Events
Saturday 25 May 2024
A day of discussion, practical demonstration, guidance and hands on experience will convince even the most sceptical of the value of this ancient craft.
Book nowSaturday 6 July 2024
Sunday 7 July 2024
Learn how our ancestors processed the flax plant into linen fabric. For millennia this vital plant clothed us and became our second skin; come and be a traditional ‘scutcher’ or ‘breaker’ for the day and change this coarse fibre into a piece of simple twine. Using hand tools learn the art of breaking, scutching and hackling flax, dressing a distaff with long fibres. You will have an introduction in spinning flax on a simple spindle whorl and learn a simple weave, but most importantly, discover what to do with your leftover “tow”!
10 am start
History of flax growing based at Tindall’s Cottage
Growing and retting a crop with the regional differences
Coffee Break
Processing flax by hand outside with traditional tools.
Breaking, scutching, hackling working in pairs to produce ‘linen line’
Lunch break
Preparing fibres for spinning with drop spindles. How to dress a distaff.
Hackling ‘Tow’ and how to use the waste product from the process.
Afternoon Break
Making a sample twine to take away with you
Book now
Friday 26 April 2024
Friday 21 June 2024
Friday 20 September 2024
Learn the practical basics of natural navigation. Natural navigation is the rare art of finding your way using nature, including the sun, moon, stars, weather, land, sea, plants and animals. You will be out and about on site at the Museum site using your surroundings as examples.
Book nowFriday 13 September 2024
An opportunity to weave your own rush bag using indigenous common bulrush, scirpus lacustris. Working on wooden blocks and using techniques common to basketry, each participant will complete a medium sized bag with optional handles.
Book nowThursday 12 September 2024
An opportunity to make your own woven rush hat using the indigenous common bulrush, Scirpus Lacustris, collected from the river Thames. Starting with your own custom-made hat block, you will be using this wonderfully supple material and techniques common to basketry to create a unique hat to wear.
Book nowMonday 13 May 2024
This course is aimed as an introduction to the world of wild food, focusing specifically on the plants and trees although we won't ignore fungi should we manage to find any.
Book nowSunday 19 May 2024
Experiment with different types of willow to create a unique platter for display or serving dry foods.
Book nowThursday 18 April 2024
Thursday 04 July 2024
Make a willow frame basket using Somerset grown willow. Frame baskets are ideal for gathering and
storing eggs and picking soft fruit.
Saturday 04 May 2024 - Sold Out
Saturday 08 June 2024
Monday 7 October 2024
A chance to learn the ancient art of falconry, this day offers an enchanting encounter with birds of prey. Learn about the differences between Hawks, Falcons and Owls through practical handling sessions and amazing outdoor flight experiences with the birds flying to your gloved fist. A unique and awe-inspiring introduction to falconry.
Tailored for those who have a keen interest in falconry and birds of prey. During the course you will gain a basic understanding of birds of prey, their training and care, and hands-on experience of holding and flying falconry birds.
Book nowSaturday 27 July 2024 - SOLD OUT
Friday 02 August 2024
Saturday 17 August 2024
Learn how to make fibre and yarn from local nettles. During the workshop we will gather local nettles and learn about their use through time. You will learn how to extract nettle fibre, and learn a simple way to spin it so it can be used for weaving, knitting or crochet.
Book nowSaturday 15 June 2024
Sunday 16 June 2024
An introduction to the art and craft of longbow archery. The day focuses on the history and traditions of this remarkable weapon, including intensive tuition in the practice of longbow archery, using a range of different bows. Suitable for the beginner and more experienced archer alike.
Book nowWednesday 11 September 2024
This handy little hanging rush container is woven from the wonderfully supple Common Bulrush, (Scirpus Lacustris), collected from the river Thames. This little bag is great for holding Garlic in (hense the name), but you can of course keep what ever you like in it! Specially designed by Rachel as a introductory project to working in Rush, we will cover several techniques during the day.
Book now