Forest workshops
This is an opportunity to take a day to explore and engage with nature in a new and creative way. We explore many aspects of woodlands crafts, working at a gentle and respectful pace.
The workshops are for adults of all ages and family groups with the day lasting from 10am to 3pm. (age restrictions may apply).
The session is led by Stephen Stockbridge. Trained as a sculptor, maker and Forest School teacher, he has been creating public artworks for over 30 years. Top end tools, biscuits, and tea are provided.
We run regular workshops both at Creative Nature HQ, based in SE18 and at our Forest workshops at Woodlands Farm Trust in Shooters Hill, Lesnes Abbey Woods in Bexley and in a private nine acre site in Welling.
What to bring?
Please wear weather appropriate suitable clothing and footwear, and bring your own flask and food.
All materials and tools are provided.
Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Adopt an artwork!
Adopt an art work for your organisation... for free! All you have to pay for is the transportation of the sculpture and it is yours forever! With a range of on going communal projects to choose from, there's got to be something for you. To find out more, have a read of this PDF and then give us a call or email.
Our workshops
Willow weaving in the woods
Weaving willow in its many sculptural forms from large willow animals to living willow dens.
Sculptural green wood carving
A playful and informative introduction to carving unseasoned green wood into large scale carvings.
Spoon carving
Nothing beats carving a spoon around a fire, in the woods with a group of fellow whittlers.
Fire making
Fire making is part of all the Forest Club sessions, as a campfire brings a comforting atmosphere as well as warmth.
There is an opportunity in every course to learn the finer skills of preparing, starting and maintaining a good campfire, in a safe and supportive environment.
At the end of all sessions, we will extinguish the fire. If you choose to participate, this is a moment to share our reflections of the day with each other.
Living willow sculpture and sculptural willow weaving – the different ways of working with willow
From November to April, we will be offering living willow courses to understand the fundamental points of successful living willow sculptures. These pieces will stay in the forest where they are growing.
Year round, we offer courses in sculptural willow weaving, using dry, soaked willow. These pieces explore the simplicity of creating large organic sculptural forms and more figurative work. The group decides what they would like to cover in the session. We will learn to understand the qualities of a variety of willow and what each is suitable for.
Large scale wood carvings
Sometimes we carve large single forms together like a totem pole and other times, we carve individual elements that are brought together to create a sculpture. Harness some traditional green wood-working skills, with the opportunity to use a pole lathe and shave horse.
Spoon carving
Open to beginners and improvers alike, these friendly and informative sessions teach the foundations of carving a spoon from a log. Please note, unlike some other courses, we believe in starting our spoons from scratch. This often includes cutting a branch from a tree in this managed woodland. We use an axe to form the basic shape of our spoon, progress to mastering the use of a straight carving knife and then on to a crook knife to hollow out the bowl.
We will also cover knife safety, tool maintenance and an introduction to knife sharpening.
Do I get to take my work home with me?
If you work on a small piece on your own, you can take it home or buy Membership and a Time bundle, come to the studio and finish it at a time that suits you.
One of the main principles of Creative Nature HQ is to learn and share new skills and discover the power of working collectively. Making sculptures takes much more time than people often think it does, and the workshop helps you adjust to the speed of making. Because of this, work does not always get finished in one session but a large piece is handed from one group to another until it is finished. At this point, the work can be purchased by individuals or adopted for free by an organisation via our Sculptural Adoption Programme. When an artwork is purchased or adopted, the resources are then used for the next collective woodworking project.