Crafts and Wildlife 2022
Exploring Printmaking
- Date:
- Fri 17 – Sun 19 June
- Price:
- £177 (Veranda Room)
£198 (House Room or Garden Cabin) - with…
- Vicky Hirsch
An opportunity to try out a range of printmaking techniques using a portable press and no press at all!
We will explore mono-printing, collagraph relief printing, and intaglio.
With lots of information about the materials to use, this weekend will give you the skills to continue printing on your own or just enjoy the process, experiment, and be creative.
Vicky Hirsch is a multi-talented craftswomen with many year of creative making and teaching experience.
Book Exploring PrintmakingWillow Basket Making
- Date:
- Fri 1 – Sun 3 July Begins 12 noon on the Friday, finishes 4pm on Sunday
- Price:
- £192 (Veranda Room)
£210 (House Room) (both prices include 2 nights’ accommodation in the main farmhouse, meals and refreshments and 2½ days tuition. Non-resident price: £175 (includes lunches, snacks, and tuition.) - with…
- Norah Kennedy
An opportunity to make willow baskets, garden structures, plant supports, sculptures, and decorations. Learn an eco-friendly skill using local renewable materials!
There will be time to make at least two small baskets, or one larger one. Advice will be available for those wanting to grow their own willow.
The course begins on Friday with lunch at 12.30pm. Tuition begins after lunch. On the Saturday and Sunday, tuition and basket-making will take place from 9.30am until 4pm.
This weekend is suitable for both beginners and for those with experience. (There will be an extra charge of £5 – £25 for materials.)
Norah is an experienced, practising basket maker, and has been teaching this age-old craft all over the country for many years.
Other Willow Basket Making Weekends: 16–18 September
July Willow Basket Making Weekend Fully Booked, still spaces on September Weekend (please email us to request notification if places become available on the July one)
Willow Basket Making
- Date:
- Fri 16 – Sun 18 September Begins 12 noon on the Friday, finishes 4pm on Sunday
- Price:
- £192 (Veranda Room)
£210 (House Room) (both prices include 2 nights’ accommodation, meals and refreshments and 2½ days tuition. Non-resident price: £175 (includes lunches, snacks, and tuition.) - with…
- Tess Wakeling
An opportunity to make willow baskets, garden structures, plant supports, sculptures, and decorations. Spend a weekend learning how to weave with different varieties of willow sustainably grown in the south west.
Tess will introduce you to the ancient craft of basketry and guide you through the steps needed to complete several items that will be functional as well as beautiful. You will learn different weave patterns and techniques, with time to make at least two small baskets, or one larger one. If you have some experience of basket making, you can build on your skills and explore some of the many ways that texture and pattern can be woven into your structures.
Suitable for beginners and those with some experience.
Tess teaches basket making at Ruskin Mill College in Gloucestershire. She loves to pass on these skills to others and share in a craft that is both creative and satisfying. Tess’ designs have been featured in Country Living.
Other Willow Basket Making Weekends: 1–3 July
Book September Willow Basket MakingWomen’s Weekend
- Date:
- Fri 23 – Sun 25 September
- Price:
- Price: £180 (Veranda Room)
£198 (House Room)
A much requested return of this weekend! - to enjoy some favourite activities: being together, doing crafts, reading, talking, walking, listening, yoga, having a sauna, singing, and being, together. We can do whatever we like, and, of course, eat plenty of good farm food.
The weekend begins on Friday evening and finishes after lunch on the Sunday.
Note: There will also be an opportunity to book an individual massage at an extra cost of £45. Please let us know on booking if you would like this.
Book Women’s WeekendMushrooms Memories 
- Date:
- Fri 28 – Sun 30 October
- Price:
- Adult £180 • Child 2–21 years £96 (Concessions available - we particularly wish this weekend to be affordable for all – please just ask).
- with…
- Jean Binney, Martin Hawes, and friends
For many years, our late and much-loved fungus guru Patrick Harding led fungus forays here. They were enjoyable, informative, and lively.
This weekend is run in memory of Patrick, the good times we had with him and the fungi facts we learnt from him. From the proceeds of this weekend, we shall donate to Patrick’s education fund.
We do not expect to be able to emulate Patrick, with his fungi facts and fables, but, through Jean and Martin, two long-time links and acolytes, expect to be able to have a very good time finding mushrooms, identifying them, eating them, and maybe even painting them.
This weekend is suitable for anyone who likes mushrooms, toadstools, truffles, champignons, boletes, or whatever you like to call fungi, and is interested in starting to find out about them or wanting to discover more.
Join us, and allow the miracles of mycelia and the fables of fungi both to instruct and delight you. They will and they do!
In the woods, on the downs, and in the fields of north Wiltshire, many different species of mushrooms and toadstools can be found. We shall go find them, name them, and enjoy them!
Book Mushrooms Memories