The scythe has been used in parts of the world since Roman Times. It is still being used in many countries today and is having a revival in Britain.

Join us on a day exploring how to use this fantastic tool.

The day will cover: how to set up the scythe, selecting the right blade for the job, altering the angle of the blade, how to sharpen the blade and, most importantly - how to mow with ease and flow!
Later in the day we will cover how to repair blades and have a go at 'Peening' the blade with the Peening jig.

Austrian scythes will be available to use but if you have your own feel free to bring it along.

Lunch will be vegetarian/vegan from organic produce grown at karuna.
Camping available by arrangement- £6 per night, per person.

Andrea Gilpin has been teaching scything whilst working for a conservation charity for over 10 years. 'In all the community spaces we work in we never use strimmers. We always use scythes - not for nostalgic reasons but purely practical - they produce no pollution, vibration or noise. They are enjoyable and sociable to use and a good scyther can scythe quicker than a strimmer - what more reason do we need to pick up a scythe when a job needs to be done!'

This intensive course is a professionally tailored curriculum for people who really want to know how its all done. You will be taught the keys skills by a pro with 14yrs of timber framing experience. You will not simply be working to finish someone’s project. This 4 day intensive Roundwood Timber Framing & Reciprocal Roundhouse Building Course gives you the chance to learn cutting the scribed (butter-pat) and mortise and tenon joints and we’ll build a full size reciprocal roundhouse roof so that you understand how that wonderful piece of geometry works. We’ll look at all the joints you’ll need for a roundhouse and experiment with reciprocal roofs of different size and pitch, to make sure that you really understand how this intriguing piece of geometry works. There will be time to discuss any technical questions you might have. No previous experience necessary. Camping available.

From small mobile power banks to electric vehicles, we are relying more and more on batteries as a crucial party of our energy system. And with distributed renewable energy becoming more common, there's never been a greater emphasis on the importance of storing electricity.

This half day workshop will take a look at some of the everyday applications for lithium batteries, how they work, what differences there are between different types of lithium cells, what the risks and dangers are, and how the way they are used is changing. We will show how to recover lithium cells from old laptop batteries to build your own power bank, and explain how you might use them in your own DIY energy projects.

You will:

• Learn what energy is - how it works today, and what’s in store for the future
• Understand the electrical basics: current, voltage, resistance, power, series and parallel circuits
• Build your own USB power bank!
• Understand how to recover and test lithium battery cells
• Dig deeper into the energy dilemma - and possible solutions

No prior knowledge required!

For more information on our courses go here.

To book a place go here.

To book with Build Your Own Solar Charger and save £15 go here.

All profits reinvested into our social objectives.
Demand Energy Equality is a not-for-profit dedicated to increasing energy literacy, reducing energy demand and working with others to ensure equality of energy access.

​ABOUT THE COURSE
A series of seasonal events, each one a special evening experience of wild food foraging, Celtic fire and storytelling. Bushcraft and Celtic folklore specialist, Jonathon Huet, will take you on a guided walk to forage for wild food and impart his knowledge on different native trees in each season. The walk will end with a primitive fire-lighting demonstration and you will hear a traditional story around the glowing embers of the fire and learn the folklore of native trees. Each evening event is designed to help you connect with nature, switch off from modern life demands and deepen your understanding of native plant folklore. You will also receive a Native Tree Folklore booklet to take home with you.
THE COURSE WILL COVER
​Knowledge of native trees
Wild food foraging
Traditional fire lighting demonstration
Storytelling connected to British Woodlands
A Native Tree Folklore booklet to take home
THIS COURSE IS SUITABLE FOR
Adults looking to deepen their connection, awareness and knowledge within nature, to be introduced to plant lore and enjoy a greater understanding of edible wild plants.
WHAT TO BRING/WEAR
Suitable outdoor clothing and walking shoes for a woodland evening walk. We recommend bringing some spare warm layers.
Your own drinks and snacks if you wish.
ABOUT THE TUTOR
​This course is run by Woodland Bard, Jonathon Huet, a specialist in tree and plant folklore. Jonathon has worked for over twenty years teaching bushcraft skills and specialising in a knowledge of the British flora, environmental storytelling and Celtic folklore. ​Jonathon’s traditional nature- based stories are told with passion and enthusiasm brought alive with poetry, song and rhythm.
​www.walkwithtrees.com

ABOUT THE COURSE
This course will cover the construction of a heritage Devon Maund Basket made from ash and cedar or willow. Learn from a professional basketmaker how to cleave, shave, steam and make your own, original Maund Basket, a Devon speciality used for harvesting crops such as potatoes and now on the Heritage Crafts Association red list for endangered skills.

Starting with a coppiced ash pole, students will cleave, shave and steam-bend the handle and rim of the basket. Side slats made from cedar or willow known as staves are then shaped and nailed into place, before the base band of ash is shaped and nailed on.
THE COURSE WILL GIVE YOU
learn how to cleave and shave green wood using traditional tools and techniques including a drawknife and shave horse
learn how to steam bend wood
learn how to use jigs to form the handle this unique frame basket
THE COURSE IS SUITABLE FOR
A range of abilities encompassing all levels of expertise, including beginners.​
WHAT TO BRING/WEAR
Stout footwear and outdoor clothing. This course will take place outdoors in our Woodland Classroom.
Packed lunch or lunch is available from the Beech Cafe
ABOUT THE TUTOR
Dominic has been basketmaking for nearly twenty years. His basketry is predominantly frame baskets often incorporating split or cleft wood elements. The Devon Maund Basket is one of the local traditional baskets in Devon, and is used for harvesting crops, especially heavy ones such as potatoes. Dominic's work is inspired by the landscape and incorporates locally harvested materials wherever possible.
www.sussexwillow.co.uk

ABOUT THE COURSE
This course will cover the construction of a traditional trug made from sweet chestnut and white willow. Learn from a professional trug maker how to cleave, shave, steam-bend and soak the wood and make your own garden trug.

Students will make a no. 6 garden trug. Starting with a coppiced sweet chestnut pole, students will cleave, shave and steam-bend the handle and rim of the basket. The boards are then shaped and shaved from white willow before being soaked and nailed into place. White willow feet are then added to the basket.
THE COURSE WILL GIVE YOU
knowledge of how to cleave and shave green wood using traditional tools and techniques including a draw knife and shave horse
experience of how to steam bend wood
experience of how to use jigs to form the handle and rim of this unique frame basket
THIS COURSE IS SUITABLE FOR
A range of abilities encompassing all levels of expertise, including beginners.​
WHAT TO BRING/WEAR
Stout footwear and outdoor clothing. This course will take place outdoors in our Woodland Classroom.
Packed lunch or lunch is available from the Beech Cafe
ABOUT THE TUTOR
Dominic has been basketmaking for nearly twenty years and making trugs for over ten, initially working alongside Pete Marden at the Truggery. His basketry is predominantly frame baskets often incorporating split or cleft wood elements. The Sussex Trug is one of the local traditional frame baskets in East Sussex. His work is inspired by the Sussex landscape and incorporates locally harvested materials wherever possible.
www.sussexwillow.co.uk

This day course explores nature through the curriculum using literacy, art and pictures. Participants will discover the natural world through sensory observation, sketching and wordsmithing using the ‘Lost Words’ book and other nature poets and painters as inspiration, in order to bring nature back into lesson planning.

The book ‘Lost Words’ (Jackie Morris & Robert Mcfarlene, 2018), stands for a wild childhood; a childhood where words such as Acorn, Otter, Lark and Dandelion are still part of the rich landscape of discovery and imagination that every childhood should embrace. It is a book of the British countryside and celebrates the poetry of nature words and the magic of nature and language for all.

‘Lost Words’ has been issued to schools up and down the country but many educators, though inspired, remain unsure of how to share the themes of the book with their children. This ‘literacy’ day will look at how we can reinvigorate a love of nature through words, and even make up our own through the medium of sketching, creative writing and oral wordsmithing.

We will explore our emotional and natural literacy using simple techniques applicable to any class. Through sensory activity and observation we will look at narrative of story, prose and poetry. When this is combined with simple sketch and painting techniques in the outdoors a deeper connection is made with the natural world. ‘Lost words’ is also being made into song and we will look at simple ways of turning the prose into song.
£75

Tutor: Jon Cree

​ABOUT THE COURSE
A day spent enjoying wines suitable for vegans and vegetarians, and exploring the world of wine. This course will explain how wine is made and the various styles of wine through tasting a variety of vegan wines. We will also unravel the differences between sustainable, vegan, vegetarian, biodynamic and organic wines.

Test your wine knowledge and take part in practical tastings to refine your understanding of grape varieties and production. This fascinating and interactive day spent indulging in wine will consider the wider aspects of sustainability in wine production debating issues from pesticides to fair trade, packaging to land use.
THE COURSE WILL GIVE YOU
Understanding of different styles of wine
Knowledge of common wine grape varieties and how to spot them
Understanding of how wine is made
Knowledge of sustainability in wine making, vegetarian and vegan wine
Experience of tasting and assessing wine
Handout and ISO tasting glass to take home
THE COURSE IS SUITABLE FOR
All wine lovers, vegan or omnivore, from beginner to enthusiast and expert and everything in between.
WHAT TO BRING/WEAR
Packed lunch or lunch can be purchased from the Beech Cafe
ABOUT THE TUTOR
Phill has been running wine tastings in one form or another for more than 25 years. He qualified with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust at the advanced level and recently published a book on rosé wines called "A bunch of Rosés". Previously an adviser with Virgin Wines, Phill delights in bringing the joy of wine to people!

​ABOUT THE COURSE
This training course is essential for anyone wishing to lead Forest School programmes in their own setting. It covers learning theory and practical skills, plus gives participants the confidence and knowledge needed to establish and deliver their own Forest School programmes.

Our Forest School Leader Training is run by experienced leader and trainer, Adrian Goodhand, and is accredited by the Open College Network West Midlands (OCNWM). Our venue is a pioneering environmental education centre within a 55 acre woodland site, where we are passionate about outdoor learning and providing high quality training.
We keep the group size small, with a maximum of 10 students per course.

Adrian Goodhand has been practising Forest School since 2010 and delivering Forest School Training since 2014 across Hampshire and Surrey. He has over 20 years of environmental education experience. Adrian's tutoring experience doesn't stop at Forest School - he is also a qualified First Aid trainer and has tutored a range of outdoor and sport qualifications. Adrian is passionate about Forest School - Forest School for him was a life changing view of educating and engaging with the outdoors through a much wider approach than traditional learning approaches. He has set up his own Forest School company (Coast and Forest Education) and previously sat on the Forest School Association (FSA) board. His particular specialities are working with groups with special education needs on a long-term basis and sharing his knowledge and skills on the importance of physical play in childhood. Adrian takes great delight form seeing people grow with confidence and understanding during courses, training and following on.
metabolous.co.uk

​Cost: £1,170*
Tutor: Adrian Goodhand - Metabolous Education CIC/Natural Choice Training Group

* Arrangement can be made to pay by instalments: £400 to book, £400 by the start of the course, £370 by 31 Jan 2021

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Overview:

We associate woodlands, forests and other natural ecosystems with resilience, longevity and harmony, but often struggle to experience these in our own lives.

By exploring principles derived from nature, this programme will guide you step-by-step through a design cycle that can be used for a wide range of personal circumstances – relationships, health, wellbeing, leisure and work.

You may want to make a significant change, some small improvements, or just want to be more content or effective in your everyday life, and whatever your circumstances this course has something to offer.

The programme comprises six two and a half hour sessions with optional activities to do at home. During the six week programme you will build up the tools and resources to complete a design that is personal to you after the course. All course materials are provided and you will go away with a toolkit of tools and principles that can be used again and again.

More about the course
Cost: £120 payable in advance. Please reserve your place by paying a deposit of £60. The final payment falls due two weeks before the course starts**.
A limited number of places for students and people with low income
If payment is not received we reserve the right to offer your place to someone else.

This course is ideal for anyone wanting to further their own personal development, or as the first stage of the facilitator’s course running in November 2020

Sarah Spencer is the author of Think like a Tree: The natural principles guide to life