training Directory - Country Craft Short Courses
This section covers craft courses which can be anything using traditional skills e.g. 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.
20/05/2022 Wild Cordage (natural string) 1 Day
East Sussex, Native Hands ruby@nativehands.co.uk c-js.info/3cO7tO0
Learn how to make cordage from a variety of seasonally available plants which we’ll forage on the day. We’ll work with plants that need varying degrees of preparation. You’ll come away with a good understanding of the methods required to make cordages for various uses from different types of fibres.
Cost £110
21/05/2022 Bark Containers 1 Day
East Sussex, Native Hands ruby@nativehands.co.uk c-js.info/3cO7tO0
From tree to basket: come to the woods for a day and make a stitched bark container. Designed to hang on the wall, perfect for storing your spoon collection etc. You’ll forage your materials, cutting and processing the bark, learning how to harvest bark in a sustainable way.
Cost £110
28/05/2022 Fire- Making (without matches) 1 Day
East Sussex, Native Hands ruby@nativehands.co.uk c-js.info/3cO7tO0
An in-depth exploration of percussive fire-making techniques, focusing on the ancient tools of flint/steel. Explore and gain confidence in safely turning a tiny spark into a fire. You'll also have a go with flint & pyrites, the most ancient percussive tools. Learn about tinders you can forage from the woods.
Cost £110
28/05/2022 Woodland Shelter Building Course 2 Days
Derbyshire Eco Centre, Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service 01631 500038 eco.centre@derbyshire.gov.uk c-js.info/3rYDtrd
An introduction to the skills to build an outdoor structure over a weekend; looking at different types of shelter as used in ancient times in other parts of the world and working as a team.
Cost £60 / 52 / 18
04/06/2022 Renewables for Households: Solar Hot Water 1 Day
Centre for Alternative Technology, Centre for Alternative Technology 01654 704966 courses@cat.org.uk c-js.info/3lkBtGV
Rethinking household energy provision ? using sunlight to produce hot water. Learn how you can use solar water heating systems (solar thermal) to directly heat water. The course will cover the different solar water systems available, how they work, and how to assess which is best for your needs.
04/06/2022 Compost Toilets 1 Day
Centre for Alternative Technology, Centre for Alternative Technology 01654 704966 courses@cat.org.uk c-js.info/3uSkajJ
On this practical course you'll gain a good understanding of the principles, benefits and limitations of compost toilets. Explore the components required to make a compost toilet system work, the biology of composting to maximise performance, and the cultural trends governing our attitudes towards toilets.
04/06/2022 Natural Ink Making 1 Day
Diptford Cross, Totnes, Common Flora samaspdendesigns@hotmail.com c-js.info/3HgHEU7
We will discover natural inks and ways of making them and create ink and some painted sketches or samples. Workshops will be run by our resident dyes and textiles expert Sam Aspden. Sam Aspden is a PhD researcher, lecturer and specialist in site specific textiles and plant dyes and inks.
Cost £46
09/06/2022 Bushcraft Survival 1 Day
Derbyshire Eco Centre, Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service 01633 500038 eco.centre@derbyshire.gov.uk c-js.info/3EVu8Ws
A 1 day course for anyone who's inexperience but would like an outdoor survival challenge in a safe environment, supervised by an expereinced tutor. Learn: prioritising equipment; protection for hazards; gathering natural resources to build camp, local navigation to inform rescue personnel.
Cost £30 / 26 / 9
11/06/2022 Sourdough Breadmaking with Paul Raddan 1 Day
Cotesbach (near Lutterworth), Cotesbach Educational Trust 01455 558 373 hello@cotesbacheducationaltrust.org.uk c-js.info/34O8HZq
Everything you always wanted to know about composting but were afraid to ask! Learn how to turn your kitchen waste into black gold!
Cost £30
18/06/2022 Woven Bark Containers 2 Days
East Sussex, Native Hands ruby@nativehands.co.uk c-js.info/3cO7tO0
Tree to basket: make a large, sturdy storage basket from sweet chestnut and willow. In-depth woodland course, you’ll forage/processing your materials. Learn how to harvest bark in a sustainable way, and leave knowing all you need to make a bark container from start to finish.
Cost £210
25/06/2022 Renewables for Households: Biomass 1 Day
Centre for Alternative Technology, Centre for Alternative Technology 01654 704966 courses@cat.org.uk c-js.info/3AkG28u
Rethinking household energy provision ? Biomass systems for the 21st Century. Heat from biomass is one of our oldest forms of energy use, and still has a lot to offer in the 21st century. Explore the options and suitability of biomass systems for your house, community or business.
25/06/2022 Cob Building 2 Days
Centre for Alternative Technology, Centre for Alternative Technology 01654 704966 courses@cat.org.uk c-js.info/3lkBvi1
A natural building material that's been used around the world for hundreds of years, cob is a highly versatile way of building that can be sculpted to create beautiful, unique structures. Get to grips with the theory and practice of building with cob on this highly practical two-day course.
02/07/2022 Renewables for Households: Heat Pumps 1 Day
Centre for Alternative Technology, Centre for Alternative Technology 01654 704966 courses@cat.org.uk c-js.info/305QfZX
Rethinking household energy provision ? getting to grips with heat pumps. Heat pumps are often advertised as ?free heat?. Come and explore the science, develop a cost benefit analysis and quantify the emissions reductions of heat pumps, enabling you to decide if a heat pump is right for you.
09/07/2022 Woodland Shelter Building Course 2 Days
Derbyshire Eco Centre, Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service 01634 500038 eco.centre@derbyshire.gov.uk c-js.info/3LwhM9Q
An introduction to the skills to build an outdoor structure over a weekend; looking at different types of shelter as used in ancient times in other parts of the world and working as a team.
Cost £60 / 52 / 18
16/07/2022 Rush Foraging Baskets 1 Day
East Sussex, Native Hands ruby@nativehands.co.uk c-js.info/3cO7tO0
Spend a day in the woods, round a camp fire, making a rush foraging basket using true English. These baskets hang across the body and are perfect for foraging berries, nuts, small mushrooms etc… or just for carrying everyday things in (also in May & Sept).
Cost £110
22/07/2022 Willow Weaving Flowers - AM session 1 Day
Nower Wood Educational Nature Reserve, Surrey Wildlife Trust 01372379523 adult.learning@surreywt.org.uk c-js.info/3JgZo2O
Willow can be converted into a variety of beautiful and useful items. In this half day course, you will take at least one willow flower home with you to decorate your garden or home.
Cost £40 members / £52 non-members
22/07/2022 Willow Flowers - PM session 1 Day
Nower Wood Educational Nature Reserve, Surrey Wildlife Trust 01372379523 adult.learning@surreywt.org.uk c-js.info/3jeKDCQ
Willow can be converted into a variety of beautiful and useful items. In this half day course, you will take at least one willow flower home with you to decorate your garden or home.
Cost £40 members / £52 non-members
23/07/2022 Straw Skep Making Course 2 Days
Yew Tree Inn, Gloucestershire, Bees for Development +44 (0)1600 714848? bfdoffice@beesfordevelopment.org c-js.info/3tCwsNT
Learn to craft a lip-work straw skep - the most iconic of beehives. Course tutor and master skep maker and beekeeper, Chris Park will guide you through the process and answer all your questions about making and using skeps.
Cost £150
24/07/2022 Skep Hackles and Floors 1 Day
Yew Tree Inn, Gloucestershire, Bees for Development +44 (0)1600 714848? bfdoffice@beesfordevelopment.org c-js.info/3tCwsNT
On this one day course you will learn to make floors and hackles for your skeps. During the day all aspects of beekeeping in skeps, ancient and modern will be discussed. You will take away a finished floor and hackle.
Cost £150
31/07/2022 Bushcraft Survival 1 Day
Derbyshire Eco Centre, Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service 01635 500038 eco.centre@derbyshire.gov.uk c-js.info/3KERmBz
A 1 day course for anyone who's inexperience but would like an outdoor survival challenge in a safe environment, supervised by an expereinced tutor. Learn: prioritising equipment; protection for hazards; gathering natural resources to build camp, local navigation to inform rescue personnel.
Cost £30 / 26 / 9
05/08/2022 Decorate a Wooden Spoon using the Historic Technique of Kolrossing 1 Day
Nower Wood Educational Nature Reserve, Surrey Wildlife Trust 01372379523 adult.learning@surreywt.org.uk c-js.info/3LMVEaR
Spend the day learning the Scandinavian art of Kolrossing (aka Kohlrosing) which dates back to the Vikings. This involves incising thin decorative lines and patterns into wood and filling them with dark powders.
Cost £85 members / £97 non-members
06/08/2022 Carve a Green Man Wall Hanging 2 Days
Nower Wood Educational Nature Reserve, Surrey Wildlife Trust 01372379523 adult.learning@surreywt.org.uk c-js.info/3jabCzD
Learn how to safely saw, chisel, carve and sand your own Green Man wooden hanging. This two day course runs from 10am-3pm on both days.
Cost £175 members / £187 non-members
06/08/2022 Reed Mace (bulrush) Baskets 1 Day
East Sussex, Native Hands ruby@nativehands.co.uk c-js.info/3cO7tO0
Spend a day in the woods making woven baskets using foraged wild reed mace, Typha latifolia. Perfect for houseplants or for using as small storage baskets. Learn how to harvest, store and process this easily available & useful basketry plant.
Cost £110
12/08/2022 Eco Refurbishment 4 Days
Centre for Alternative Technology, Centre for Alternative Technology 01654 704966 courses@cat.org.uk c-js.info/2WQkId8
Transform buildings into cosy, low impact, energy efficient homes. Refurbishing our homes to make them more energy efficient is one of the key aspects of effective action on climate change. Learn from one of the UK?s leading experts in eco refurbishment and discover what key improvements you can make.
20/08/2022 Painting Woodland Scenes using Watercolours and Pencils 1 Day
Nower Wood Educational Nature Reserve, Surrey Wildlife Trust 01372379523 adult.learning@surreywt.org.uk c-js.info/3uh6Wyd
Out tutor will help you to create the correct woodland hues using just 3 colours. She will also help you to develop textures in your artwork by using pencils and various watercolour techniques.
Cost £60 members / £72 non-members
01/10/2022 Self-build Project Management 2 Days
Centre for Alternative Technology, Centre for Alternative Technology 01654 704966 courses@cat.org.uk c-js.info/3All7SC
If you?re thinking of building your own home, community space or other self-build structure, it pays to be prepared. This course covers how to create a project plan, a budget, and a health and safety plan, as well as the basics of planning permissions, building inspections and site management.
15/10/2022 Eco Refurbishment: Live online 2 Days
Online, Centre for Alternative Technology 01654 704966 courses@cat.org.uk c-js.info/3BlcJUA
On this new online version of our popular Eco Refurbishment course, you?ll learn from one of the UK?s leading experts on eco refurbishment and discover what key improvements you can make to transform houses and buildings into cosy, low impact, energy-efficient homes.
If you are interested in any of the courses detailed please contact ONLY the person, centre, telephone number or email address and remember to mention that you saw the listing in CJS Training Directory. For all courses assume that booking is required and a fee may be applicable.