We are really looking forward to welcoming you back to Bottoms’ Corner Wood, to enjoy some constructive relaxation in 2025. Please take a look at what we have on offer below and make a booking using the links to Eventbrite. We hope to meet you in the wood. 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 present 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.
Training day
Make a foot stool from a log (and some paper string)
Sunday 1st and Sunday 8th June 2025
Course details
This two-day course will introduce you to working green wood (wood direct from the tree that has not been processed or dried) with hand tools. You will make a foot stool with a woven top to take home. The wood will be sourced from our own woodland where the course is being held and the weaving completed using environmentally friendly Danish cord. No previous experience is necessary. The course also provides the opportunity to spend a relaxing couple of days in a beautiful and peaceful woodland setting. Plenty of tea and coffee with homemade cake is on offer throughout both days and is included in the price.
The first day will focus on splitting logs and making the component parts of the stool using shave horses and drawknifes. The shave horse and drawknife are traditional tools used in chairmaking and other crafts. The second day will be taken up assembling the stool parts and weaving the top.
Both days have the potential to be quite full-on and, if necessary, finish times may over-run a bit to make sure things get finished. If participants don’t manage to complete all components by the end of day 1, there will be spares available so that everyone has everything ready to start the assembly phase at the beginning of day 2. You do not need to be a bodybuilder, but a reasonable level of physical fitness is required, particularly in the hands/wrists, so if you have any doubts about this please call us for a chat before booking.
Course tutor
The course will be led by local craftsman Tim Spencer. Tim has been making things from wood since childhood, but about 8 years ago he became obsessed with carving spoons and, following a course with green woodworking guru, Mike Abbott, graduated to making chairs and stools (although spoons still feature). Tim says his epiphany was when, after years of making things from straight, flat wood, he experienced the satisfaction of making useful items straight from the log; he now enjoys getting other people involved in green woodworking and deriving the same satisfaction from it as he does.
Course Venue
The course will take place outside in our own, beautiful Bottoms’ Corner Wood, a working hazel woodland that’s part of the Wassledine farm, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire.
The wood is in Gravenhurst, near Shefford. It’s a location that’s hidden away; we will send directions a couple of weeks before the course starts.
Although it’s a beautiful setting, please be aware that the facilities are quite basic. There is off road parking along a surfaced but bumpy track. We have an outside, composting toilet with camping style hand wash.
Access
There’s a walk of about 300m over grass rides (including a slope), from the car park, through the woodland to the venue. We can provide a lift from the car park for you if you need it. If you would like to come by public transport, please let us know in advance; we will assist if we can.
Please bring outdoor gear – hats, coat, sun hat, sunblock and lunch each day.
Booking – click here to book through Eventbrite. Please note you will be booking once for both days.
Cost – £225 per person (for both days)
Make a traditional besom broom
Saturday 19 July 2025
10am-3.30pm
Things don’t get more traditional than a besom, however you pronounce it. A very fine sweeping tool, largely forgotten these days, a besom is particularly good at removing leaves from a lawn and keeping you in charge of gravel on a drive; it’s also great at getting into awkward corners. Aside from these practicalities, there are several traditions associated with a besom, possibly the most charming of which is its role in a pagan handfasting ceremony. A besom is also thought to protect a house from evil spirits. And then of course there’s Harry Potter…
The tutors
The day will be run by Guy and Jane Lambourne of Wassledine who have been making besoms for several years now. Guy has even won an award for one his – yes, it’s true! (If you simply can’t be bothered to make your own, you could buy one of ours through our tiny Etsy shop)
After a relaxing day you will return home with a useful and beautiful broom made from our own grown hazel and willow, and birch cut from local nature reserves – no green wood involved in this case, and certainly nothing metal.
The venue
The course will take place outside in our own, beautiful Bottoms’ Corner Wood, a working hazel woodland that’s part of the Wassledine farm, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire. The wood is in Gravenhurst, near Shefford. It’s a location that’s hidden away; we will send directions a couple of weeks before the course starts. You’re bound to enjoy just being there all day.
It’s a lovely setting for a tranquil day and you will be welcome to wander and discover its secrets. There is a 300m walk from the car parking area to where the course takes place, including a grass slope. We can provide a lift for you if necessary. The facilities are quite basic. There is off road parking along a surfaced but bumpy track. We have an outside, composting toilet with camping style hand wash.
What to bring
Please bring your own packed lunch and clothes suitable for outdoors – a hat, sunblock, a waterproof coat… also a pair of secateurs if you have one.
We will supply
All materials, tools, tea, coffee, other soft drinks, biscuits and cakes. Some spare secateurs.
Comments from previous course participants…
“Thank you for a wonderful day” “very friendly, informative, beautiful setting!” fabulous cakes” “tools I’ve never seen” “so much fun” ..of the treebog” “not even a whiff!” “the best wee in the woods”
Cost – £75
Booking – please click here to visit our Eventbrite page
Make a willow Dragonfly
Sunday 3 August, 10am-4.30pm
Learn how to make a beautiful willow dragonfly. Our tutor, Hazel Godfrey will guide you through the different techniques needed to turn willow rods into an amazing creation. Some experience of working with willow is an advantage but not essential.
Course tutor – Hazel Godfrey
The course will be led by local basket maker and willow artist Hazel Godfrey BA(Hons) Applied Art. Hazel has a studio in Offley, Hertfordshire, where she creates beautiful works from willow.
The venue
The course will take place outside in our own, beautiful Bottoms’ Corner Wood, a working hazel woodland that’s part of the Wassledine farm, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire.
Price
£80 per person to include tea, coffee, soft drinks, fruit and cake. Please bring your own lunch
For further information and to book – please click here (takes you to our Eventbrite page)
Training day
Basket making for beginners
Saturday 16 August 2025, 10am-5pm
We are delighted that Ed Burnett will be returning to Bottoms’ Corner in August 2025, to lead another basket making Day in the Woods. There’s a surprising amount to making even a simple basket, so expect a fairly intense day. But fear not, Ed’s calm and clear teaching style always makes everyone feel relaxed and inspires confidence to produce something beautifully baskety by day’s end. We will focus on making a simple round basket using willow grown in our own willow beds in Gravenhurst.
Basket making does require some strength in the hands but it can be done whilst sitting.
The course will take place in our beautiful working, hazel woodland, Bottoms’ Corner, in Gravenhurst; most of our visitors enjoy just being there all day. It’s a lovely setting for some constructive relaxation and you will be welcome to wander and discover its secrets.
Price £90
For more information and to book please click here (link to our Eventbrite page)
The tutor
Ed Burnett is a Bedfordshire-based craftsman who spends a great deal of time carving signs and memorials these days. Although a master of other crafts such as basket making and hedge laying, he has also worked in the management of country parks and other local recreational facilities in Beds and Herts. Ed has been teaching at Wassledine for many years now and his relaxed style always goes down very well with participants.
Comments from previous course participants…
“Everything was perfect. Tranquil area to lose yourself in some willow weaving”; (of the tutor) -“as hands on as needed. Always available”; “fantastic hosts and a lovely group”; “made a lovely basket which surprised me”; “absolutely loved everything”; “Thank you fantastic”; “Thanks, this was such a great workshop”; “..a great sense of fun throughout”; “Amazing baking”
For more information and to book please click here (link to our Eventbrite page)
Make a willow plant support
Dates to be confirmed for spring 2026
A day session to learn how to make a simple obelisk shaped plant 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 making a functional and hopefully beautiful one is a great project for a day. You will create something lovely 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 working, hazel woodland, Bottoms’ Corner, near Gravenhurst; you’re bound to enjoy just being there all day. It’s a lovely setting for a tranquil day and you will be welcome to wander and discover its secrets.
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.
We will provide all materials, tools, tea, coffee, other soft drinks, biscuits and cakes. Please bring your own packed lunch.
Feedback from past participants…
“All fantastic” “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” “Really good fun”. “Never thought I’d be able to do it” “Wonderful place, great teaching [and] cakes” [Of the loo]…”private and excellent view. The best wee I’ve had in a long time”.
Training day
Make a willow ball
Date to be confirmed for 2026 – please contact us if interested
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 tutor
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.
The venue
The course will take place outside in our own, beautiful Bottoms’ Corner Wood, a working hazel woodland that’s part of the Wassledine farm, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire. The wood is in Gravenhurst, near Shefford. It’s a location that’s hidden away; we will send directions a couple of weeks before the course starts. You’re bound to enjoy just being there all day.
It’s a lovely setting for a tranquil day and you will be welcome to wander and discover its secrets. There is a 300m walk from the car parking area to where the course takes place, including a grass slope. We can provide a lift for you if necessary. The facilities are quite basic. There is off road parking along a surfaced but bumpy track. We have an outside, composting toilet with camping style hand wash.
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
Mindfulness in the woods
Date to be confirmed
Enjoy the health-promoting benefits of learning meditation and mindfulness and also of being connected to nature, all in one day.
Do you want to lead a more balanced, focused, healthy stress-free life? If the answer is yes then join me, Sam Lacey, at a beautiful peaceful location in private woodland, near Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire, where we will explore together different mindfulness and meditation techniques whilst surrounded by and immersed in nature.
There have been many studies that prove the health-promoting benefits of learning meditation and mindfulness and also of being connected outside to nature. With our Mindfulness in the Woods day we combine the two!
The day will begin with a relaxed meetup around the campfire, with a selection of refreshments and homemade cakes, followed by a gentle exploration of different techniques from breathwork, body awareness, grounding, centering and protection, forest bathing invitations, journaling, mindfulness exercises, focusing on external stimuli and sensory awareness, visualisation, finishing off the day by creating your own nature mandala.
This is a fully immersive experience to give you tools that you can use in your everyday life to bring a sense of peace and stillness.
Joining instructions will be sent to you shortly before the day of the workshop.
Feedback from past participants…
“Sam is very authentic, calming and an amazing leader for meditation”; Amazing energy and vibe…”; “amazing facilities in the woods and super lovely cake”; “beautiful space, amazing hospitality – thank you”; “lovely, gentle and relaxed[teaching style]”
Magic & Minibeasts
Date – tbc for 2025
Bottoms’ Corner wood opens its gate once more to welcome you to explore off the beaten track. This family event combines a woodland walk with storytelling, tea and cakes, free time to explore and search for minibeasts. In the storytelling glade you’ll discover what magical events occur on a midsummer’s eve; in the secret glade you’ll be treated to a woodland tea party; and there will be equipment for you to use in your hunt for tiny creatures of the wood.
Suitable for children over 5 years old and adults of all ages. Please note the ground is uneven and the route include some slopes.
A ticket is required for each person (adult or child) attending.
Bottoms’ Corner is part of the Wassledine Farm in Gravenhurst. Exact location and directions will be sent after booking.
Wreaths and stars for Christmas
We run sessions every Christmas in Gravenhurst village hall. If you sign up to receive mailings from Wassledine (see form to right) you will be the first to hear about dates as we publish them. If your groups would like us to run a session for you at your own venue, please contact us.