Wild Pottery – Black Reduction
An immersive two days in the woods learning how to dig and process wild clay, make pots, and fire them successfully in an open fire. The firing is soot-soaked reduction, creating a beautiful, velvety grey-black finish on your pieces.
Two courses in 2026
May 23 / 24 (Sat / Sun)
July 24 / 25 (Fri / Sat)
Two days, 10.30am – 5pm both days
£290
Venue Open air woodland setting in a 70 acre ancient woodland on a family-run working farm: peaceful and beautiful Dernwood Farm Nr Heathfield, East Sussex.
Wild Pottery connects you to our ancient ancestor potters. There is archaeological evidence of these kinds of black pots across the UK and Europe, from the Iron Age and Saxon period.
What you’ll learn
How to dig, process and prep wild clay for an open, reduction firing.
How to make pots using hand-building techniques that allow you to create a variety of forms.
Day 1: Earth & water We’ll dig clay onsite and you’ll prep it so it’s strong enough to survive the firing.
You’ll make a couple of items, using hand-building techniques to make various forms.
On this course we don’t go into the details of finding clay in the landscape nor the technicals of temper (these are taught on Wild Pottery Smoke Cloud). This means there’s more time on this course for the actual making.
Day 2: Fire & wood
We’ll prep the firing site together, and organise firewood and other combustibles.
In the firing you’ll see the pots glowing red hot in the fire.
And then there will be an additional stage, using other combustible materials. This is what produces black pots through the process of soot-soaked reduction.
You’ll ‘disappear’ the firings, leaving no trace.
By the end of the day your pots will be cool enough to take home with you.
What’s included
A simple but hearty and delicious vegetarian lunch is provided, cooked on the camp fire. We’ll also have a kettle on the fire, with teas, biscuits and fresh fruit available all day.
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 days, we’ll connect to the woodland surroundings through a short and simple, guided mindfulness-based practice.
Enjoyed myself so much in the peaceful woods. You have a calm, kind and grounding presence which is good to be around. Alice H
We’re still basking in the beauty of our wild pottery experience with you and with the woods! It was life changing in many ways. Brian
Who this is for
Suitable for all levels.
However, if you’re interested in learning the in-depth technicals of wild clay and temper, Wild Pottery Smoke Cloud is for you as a starting point.
This may not be for you if you’re a studio potter hoping to learn from the course how to make your studio practice more sustainable. Although some elements of what you’ll learn will be transferable to the studio, Ruby doesn’t teach about studio techniques. The focus of this course is on wild clay and open firing.
Check out all my Wild Pottery courses
Groups are limited to 12 participants
Accommodation: camping is available at the farm venue and details will be sent to you when you book. 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.
Any questions? please have a look at the FAQ page
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 aren’t course participants.
Featured in the Guardian lifestyle section. National Geographic & Toyota put Native Hands in their top 125 UK adventures.
