Nature Connection and Craft Course
The Nature Connection and Craft course is a free, six-week project delivered by Alliance Homes and their Growing Together community gardening team, funded by The National Lotter Community Fund. The course is available to anyone living in North Somerset.
When: 9 September – 14 October 2024
Where: Coleridge Road Community Gardens, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 3UJ
Description
Join us for a relaxing and mindful six-week course, where you will learn new skills like weaving, whittling, and making natural pigments through natural crafting.
Natural crafting is a wonderful way to connect with your natural surroundings and create beautiful items. It’s also an excellent method for finding calm and flow, helping alleviate low mood and anxiety.
The course will be run by Mhairi, who has over 10 years' experience running nature and wellbeing, and heritage craft courses for the Wildlife Trusts and the Mendip Hills National Landscape team.
The course is suitable for adults aged 18+. Beginners and those with some experience are welcome.
Participants should be able to attend the full six-week course.
What's included?
All materials included, as well as hot drinks and biscuits. You’ll need to bring your own lunch.
Programme schedule
Week |
Date and time |
Venue |
Description |
| Week 1 | Monday 9 September, 10.30 am - 3pm | Coleridge Road Community Gardens, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 3UJ |
Learn about willow and practice simple weaving techniques |
| Week 2 | Monday 16 September, 10.30 am – 3 pm | Coleridge Road Community Gardens, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 3UJ |
Explore nature-inspired printmaking methods, including cyanotypes (weather permitting), hapa-zome, mono-printing, and working with clay |
| Week 3 | Monday 23 September, 10.30 am – 3 pm | Coleridge Road Community Gardens, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 3UJ |
Introduction to peg loom weaving: its origins, uses, and setup |
| Week 4 | Monday 30 September, 10.30 am – 3 pm | Coleridge Road Community Gardens, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 3UJ |
Use a peg loom and sheep fleece to create a seat mat or small rug |
| Week 5 | Monday 7 October, 10.30 - 3 pm | Coleridge Road Community Gardens, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 3UJ |
Learn to make artist’s charcoal on a fire, identify tree species suitable for this, and craft a pencil and ink from the charcoal |
| Week 6 | Monday 14 October, 10.30 - 3 pm | Coleridge Road Community Gardens, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 3UJ |
Safely use a whittling knife for simple decorative techniques and make a walking stick from coppiced hazel. |