February
Sunday 26th February – Exeter Seed Swap
Net-making, seed sprouting and lactofermentation demonstrations at Exeter Seed Swap.
Free.
March
Saturday 4th March – Institute of Outdoor Learning Professional Practice Group Conference
Demonstrating coil basketry, featuring a brief introduction to coil baskets made by indigenous peoples today, the properties of suitable plant materials and how to select them and an introduction to the techniques.
£75-£150 for entire conference
Saturday 25th March – Tortworth Forest Centre
Native Trees: Birch
Supporting ethnobotanist Bec Briar, an introduction to the first of five of our native trees chosen for their unique place in our heritage and the story of our country’s woodlands.
Each day will focus on one tree, starting with its biology as a way in to learning about the folklore and crafts that connect us with our landscape.
We will work with each tree to learn more about what trees are; how they grow, how they interact with each other and with us, and how they connect and define the ecosystems around them. Each session includes a practical activity using sustainably harvested parts of the tree, from weaving and natural ink making to herbal remedies and woodcraft.
£85, or a discount if all 5 sessions are booked at the same time.
April
Saturday 1st April – Tortworth Forest Centre
Native Trees: Hawthorn
Supporting ethnobotanist Bec Briar, an introduction to the second of five of our native trees chosen for their unique place in our heritage and the story of our country’s woodlands.
Each day will focus on one tree, starting with its biology as a way in to learning about the folklore and crafts that connect us with our landscape.
We will work with each tree to learn more about what trees are; how they grow, how they interact with each other and with us, and how they connect and define the ecosystems around them. Each session includes a practical activity using sustainably harvested parts of the tree, from weaving and natural ink making to herbal remedies and woodcraft.
£85, or a discount if all 5 sessions are booked at the same time.
Saturday 15th April – Jack Raven Bushcraft, Kent
Coil basketry
You will be introduced to the materials and tools required and then be guided through the process to make your own round, coiled basket from straw or other natural materials.
Throughout the day you will:
- Learn how to create all the elements of a coiled basket, so the base, the sides, stitching and how to finish it all off with a border.
- We will discuss care of your basket, making different basket shapes, and alternative materials that can be used as well as hay.
At the end of the day you will come away with the satisfaction of having created a wonderful basket that’s unique and has a wide range of practical uses.
£95
Sunday 16th April – Jack Raven Bushcraft, Kent
Net making
You’ll start the day by looking at natural cordage as you’ll need cordage to make your net. We’ll discuss various plants and trees that can be used to make cordage, such as nettles, brambles, lime bast and the inner bark of sweet chestnut. With the materials prepared, we’ll show you how to make a simple 2 ply cord.
From there you’ll move on to net making itself, covering the various netting tools available and different materials they can be made from, how to begin a net, how to change the size and shape of your net, and how to finish it off.
By the end of this net making course you will have the skills and knowledge to make your own nets from scratch, either for fishing or trapping small game, or even to make your very own net bag!
£95
Saturday 22nd April – Exeter Seed Bank at Exeter Phoenix
DIY Garden Netting
The growing season is here and Exeter Seed Bank have invited Jules Bristow to show you how to make plastic-free biodegradable netting for your plants to climb (think beans, peas etc).
Jules will be using traditional techniques used for making fishing nets but re working them for use in the garden.
£5
June
Saturday 3rd June – Tortworth Forest Centre
Native Trees: Oak
Supporting ethnobotanist Bec Briar, an introduction to the third of five of our native trees chosen for their unique place in our heritage and the story of our country’s woodlands.
Each day will focus on one tree, starting with its biology as a way in to learning about the folklore and crafts that connect us with our landscape.
We will work with each tree to learn more about what trees are; how they grow, how they interact with each other and with us, and how they connect and define the ecosystems around them. Each session includes a practical activity using sustainably harvested parts of the tree, from weaving and natural ink making to herbal remedies and woodcraft.
£85, or a discount if all 5 sessions are booked at the same time.
July
Saturday 29th July – Tortworth Forest Centre
Native Trees: Willow
Supporting ethnobotanist Bec Briar, an introduction to the fourth of five of our native trees chosen for their unique place in our heritage and the story of our country’s woodlands.
Each day will focus on one tree, starting with its biology as a way in to learning about the folklore and crafts that connect us with our landscape.
We will work with each tree to learn more about what trees are; how they grow, how they interact with each other and with us, and how they connect and define the ecosystems around them. Each session includes a practical activity using sustainably harvested parts of the tree, from weaving and natural ink making to herbal remedies and woodcraft.
£85, or a discount if all 5 sessions are booked at the same time.
Friday 21st July – Exeter Cathedral Bioblitz
Teaching coil basketry as one of the nature-themed activities around the Bioblitz, which aims to identify as many species around the Cathedral grounds and green spaces as possible over two days; creating the chance to explore and hopefully discover something unknown and unusual.
September
Saturday 9th September – Tortworth Forest Centre
Native Trees: Alder
Supporting ethnobotanist Bec Briar, an introduction to the final species of five of our native trees chosen for their unique place in our heritage and the story of our country’s woodlands.
Each day will focus on one tree, starting with its biology as a way in to learning about the folklore and crafts that connect us with our landscape.
We will work with each tree to learn more about what trees are; how they grow, how they interact with each other and with us, and how they connect and define the ecosystems around them. Each session includes a practical activity using sustainably harvested parts of the tree, from weaving and natural ink making to herbal remedies and woodcraft.
£85, or a discount if all 5 sessions are booked at the same time.
Saturday 16th September– Jack Raven Bushcraft, Kent
Coil basketry
You will be introduced to the materials and tools required and then be guided through the process to make your own round, coiled basket from straw or other natural materials.
Throughout the day you will:
- Learn how to create all the elements of a coiled basket, so the base, the sides, stitching and how to finish it all off with a border.
- We will discuss care of your basket, making different basket shapes, and alternative materials that can be used as well as hay.
At the end of the day you will come away with the satisfaction of having created a wonderful basket that’s unique and has a wide range of practical uses.
£95
Sunday 17th September- Jack Raven Bushcraft, Kent
Net making
You’ll start the day by looking at natural cordage as you’ll need cordage to make your net. We’ll discuss various plants and trees that can be used to make cordage, such as nettles, brambles, lime bast and the inner bark of sweet chestnut. With the materials prepared, we’ll show you how to make a simple 2 ply cord.
From there you’ll move on to net making itself, covering the various netting tools available and different materials they can be made from, how to begin a net, how to change the size and shape of your net,and how to finsih it off.
By the end of this net making course you will have the skills and knowledge to make your own nets from scratch, either for fishing or trapping small game, or even to make your very own net bag!
£95
November
Sunday 5th November – Exeter Phoenix
Net making
How to make plastic-free biodegradable netting for your plants to climb, using traditional fishing net making techniques repurposed for the garden.
£10
Wednesday 22nd November – Exeter Phoenix
Hayboxes, Wonderbags and insulation cookery
This drop-in session will show you how to cook cheap and nutritious foods like lentils which have long cooking times whilst using less energy! The secret is bringing pulses up to temperature and then packing them in insulation so that they continue cooking in their own retained heat.
It is possible to buy ready made insulation cookers like the Wonderbag, but also simple to make your own using a variety of inexpensive materials. A variety of different ways of making an insulation cooker will be demonstrated.
Free
Tangled Bank Foraging and Fibre Crafts 