Weald and Downland Living Museum Ticket Portal

Countryside Crafts and Skills

Events

Dowsing day Dowsing day 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.

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.

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Flax to linen Flax to linen Saturday 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;...

Saturday 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

 

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Natural navigation walk Natural navigation walk 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...

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.

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Weave a rush bag Weave a rush bag Friday 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...

Friday 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.

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Weave a rush hat Weave a rush hat Thursday 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...

Thursday 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. 

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Wild food foraging Wild food foraging Monday 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...

Monday 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.

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Willow platters Willow platters Sunday 19 May 2024 Experiment with different types of willow to create a unique platter for display or serving dry foods. 

Sunday 19 May 2024

Experiment with different types of willow to create a unique platter for display or serving dry foods. 

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Create a frame basket Create a frame basket Thursday 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...

Thursday 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.

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Introduction to falconry Introduction to falconry 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...

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.

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Nettle fibre workshop: from sting to spin Nettle fibre workshop: from sting to spin Saturday 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...

Saturday 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.

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How to shoot a traditional longbow How to shoot a traditional longbow Saturday 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,...

Saturday 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.

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Weave a rush garlic bag Weave a rush garlic bag Wednesday 11 September 2024 This handy little hanging rush container is woven from the wonderfully supple Common Bulrush, (Scirpus Lacustris), collected from the river Thames....

Wednesday 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.

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Countryside Crafts and Skills
Available Tickets