Wild Cordage
May 24 (Saturday)
10.30am – 5pm
£140
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.
Learn how to make cordage (string) from a variety of seasonally available plants which we’ll forage for on the day. We’ll work with plants that need varying degrees of preparation to make cordage from, covering the key principles of fibre prep and extraction. You’ll come away with a thorough understanding of the methods required to make cordages for various uses and from different types of fibres, and you’ll make a range of samples.
There will be various examples of how cordage can be used, inspiring you to incorporate cordage into your own craft projects. When you make your own, you’ll never look at a humble ball of twine in the same way again.
Weekend Offer: make a weekend of it by booking Wild Cordage (May 24) and Looped Rush Bags(May 25) together for £255
String has many varied uses, and can be seen as the base of human material culture. Some would argue that it’s one of the main skills that make us human as it’s been so key to our survival and evolution as a species.
Suitable for all levels, including beginners. Groups are kept small to allow for individual attention.
A simple but hearty vegetarian lunch is provided, we’ll have have a kettle on the camp fire, plus a huge tarp on hand for cover in case we need it. I aim to offer you a satisfying learning experience as well as an enjoyable time away from it all. To support you in getting the most from the day, we’ll connect to the woodland surroundings through a short and simple, guided mindfulness-based practice.
Loved the Wild Cordage day. Ruby makes ancient techniques simple and achievable, and imparted a vast amount of knowledge in bite-sized chunks. Totally inspired and can’t wait to make more! Julie & Matthew Bruton-Seal, Norfolk. Authors of ‘Hedgerow Medicine’
Follow-on courses: Looped Rush Bags, Nettle Net Bags
Accommodation: camping is available at the farm venue and details will be sent to you when you book on the course. The farm also has glamping options, including cosy bell tents and cabins with wood-burners. The cost of staying at the farm is not included in the course. Read about accommodation options.
You can read FAQs here.
See you in the woods!
Featured in the Guardian lifestyle section. National Geographic & Toyota put Native Hands in their top 125 UK adventures.
