Pruning is used in orchards and forest gardens to improve yield, health and access. Getting it right involves understanding the growth patterns of the plant you are pruning, to guide it into putting less of its energy into woody growth and more into fruit. This course will introduce the principles that underpin all pruning, and how they apply to apples, pears, plums, cherries, currants, gooseberries and cane fruit. The main course is two hours but there will be an opportunity in the afternoon for those who want to practice what they have learned to do so in a community orchard. It will be taught by Alan Carter, author of A Food Forest In Your Garden.

Pruning is used in orchards and forest gardens to improve yield, health and access. Getting it right involves understanding the growth patterns of the plant you are pruning, to guide it into putting less of its energy into woody growth and more into fruit. This course will introduce the principles that underpin all pruning, and how they apply to apples, pears, plums, cherries, currants, gooseberries and cane fruit. The main course is two hours but there will be an opportunity in the afternoon for those who want to practice what they have learned to do so in a community orchard. It will be taught by Alan Carter, author of A Food Forest In Your Garden.

This course will be taught almost entirely through practicals and a tour, with an opportunity to work on your own designs at the end of the weekend. The course will be entirely outside.

By the end of the course you will have the skills to carry out a Permaculture Design for your plot and to start a garden from scratch without digging. Other topics we will cover include annual and perennial food crops, encouraging beneficial wildlife, composting, pest-control without chemicals, rainwater harvesting and maintaining soil fertility.

The course will cover the use of solar grid systems and is a follow on from the Setting up a solar battery off-grid course, Saturday 18 June 2022.

This home grid course covers the use of solar panels that are connected to the grid via a grid inverter. We will discuss the aspect and fitting of panels, the matching of panels to various grid inverters and the integration into home power systems. As with the battery course, an understanding of ohms law and how panels work is very desirable, so the Solar battery course would be an ideal primer.

We will also discuss the use of a grid diverter to reduce export and help with water and/or space heating.

This one-day beginners course can be taken as a stand alone course or combined with our more advanced Introduction to photovoltaics course the following day.

The course will be a demonstration on how to create a small solar/ battery set up. This includes PV solar panels and various wiring systems, different charge controllers, types of battery, and inverters or DC direct use.

This workshop will look at the way we mistakenly think we know what is best when gardening, often due to the inherited idea of what a garden should be and look like. Our reaction to pests and weeds is an indicator of how much we truly understand about the nature in a garden. Questions like - How do I get rid of slugs and snails? How can I encourage beneficial insects? How can I deter aphid? What natural means are there for removing weeds? These are normal questions to most gardeners, even organic wildlife friendly ones, but they show a belief that some parts of nature are better than others and that we may need to intervene to create a ‘better balance’. Understanding just what a slug, weed, or insect is doing in our garden helps to reconnect with the wisdom of the whole ‘nested systems-thinking’ of Nature, so that we can be truly aware of what any of our actions are doing to the whole system before we intervene. Please bring packed lunch, refreshments - teas/coffee/homemade herb teas provided.

Aimed at generating a sense of freedom and experimental creativity often necessary when designing permaculture. Alison has seen many people with a lack of self confidence in their own imaginative ability for creativity and design. Experience a fun day for discovering you own ability to observe and interact in nature and get inspired, whether it be finding materials to create a piece of ephemeral natural art; design a permaculture system; imagine a story, or just to explore playing with natural materials. Come and have fun in a totally safe, non-judgemental space. Please bring packed lunch. Refreshments - teas/coffee/homemade herb teas provided. £25

These workshops are designed to compliment permaculture practice and design by placing us back into a simple, deepening relationship with Nature and that part of Nature we carry around with us constantly, our bodies. The simple body focusing techniques reveal how our bodies are always receptors to the wisdom and intelligence in Nature, and how this is integral to understanding ecosystems and practicing effective permaculture. £25, discounts for group or multiple bookings, concessions for low waged. Please bring own packed lunch, refreshments included.

Interested to learn about fruit tree budding?
Have fruit trees that need pruning? DIdn't know you could prune in the Summer?

Come to a Grafting & Pruning Workshop by Chris Evans. You will learn about budding and Summer pruning, and take home a tree you’ve budded yourself.

A two day willow exploration into square work to weave a functional basket of your choice, whether it be for your tools, logs, square shopper or general storage.

On this course you will learn how to weave a square willow basket using the ‘WI’ method of construction. We will start by using a clamp to weave square bases. In the basket sides we will use waling, randing or slewing and finish with a rod border and a choice of handles.
You will have the option to choose between adding willow roped handles or finger holes onto the side.

You will be learning traditional ‘stake and strand’ basket making, using prepared basketry willow plus some grown at Denmark Farm Conservation Centre on the wetland system to add colour and texture. Choose from a variety of naturally coloured willow to make your own unique and beautiful basket.

This willow square basket workshop is suitable for people who have previously done some willow basket weaving and practical beginners are also welcome.
All tools and materials provided. If you have your own sharp secateurs and a knife, please bring them along. Please wear warm old clothing.