Courses & Well Being Activities
Some of our courses have been cancelled this year, please view our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Riverside Project Policy.
Why not come along and take part in one of our Courses, Well Being Activities or join us for a Tour of the project.
Our Courses
Heritage Textiles - Learn Tablet Weaving
Course Run Time: 09:20 - 16:30
£50 pp (Includes a full day’s tuition and all the materials)
Course Available: Sunday 7th May 2023
Spend the day learning the history of tablet weaving and its uses and go home with your own woven Viking-patterned piece of braiding.
You will learn about the history of tablet weaving in the Viking ages, how to set up your tablets, and have time to start weaving before taking your project home to finish.
Heritage Textiles - Learn Nalbinding
Course Run Time: 09:20 - 16:30
£45 pp (includes a full day’s tuition and all the materials necessary to complete a future nalbinding project)

Course Available: Saturday 6th May 2023
On this day course, you’ll get to grips with this ancient form of knitting used by the Vikings to create sturdy and warm clothes from mittens to socks.
Using period-appropriate materials and tools you’ll learn the Oslo Viking nalbinding stitch and go home with enough wool to finish your fledgling project.
Basic Spoon Carving
Course Run Time: 09:20 - 16:30
Group £80 pp
Group Course Available 14th May 2022
(Numbers are limited to 4 people per course. You must be 18 or older to attend. We can arrange a course for children and adults by special arrangement, just get in touch)
Private £150
Dates TBC
Aimed at beginners or those who’ve carved before and want to improve. Our resident expert Peter Collins will will instruct you in the traditional methods of spoon carving. We’ll cover safe carving technique with axe and knife and plenty of time to practice your skills throughout the day.
We will make kitchen utensils to get you into the basics of carving a butter spreader, porridge spurtle or spatula in the morning and a cooking or serving spoon in the afternoon.
Christmas Wreath Making
Group £90
Group Course Dates for 2023 to be confirmed
(Numbers are limited to 2 families per course, up to 8 people, just get in touch)
Adult £45
Individuals Course Dates for 2023 to be confirmed
(Numbers are limited to 6 people per course, just get in touch)
This Christmas get creative, have fun, and make something personal for your home when you join our popular Christmas wreath and decoration making workshop in our woodland.
We will provide you with all the materials you need to craft your wreath or decorations from scratch. This includes using willow and foliage to build up the frame of your wreath and then choosing from a wide array of natural decorations to suit your style plus some festive additions we have available.
Once complete you could add lights to provide beautiful illumination as the nights close in.
All wreath workshop class sizes are small, so you can enjoy the hands-on support of our experts. This means that whether you are a wreath-making novice or seasoned expert, you can create a wreath or decorations to be proud of.
Workshop places are available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and frequently sell out, so book early to avoid disappointment.
We will provide Hot Chocolate and Mince Pies and recommend you dress for the outside and bring gloves as it takes place in the wood with a walk across the field.
Schools Introduction to Willow and Willow Weaving
We offer onsite introduction to willow weaving courses for schools. These give the children and staff, an opportunity to learn about willow and to have a go at making small items to take home.
Classes include a show and tell element where our instructors share some of the products that can be made from willow and have a Q&A option for children to ask more.
Following this the children can split into smaller groups to make items from the different willow we will provide, these can include; fish on a rod, bracelets, headbands, stars on a stick, a woven edging panel for the garden and other items if time and weather permits.
Once the basic shapes have been woven the children can then use their craft items to decorate them further.
We provide you with all the willow materials you need to craft your items from scratch.

All workshop class sizes are agreed in advance with the schools so we can ensure we bring enough materials with us. This means that whether you are a complete beginner, novice or seasoned expert, you can create an item to be proud of and to take home.
Special Occasions, Commissions and Theme Courses
Willow Weaving
We offer courses on request for special occasions, for themes and also undertake commissions.
We provide you with all the willow materials you need to craft your items from scratch alongside the tuition, if you do not complete your items on the day, we will send you away with the willow needed to complete them.
All of these classes are tailored to your needs and we provide basic refreshments, hot and cold drink and biscuits to keep everyone going. This means that whether you are a complete beginner, novice or seasoned expert, you can create an item to be proud of and to take home.
Examples of our activities include, log basket making (2 full days), wreath making, half to full days, willow animals, half to full days as well as introductions for adults and children, half day sessions.
Basic Spoon Carving
Course Run Time: 09:20 - 16:30
Group £80 pp
Group Course Available 14th May 2022
(Numbers are limited to 4 people per course. You must be 18 or older to attend. We can arrange a course for children and adults by special arrangement, just get in touch)
Private £150
Dates TBC
Aimed at beginners or those who’ve carved before and want to improve. Our resident expert Peter Collins will will instruct you in the traditional methods of spoon carving. We’ll cover safe carving technique with axe and knife and plenty of time to practice your skills throughout the day.
We will make kitchen utensils to get you into the basics of carving a butter spreader, porridge spurtle or spatula in the morning and a cooking or serving spoon in the afternoon.
Hedge Laying
WINTER DATES TBC
This is a Winter activity, dates will be confirmed nearer the Winter Season.
Our Well Being Activities
Forest Bathing & Basket Weaving
2023 Dates TBC
TIME: 09:30 - 16:30
£165 pp
(Numbers are limited to 4 people per course. Accommodation not included)
This weekend we invite you to really step away from the everyday hustle of life and lose yourself in the moment. Experience through all your senses the beauty of this riverside setting using forest bathing techniques to immerse yourself into the creative process.
James Dyson is an experienced woodsman and skilled basket maker. He is a warm and humorous soul with a deep understanding of the struggles of being human in these times. He has an infectious enthusiasm for sharing his knowledge and connecting people with the skills of our rural heritage.
Emma Capper is the founder of Creative Journeys in Nature. She is a certified ANFT Nature and Forest therapy guide, expressive artist and craftswoman living and working in Devon. Her Wanders for Well-being have their roots in the practice of Shinrin-yoku - Forest bathing. She delights in playfully awakening your imagination and intuition through nature connection invitations, remembering our lost heritage and the wisdoms of our natural home. You can learn more about forest bathing here.
Willow basketry is one of our ancient traditional crafts. In modern times basket making has been used as a therapeutic activity connecting you into the land and your body while creating a beautiful and useful item.
All materials are included in the price and tools are available for use. Please feel free to bring your own secateurs and pen knife. Refreshments are provided but you will need to bring a packed lunch or you can eat at the local pub, a few minutes walk away. Please note that accommodation is not included in the course fee.
Well Being walks with Bella
2023 DATES ON REQUEST
30min Local Stroll
Longer Walks with picnic or local Pub 'Fine Dining' experience.
Bella is our 10 year old Shetland mare. Coming to us as a rescue, she has been with us on the project since 2016. Tania Davies has grown up around animals, farms and horses for most of her life. She worked at a riding stables from age 10 and has had horses and ponies of her own. She has worked with Bella since her arrival to stop her fearing both traffic and people and Bella has brought many smiles, laughs and sighs to us all.
Bella walks are a time where you can spend time with the pony and a good walk can do wonders for your mental wellbeing. Pony Therapy provides psycho-social, emotional and physical benefits for a variety of people. It improves self-perception and self-esteem, mood and sleep quality and it reduces stress, anxiety and fatigue. Physically active people have up to 30% reduced risk of becoming depressed, and staying active can help those who are depressed recover.
For less mobile people we can just have time with Bella, to groom and stroke her, or just watch her and her friends in the field and relax in the environment. Ground based contact helps improve confidence, trust, self esteem and encourages empathy providing a tangible connection to animals and nature.
Open Days & Project Tours
Open Days
WATCH THE WEBSITE FOR 2023 DATES
Bring your lunch and enjoy the space with an open questions session and a drink in our woodland shelter. Regular dates will be posted, keep an eye on the website.
£ Donation based
Project Tours and Well Being Visits
2023 DATES ON REQUEST
Come and visit our site, book a personal or family tour and learn about how the site has evolved and developed over the years we have managed it, from a start point of over 30 years with no management.
You can also book a well-being visit, a shared talk about the animals and the elements of the site, to identify those areas that you would benefit from spending time doing. Provides a safe space for you to be on your own and enjoy the solitude.
Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Make a Donation
Help support the various projects we are working on and become a friend of a particular project. Receive regular updates through the year.
