Description
Weave, Forage and Feast
24 September 2023
10.00 am to 4.00 pm
with Chenma and Ali Hayhurst
£85 including lunch and refreshments – £18+ Children welcome aged 12 and up
A limited number of concessionary places are available. Please check our Terms and Conditions to see if you qualify – £40
About Weave, Forage and Feast
Join us for a celebration of natures abundance! In our workshop you will gain knowledge and traditional skills in woodland crafts, as well as mindfulness techniques and nature connection. Taking place just after the autumn equinox we have crafted a day that offers time to weave, forage, feast, reflect and share.
The equinox is a perfect time to weave new intentions into our lives as we shift into the shorter days. It is an opportunity to look back over summer, practice gratitude, come to completion with what was, and tune into a more inward time of rest and renewal. Throughout the day we will hold space for these contemplations and invite you to join us in meditation and sharing circles.
You will develop an understanding of different types of Willow, how to source it, grow it, and then the different techniques and styles of weaving. You’ll be making your own small foraging basket~ it will be roughly 5×10 inches with a round wooden bottom. If there is spare time there is also the option to make a variety of other willow creations.
The benefits of crafting go hand in hand with the benefits of spending time in nature. Working with our hands and becoming absorbed in an activity is the perfect way to come into the present moment. Through weaving, the repetitive pattern and focus on the handwork creates a meditative, relaxing experience.
Our workshop will take place in the beautiful space of Whistlewood, surrounded by an enchanting natural environment and a shelter if needed. As part of our day we will explore these grounds and use our baskets to forage for the abundance of fruit that is available at Whistlewood at that time.
The meal we share is central to the day~ there is no better way to ground and connect than sharing the nourishment of food together. We see food as medicine, and bring to the table an array of dishes that are plant-based, seasonal, free from refined sugar and crafted with love.
To participate in this workshop you do not need any experience in woodwork, you don’t have to be skilled in a craft to reap the benefits! Tuition is tailored to every individual’s need, and at our core is the wish to provide a supportive and nurturing environment for all.
About Ali Hayhurst
Alistair is an experienced woodworker and yurt maker, having ran a coppice crafts business based in Ashbourne for over 20 years. He specialises in traditional woodland crafts such as wattle hurdles, cleft fencing, and hedgelaying, and runs a variety of courses throughout the country as well as locally for organisations such as Derbyshire Eco Centre, The Wildlife Trust, and The National Trust. Spending most of the winter sourcing his materials in local coppice woodland, Alistair gets great satisfaction in seeing the tree from where it came, and using traditional and often ancient methods to transform it into a bespoke item.
Alistair and Chenma are a Father/Daughter team running Underwood Crafts
About Chenma
Having had the great fortune to grow up watching and assisting Alistair, his daughter Chenma accompanies him whilst adding the additional element of wellness. Having been born and raised in Buddhist centres, she has a close relationship with mindfulness techniques and meditation, and together they aim to highlight the benefits of working with and within the natural environment around us, learning valuable traditional skills along the way.
This event has been organised and is being run by Ali and Chenma Hayhurst of Underwood Crafts.
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