Coronavirus update
We postponed all our Days in the Woods in 2020 and are yet to finalise dates for 2021.
We’ve left the details of the days on the site but please bear in mind that these are at present provisional. If you’d like to us to keep you informed as we finalise dates, please sign up for our electronic newsletter by adding your email address in the box to the right or send us an email at info@wassledine.co.uk . Hopefully we will get back to normal and meet lots of you in the woods soon.
Jane and Guy
Come spend an enjoyable and relaxing day with us in our lovely hazel woodland, Bottoms’ Corner, to savour some good company, quite a lot of chat, as well as some pretty good home-baked cakes, whilst learning to do or make something interesting and probably useful at the same time. Spend a day with Wassledine for some constructive relaxation.
Gift certificates
We offer gift certificates that may be redeemed against any of our products so if you are after a gift for someone who might appreciate a Wassledine Day in the Woods, find out more here.
Arrange your own special event
We are very happy to run courses for you at your own venue if you have the space and we can also arrange special events for small groups of friends or colleagues at Bottoms’ Corner in Gravenhurst – team building, for a celebration… ..if you’re interested, please contact us to chat over your ideas.
Please note – we run courses for other organisations at other venues, so do check the venue before booking.
One recent customer posted on Facebook… I attended the beginner’s basket weaving course with Wassledine. I had an amazing day that far exceeded expectations. I came away with a basket that I was proud of and felt so happy and relaxed after spending time in the woods. There’s something magical about woods! Jane, Guy and Ed are such lovely people that made us feel so welcome and ensured we had a plentiful supply of hot drinks and Jane’s delicious cake.
Events for spring/summer 2020
Special event
Storytelling in the woods – Giant Stories & Golden Eggs
Sorry – postponed
A walk full of stories to a secret glade for a woodland tea party.
Storytelling in the woods
Bottoms’ Corner is unlocking its gate to welcome you to this special event. The event provides the opportunity to walk off the beaten track and enjoy a beautiful woodland setting not usually open to the public. This is a guided walk with a difference. As the walk makes its way deeper into the woods you will be entertained with folk tales and woodland stories. Delicious homemade cakes will be waiting for you in the secret glade.
The event is aimed at adults and children over 5 years old. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Booking and payment in advance are essential.
Cost: £7.50 per person
Comments from last year’s event: “Lovely setting and very engaging storytelling” “Fantastic selection of cakes” “Can’t wait for next time” “A lovely way to bring children closer to nature”
Training day
Make a willow obelisk plant support
April 2021 (provisional)
Guy demonstrates a paired weave rising up a willow obelisk
A day session to learn how to make a simple obelisk shaped support for your garden from willow.
We make lots of obelisk plant supports from willow each year. They are great for growing sweet peas or any other climbing plant and are relatively easy to make. In the day, you will create something to take away and use in your own garden. We’ll also spend a little time talking about willow – choosing, sorting and selecting.
The course will take place in our beautiful working, hazel woodland, Bottoms’ Corner; you’ll enjoy just being there all day.
It will require a large amount of bending and kneeling. Please bring secateurs and a pair of loppers if you have some, and perhaps something to kneel on. You will also need to have a reasonable sized car to carry your creation home – we will make sure you make one small enough to fit!
This day will be led by Guy Lambourne of Wassledine who has made many, many obelisks over the years and run one or two of these training days every year for the last few years.
Cost – £70 (includes course fee, all materials, tea, coffee, fruit and cake).
How to book – for full information and a paper booking form, click on the button below
Feedback from past participants…
“All fantastic” “Not at all what I thought it would be” “Beautiful [venue]” “Thank you so much for such a wonderful day. I can’t believe what you helped me to achieve. I can’t wait to put the obelisk in my garden” “Delicious lemon cake” “Wonderful place, great teaching [and] cakes” “Of the loo…”private and excellent view. The best wee I’ve had in a long time”. “Really good fun”. “NEver thought I’d be able to do it”
Training day
Make a willow hurdle
April 2021 (provisional)
Making a willow hurdle
Willow hurdles are beautiful and have many uses around the garden. Learn the basics of making a willow screen and take a fairly small one home with you. Like many weaving projects, it’s easy to grasp but tricky to do well.
This day will be taught by Guy Lambourne of Wassledine. Guy started making willow hurdles well over 10 years ago and sells lots every year.
The day will take place in our beautiful working hazel woodland, Bottoms’ Corner; you’ll enjoy just being there all day.
The day will require a large amount of bending and kneeling as well as some upper body and finger strength. There’s a walk of about 300m, through the wood, from the car park to the venue although we can provide a lift for anyone who needs it. Please contact us if you are concerned about your physical ability to enjoy the day; we will do as much as we can to make it possible. Please bring secateurs and a pair of loppers if you have some and perhaps something to kneel on. You will also need to have a reasonable sized car to carry your creation home – we will make sure you make one small enough to fit!
Cost – £85 (includes course fee, all materials, tea, coffee, fruit and cake)
Feedback from participants…
“Really fab, forgot the rain” “Looking forward to attending more courses” Guy provided excellent content” “the gluten-free flapjack spot on! Thank you”
Training day
Make a willow ball
May 2021 (provisional)
Making willow balls in the woods
We’ve been making willow balls for years (actually Guy has) and they always prove popular, especially with gardeners who buy them to use as a focal point, perhaps to train plants through or even to hang from trees.
Over the course of the day, you’ll make a ball of about 12-18 inches diameter, entirely from some of our finest willow. There’s no wire, string or anything else involved, but you’ll need a fair amount of persistence and a bit of strength in your hands!
The day will be led by Guy Lambourne of Wassledine, who started making willow balls after seeing pictures of some in a newspaper. It took a while to work out how to do it and it’s this method that he will pass on to you today.
And the finished articles!
The day will take place in our beautiful working, hazel woodland, Bottoms’ Corner; we find most people thoroughly enjoy just being there all day.
There’s a walk of about 300m from the car park to the venue. We can provide a lift for anyone who needs it. Please contact us if you are concerned about your physical ability to enjoy the day; we will do as much as we can to make it possible. Please bring secateurs and a pair of loppers if you have some (we always have some spares).
Cost – £75 (includes course fee, all materials, tea, coffee, fruit and cake)
Feedback from past participants…
“Took longer than I imagined” “Love the tranquil setting” “Delicious cakes” “Fabulous venue” “Informal and informative” “Great fun and we all achieved something” “I’ve eaten too much cake!” “Fantastic day, really enjoyable, thank you” “scary prospect but really fine with brilliant view!” [on the composting toilet]
Training day
Basket making for beginners, with Ed Burnett
May 2021 (provisional)
An intense but most satisfying day
We are delighted that local craftsman Ed Burnett will be returning to Bottoms’ Corner in 2020 to lead another basket making Day in the Woods. Expect a fairly intense day. However, Ed’s relaxed and clear teaching style always makes everyone feel relaxed and inspires confidence to produce something beautifully baskety by day’s end.
The day will focus on making a simple round basket although Ed is usually happy to deal with other styles for those who have a little previous experience.
Basket making does require some strength in the hands but it can be done whilst sitting. The day will take place in our beautiful working, hazel woodland, Bottoms’ Corner; you’ll enjoy just being there all day. There’s a walk of about 300m from the car park to the venue. We can provide a lift for anyone who needs it. Please contact us if you are concerned about your physical ability to enjoy the day; we will do as much as we can to make it possible. Please bring secateurs if you have some, but some pairs will be avaialble to borrow.
So proud!
Ed is a man of many parts. He has worked in local authorities in the past, managing countryside sites and country parks, but now devotes himself to crafts of one type and another. He is know locally for his wonderful carvings and wooden commemorative plaques as well as his baskets. He also lays large lengths of hedge each winter.
£75 per person
For further information and to book please click the link below
Feedback from participants…
“An amazing day” “Beautiful location, great tutor and amazing hospitality” “Therapeutic, creative, educational and all in a glorious setting. Wonderful!”
Storytelling in the Woods – Treasure Box Tales
May 2021
Storytelling in the Woods
Bottoms’ Corner will be unlocking its gate to welcome you to this special event. The event provides the opportunity to walk off the beaten track and enjoy a beautiful woodland setting not usually open to the public. This is a guided walk with a difference. As the walk makes its way deeper into the woods you will be entertained with folk tales and woodland stories. Delicious homemade cakes will be waiting for you in the secret glade.
The event is aimed at adults and children over 5 years old. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Booking and payment in advance are essential.
Cost:£7.50 per person
Comments from last year’s event: “Thank you for another enchanting afternoon in the woods” “We absolutely loved the entire event, especially the fact the settings and stories were different from last time” “This was a perfect opportunity for my city granddaughter to immerse herself in a real wood. We both loved the afternoon” “Brilliant from the stories to the organisation and the cake!”
Spoon making in the woods
May 2021 (provisional)
10am – 4pm
Cleaving a piece of ash using a froe
Ed Burnett will be back to share his renowned green woodworking skills using some wonderful tools and wood cut from Bottoms’ Corner itself. You’ll be introduced to shave horse and draw knife, froe, hook knife and spoke shave as the day progresses and you produce a spoon and perhaps a spatula from wood that only days before had been parts of trees in the wood.
Some strength in the hands is required to successfully complete this day although there will be lots of help available throughout. The day will take place in our beautiful working, hazel woodland, Bottoms’ Corner; you’ll enjoy just being there all day. There’s a walk of about 300m from the car park to the venue. We can provide a lift for anyone who needs it. Please contact us if you are concerned about your physical ability to enjoy the day; we will do as much as we can to make it possible.
Using a draw knife to shape a spoon
Ed is a man of many parts. He has worked in local authorities in the past, managing countryside sites and country parks, but now devotes himself to crafts of one type and another. He is known locally for his wonderful carvings and wooden commemorative plaques as well as his baskets. He also lays large lengths of hedge most winters.
£70 per person
For further information and to book please click the link below
Puppets in the Woods
We first met Chris when he came to a course in the woods with a surprise friend. We got chatting and this exciting day came into being.
A course for educators, storytellers, parents and carers who would like to improve their puppet skills or try their hand at something new.
Chris will share his enthusiasm and knowledge of puppetry to help you use puppets in an effective way to communicate with and entertain a young audience.
£65 per person
A puppet in the Wood last summer
For further information and to book please click the link below
Mindfulness in the Woods
June 2021 (provisional)
Mindfulness in the Woods with Karin Creasey
Our first experience of mindfulness happened in July 2019 when Karin Creasey delivered a brilliant day for us. Her style is thoughtful and relaxing but backed up with many years as a qualified and experienced Psychotherapist and trainer working in private practice and also with organisations and workplaces. We are thrilled that she has agreed to return for another session in 2020.
£75 per person
Feedback from participants…
“More than I hoped for. Very special” “How wonderful to be in nature” “Beautiful setting; couldn’t be better for mindfulness” “Karin has a soothing voice and manner”
For further information and to book please click the link below
More possible events for summer 2021
Art in the Wood Week
Wassledine is joined by three talented local artists to bring you a week of nature inspired art activities. More details will follow soon but here’s a taste of what’s to come…
Make a Willow Dragonfly
adult course
We are delighted to welcome a loacl willow artist to the woods to lead a dragonfly making workshop.
Music Making in the Woods
family event (age 5 +)
A fun afternoon of music making, playing, story and song. Create your own percussion instruments from natural materials.
Drawing in the Woods
family event (age 8+)
A relaxing afternoon of drawing the natural world. A ocal artist Steve Halton will be on hand to guide, help and encourage your drawing.
Storytelling in the Woods
family event (age 5+)
Another opportunity to walk through the woods with tales from the trees. Join Wassledine’s Jane Lambourne for a storytelling adventure and take home your own piece of story art.
Drawing in the Woods
September 2021 (provisional}
Another opportunity to meet local artist and naturalist, Steve Halton, this time for a whole day of tuition. Aimed more at an adult audience, this day will see Steve talking about and demonstrating some of the basics of drawing and in particular, his passion – drawing from life. So whether your artistic skills are currently long-lost or if you are a regular sketcher, here’s a chance to learn some new skills that will help you improve.
Course cost – £65
Sorry you missed these courses but let us know if you’d like to get involved in a future day – they will be repeated
Training day
Make a pole lathe
The archetypal green woodworking device, a pole lathe will enable you to turn fresh wood quietly and without power (other than that in your leg muscles). This is a day for anyone wishing to own their own pole lathe and we intend to make this a flat pack construction, so by lunchtime you will have something to have a go with.
Further details to follow. If you are interested, please let us know now.