Folklore and legend tells that we shouldn't pick blackberries after Sept 29th as they are cursed by the devil who landed in a blackberry bush when banished to hell, folklore often brings us the most interesting tales. It is also suggested that when people lived closer to the land Sept 29th was the

Feeling stuck in artistic rut? Want the whole family to do some art together? Looking for an activity that the ENTIRE family can manage no matter what age? Well here we have it, firstly the making of natural paint brushes so that secondly for you all to do some explorative creative mark making art w

This session allows the age old craft of daisy chain making to grow a little as we mix it up with some buttercups too! Perfect to adorn summer hats, make necklace garlands or bracelets (make the chains shorter or wrap them round several times) & to be used in imaginary play......or for parties & fes

Trees are wonderful in all their various stages from the full bloom of spring turning into summer, to the vast array of oranges, reds & browns displayed in the autumn as the deciduous tree sheds it's leaves in time for the winter season. In this session we are creating the basic map of a tree, roots

Spring finds us spotting the pussy willow buds on the Goat Willow, those soft silky kittens mittens! I remember finding them as a child and keeping them in matchboxes to stroke. "But why are they connected to kittens?" I am asked by a little person, well, the answer to that question lies over in Sto

This session is a step or two on from Stickman, although he's in here too if you want to make him but these stick doll characters are both beautiful & achievable by all with a little help & guidance. With very few materials & a lovely family walk to collect the sticks you *need, you can have a wonde

During the winter season it can feel like there aren't a great deal of natural finds around to be had, especially in built up areas, but one thing that is nearly always a cert is sticks. Drifted in via the water, blown to you by the wind, dropped by birds repairing & building nests & simply under an

This activity allows you to learn about and explore the pigeon family in a paper craft activity in the run up to the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch which usually occurs at the end of January (be sure to check out their webpage & sign up to take part - it costs nothing and is a wonderful activity to do)

In this session we create some stylish miniature Christmas Trees that can be displayed however you want over the festive period, use them as a table centrepiece, display them in your window or simply show them on a shelf. With very few materials these make lovely decorations for all the family to c

As we head into the middle of November and autumn's hold begins to dwindle many people's minds turn towards the preparations needed for Christmas. The first requirement often being an Advent Calendar to count down to Christmas Day. So what better a place to begin than here with a lower impact enviro

Late summer and early autumn is a great time to experiment with nature arts and crafts. At this time of year the seasons change dramatically and we witness the emergence of a wide range of bright and beautiful colours. In this short film we show you how to make a nature loom that captures the chang

Despite summer often being sunny - it isn't always possible to be at the beach! There are always days where you might just need to make do with a lovely grassy or dirt patch. Here's a fun nature based art work you can do with your family with very few materials. Suitable for all to participate, we

We can't speak for all people of course, but we feel confident that some will certainly nod their heads in recognition of coat pockets being filled with sticks, stones, cones, leaves, feathers and much much more from walks and outdoor adventures. And whilst we always allow a few favourites to come h

The seasons have clearly moved & spring is underway with buds opening and weather from all four seasons in one day! What better time to get out the door to go on a walk in your local area, a park or wood. This is is lovely family activity to do, collecting natural items of interest on your walks, to

Incredibly fun, accessible & wonderful to connect families old to young - you're never to old to have boggart fun! You need very few materials & most are to be found in the woods, parks or on any dirt patch. Enjoy the freedom to use whatever natural finds you have to hand, or have collected to creat

Mud is a super accessible material & was in fact one of the first mediums that humans could be creative with. Today many seem less confident about it's messy factor but, prepared & with suitable clothing, mud is actually lots & lots of fun! In this session we explore how to create natural outdoor mu

Learning about our feathered friends can happen through many mediums, we all learn & are inspired in different ways. Today we are considering bird feathers & approaching them through a craft - macramé. With help & support from an adult even young children can enjoy this crafting method & if you deci

Winter is one of the most beautiful times of year. We love to throw on our hats, coats and gloves and head out to have fun with the snow and ice. In this film we teach you how to make beautiful garden ice decorations with a few simple materials that you may find around your house or in the garde

This is such a fun and easy family activity to do with all age groups and keeps everyone in the Christmas spirit, whilst quietly reminding us of our part to play with nature too. In this clip we look at a garland with a couple of hundred years of history that developed when colonists took the Eu

In this session we will show you how to make a beautiful autumn leaf candle holder that can be used to light up the darkest evenings this Diwali and beyond. They can be used with tea lights but take care not to leave any lit candles unattended. Items Required: Wide selection of leaves of all colour

The simple art of Nordic Braiding has tied many nets and connected many hearts- in this short film we used the technique to braid family connection bracelets from wool and grass while sat beneath an old oak with singing birds overhead- it's always the simple things that have the greatest impact.

Summer is that heady time of year where the flowers are bountiful & the sights & scents just beautiful. As the petals fall in the gentle breeze & the time is just right, collect a few leaves, flowers & pebbles together, it's time to become creative flower mandala artists! Suitable for all to partici

In this session we will be having fun making and creating with the wonderful Dandelion. With their bright golden colour and their sheer abundance, what flower could be better for a crown fit for kings and queens than the dandelion. You can have the whole family creating crowns using this braiding te



I remember as a child at Easter getting to dye my eggs with onion skins & loving the unusual tie-dye-eske swirling patterns that could be created. Since then I have learnt much more about natural dyes but I still love onion skin dye best for eggs. In this session we use both onion skins & other fo

In this session we show you how to use some collected sticks & some old socks headed for landfill & turn them into a cute bouquet of rose like flowers. A perfect way to reuse & upcycle those socks that are full of holes & save us from picking the flowers which are also meant for the birds & bees & w

Tis the season of love when we look for signs of that ever hopeful Spring. Since the Victorian era we have celebrated Valentine's Day with the gifting of cards - well I challenge that, why not gift a beautiful, colourful Y-stick heart weaving made with dedication & love instead! In fact, Y not celeb

This activity allows you to begin to explore wire-work and be inspired by the beautiful British Robin. In the run up to the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch there is a good chance that you will see this eye catching bird, with it’s flashing orange-red feathers. Traditionally we associate the bold British

This short film is in partnership with our friends at www.woodlands.co.uk The Winter Solstice is fast approaching when we experience the longest night of the year before the light again begins to flow back northward. In this short film we guide you through how to make and decorate a paper lante

Not quite December just yet, but it's not far off & when you are making things from scratch you always have to factor in a little crafting time to get things ready. But you'll be glad to know that this one is easy, fast to make and uses minimal materials! So if you are holding off to get a tree, or

This film is made in partnership with woodlands.co.uk. It's autumn time the floor is carpeted with an array of beautiful leaves and there is a cool chill in the air. We love to gather around the campfire at this time of year and having a fire opens up many more opportunities for crafting. In this