Family Wild Pottery
August 1 / 2
Two half-days: Friday 1pm – 3.30pm; Saturday 10.30am – 1pm
£230 per 1 adult plus 1 child.* Suitable for ages 7-14
Venue: open air woodland setting in a 70 acre ancient coppiced wood on a family-run working farm: peaceful and beautiful Dernwood Farm Nr Heathfield, East Sussex.
On this fun and immersive course you’ll dig clay from the ground to make pots, and then we’ll fire them in an open campfire, watching them glow red with heat. Mud, water, fire and wood- it’s all in there. Family Wild Pottery is an exciting, delightfully messy and alchemical process.
Experiencing the production cycle of making something from the initial, raw, foraged material to creating finished pottery (ceramic) that you’ll take home with you is a rich and valuable learning activity.
Adults and children alike love the hands-on, elemental experience of Wild Pottery. Making things from clay is primal human instinct, and we adults can learn a lot from children’s natural, spontaneous flair for it. Be prepared to get muddy and have fun.
No previous experience of pottery is necessary. Groups are kept small to allow for individual attention and a satisfying learning experience. Parents/adults are responsible for their child at all times during the course.
If you’re looking for an in-depth understanding of the processes involved, Wild Pottery Level 1 is for you. Family Wild Pottery’s focus is the enjoyment of the immersive experience, it doesn’t cover the technicals.
I thought this would be boring, but it’s fun. Isaac, aged 7. Brighton
A wonderful two days of digging and potting. We all had such a blast, and learned LOADS. We will be back again for more adventures. Steve S, London
Accommodation: camping is available at the farm venue and full details about this will be sent to you when you book on the course. The farm also has glamping options- cosy bell tents and cabins with wood-burners. The cost of staying at the farm isn’t included in the cost of the course. Read more about onsite and offsite accommodation options.
*I’m committed to the ratio of 1 adult/1 child (age 7+) per booking so that I can support everyone in having an enjoyable, quality time. Families of 1 adult/2 children might bring an aunt/uncle/godparent to make up the numbers, and book 2 places. Families of 2 adults/1 child might bring a friend/cousin of their child and book 2 places.
You can read FAQs here.
See you in the woods!
The clay: Native Hands has a special agreement with the farm venue to dig small amounts of clay with participants on Wild Pottery courses. This permission does not extend to people who are not part of the group on the day of the course.
Featured in the Guardian lifestyle section. National Geographic & Toyota put Native Hands in their top 125 UK adventures.
