Celebrate This Ancient Apple Festival with your Family
Crackling fire, glowing lanterns, steaming hot mulled apple juice and merriment a-plenty for all the family! Celebrate a traditional Wassailing with us as we bless the fruit trees for a bountiful harvest. Let’s face it, January is a rubbish month when nothing much happens, but in villages up and down the country, around Old Twelfth Night, traditional Wassails are returning, so let’s bring some light and celebration to this time of year. Families with children of all ages are welcome to join us under our big parachute shelter at Park in the Past for an event which promises to be very special and magical with music, food and good company. “Wassail!”
Make a lantern with your family and join our procession to the orchard where you will learn about the tradition of wassailing and take part in the ceremony. We will be passing around the traditional wassail bowl filled to the brim with our secret winter-warming recipe, sharing slices of home-made apple cake and cooking up sticky toffee apple slices over the campfire. Come a-wassailing, as we sing-along to traditional songs of the season with live music provided by James’ mandolin.
Lea and James will be your guides to this traditional celebration as we gather under our huge parachute canopy and share the warmth of the winter fire.
Craft a paper lantern with your family
Enjoy hot mulled apple cider (non-alcoholic)
Traditional Wassailing ceremony – blessing of the trees
Cook up toffee apple slices on our blazing campfire
Join the lantern procession to the orchard
Share a sip from the wassail bowl & munch on apple cake
Sing-along with wassail songs; James will have his mandolin
Discover the ancient traditional of Wassailing & learn the history behind it
WHAT IS WASSAILING?
Wassailing refers to drinking (and singing) the health of trees in the hopes that they might better thrive. The purpose of wassailing is to awake the cider apple trees and to scare away evil spirits to ensure a good harvest of fruit in the autumn. The ceremonies of each Wassail vary from village to village but they generally all have the same core elements. A wassail King and Queen lead the song and procession to be played from one orchard to the next. This ancient British tradition is still very much thriving today.
Want to know what Wassailing is all about? Come along and find out what roles soggy toast, pots & pans and a child up a tree have to play in this ancient tradition. By wassailing the apple and pear trees we will be blessing them for a bountiful harvest next autumn. The old call will go out for “Hatfuls, capfuls, three bushel bagfuls and little heaps under the stairs!”
Event details
Date: Sat 11th Jan 2025
Time: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Venue: Park in the Past
Cost: Family (up to 4) £35
Your Guides: James & Lea Kendall
James is the Head Bushcraft Instructor at Woodland Classroom, having worked in environmental education & conservation for over 10 years. James’ approach to teaching steers his students toward fostering a deeper connection with nature through understanding the landscape around us; “Bushcraft skills are an effective way to do this as we learn how to make use of natural materials and live lightly with the land, whilst also connecting with our own ancient past by seeing the land through the eyes of our ancestors.”
Lea is a qualified Counsellor and Mindfulness in a Woodland Setting practitioner. She is a firm believer in the power of nature to be therapeutic for everyone. Lea is an active forager, passionate about how we can use common plants for both food and medicine. She enjoys making her own tinctures and medicinal remedies for treating common ailments.
Skills you will learn
Over the course of the evening you will experience a range of activities, including…
Nature Connection
Campfire Treats
Family Bushcraft
Ancestral Skills
Book now
Tickets are £35 for a family of up to 4 people. Additional family members are £5 each Additional children aged under 3 come free. You can read our Event Terms & Conditions here.
Celebrate the Winter Solstice with us in the woods. Adults or families with children of all ages are welcome to join us at our sheltered fire circle hidden in the beautiful woodland of Park in the Past for an early evening session of solstice celebration around the campfire. We will start with a lantern-lit walk along the trail, across the river and into the woods where our crackling campfire will give us a warm and welcome light at the darkest time of the year. Our previous events have been amazing, and this year promises to be a very special and magical event with music, food and good company.
Be sure to wrap up well with appropriate clothing as old Jack Frost will be out and about.
“We can look back on our journey since Summer Solstice, to acknowledge what we have completed in this cycle, what we have experienced and what wisdom we have gained. It is also a moment to look forward, to name the new seeds and intentions we wish to take into the next cycle.” Glennie Kindred
Lea and James will be your guides as we gather under our huge parachute canopy and share the warmth of the midwinter fire.
We are hosting this session on two consecutive nights so if this date fills up, check out our event on Fri 20th Dec. UPDATE: Tickets for this evening are now SOLD OUT but you can still grab tickets for Fri 20th Dec HERE.
Lantern walk down the trails to the fire circle
Hot spiced apple cider (non-alcoholic)
Festive fireside storytelling
Wishing Tree
Gentle games for the kids; night-line, glow worm trail & more
Roasted chestnuts
Sing-along with seasonal songs; James will bring his mandolin
Light a candle of your own and make a wish for the coming year
Event details
Date: Sat 21st Dec 2024
Time: 4:30 am – 6:30 pm
Venue: Park in the Past
Cost: Adult £14, Child £11, Under 3’s Free
Want a sneak preview of this event? Watch this short video of a previous Woodland Winter Solstice gathering we hosted.
Your Guides: James & Lea Kendall
James is the Head Bushcraft Instructor at Woodland Classroom, having worked in environmental education & conservation for over 10 years. James’ approach to teaching steers his students toward fostering a deeper connection with nature through understanding the landscape around us; “Bushcraft skills are an effective way to do this as we learn how to make use of natural materials and live lightly with the land, whilst also connecting with our own ancient past by seeing the land through the eyes of our ancestors.”
Lea is a qualified Counsellor and Mindfulness in a Woodland Setting practitioner. She is a firm believer in the power of nature to be therapeutic for everyone. Lea is an active forager, passionate about how we can use common plants for both food and medicine. She enjoys making her own tinctures and medicinal remedies for treating common ailments.
Skills you will learn
Over the course of the evening you will experience a range of activities, including…
Nature Connection
Campfire Treats
Family Bushcraft
Ancestral Skills
Campfire
Stargazing
Tree & Plant identification
Wellbeing in Nature
Book now
Adults tickets £14 each, Child tickets £11 each. Under three’s come for FREE. Children of all ages are welcome. You can read our Event Terms & Conditions here.
Give yourself the gift of quality time in nature as you join us around the midwinter campfire, for a celebration of the Winter Solstice. You will be guided through a range of activities aimed at deepening your nature connection whilst we mark this special moment in the calendar year together.
Experiencing nature with all our senses is a powerful doorway to practising mindfulness which is proven to improve your health & well-being. Practising bushcraft brings us closer to our ancestors and a very old way of understanding the natural world around us. It also fosters a stronger connection to nature. Fire has a hypnotic quality which can really aid getting into a mindful head space. Lighting fires at the darkest time of the year is also an ancient custom and symbolises creating our positive intentions for the new year.
“Winter Solstice, like Summer Solstice, is a moment of pause between two cycles, a moment of transition that can be held and savoured, a doorway, an opening, a place on the edge, when we can stop our busy lives and take a moment to experience this edge between these two great cycles of the year.” Glennie Kindred
Lea and James will guide you through a range of seasonal activities aimed at giving you real techniques which you can use to foster a deeper nature connection in your own time.
You will join us around the campfire amoungst the beautiful woodland of Park in the Past in North East Wales for a relaxing session of learning and celebrating in amongst the trees.
Enjoy a winter warmer; hot spiced apple cider (non-alcoholic) from our campfire
Awaken your ‘five animal senses’
Use traditional tools; knife, axe and froe
Identify native tree species in winter
Craft your own wild weaving to take home
Unwind with a tree meditation
Roast chestnuts on an open fire
Use traditional firelighting tools; flint & steel
Build your own Midwinter campfire; bring light to the dark
Set your intentions for the new year ahead
Make herbal teas from wild plants
Discover what your Celtic Birth Tree is and what it says about you
Event details
Date: Sat 21st Dec 2024
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Venue: Park in the Past
Cost: £35
Your Tutors: James & Lea Kendall
James is the Head Bushcraft Instructor at Woodland Classroom, having worked in environmental education & conservation for over 10 years. James’ approach to teaching steers his students toward fostering a deeper connection with nature through understanding the landscape around us; “Bushcraft skills are an effective way to do this as we learn how to make use of natural materials and live lightly with the land, whilst also connecting with our own ancient past by seeing the land through the eyes of our ancestors.”
Lea is a qualified Counsellor and Mindfulness in a Woodland Setting practitioner. She is a firm believer in the power of nature to be therapeutic for everyone. Lea is an active forager, passionate about how we can use common plants for both food and medicine. She enjoys making her own tinctures and medicinal remedies for treating common ailments.
Skills you will learn
Over the course of the programme you will learn a range of skills, including…
Nature Connection
Hedgerow Medicine
Mindfulness
Greenwood crafts
Firelighting Skills
Ancestral Skills
Tree & Plant identification
Meditation techniques
Book now
This session costs £35 per person and is open to adult learners aged 16 years and over. You can read our Event Terms & Conditions here.
Celebrate the Winter Solstice with us in the woods. Adults or families with children of all ages are welcome to join us at our sheltered fire circle hidden in the beautiful woodland of Park in the Past for an early evening session of solstice celebration around the campfire. We will start with a lantern-lit walk along the trail, across the river and into the woods where our crackling campfire will give us a warm and welcome light at the darkest time of the year. Our previous events have been amazing, and this year promises to be a very special and magical event with music, food and good company.
Be sure to wrap up well with appropriate clothing as old Jack Frost will be out and about.
“We can look back on our journey since Summer Solstice, to acknowledge what we have completed in this cycle, what we have experienced and what wisdom we have gained. It is also a moment to look forward, to name the new seeds and intentions we wish to take into the next cycle.” Glennie Kindred
Lea and James will be your guides as we gather under our huge parachute canopy and share the warmth of the midwinter fire.
We are hosting this session on two consecutive nights so if this date fills up, check out our event on the Sat 21st Dec.
Lantern walk down the trails to the fire circle
Hot spiced apple cider (non-alcoholic)
Festive fireside storytelling
Wishing Tree
Gentle games for the kids; night-line, glow worm trail & more
Roasted chestnuts
Sing-along with seasonal songs; James will bring his mandolin
Light a candle of your own and make a wish for the coming year
Event details
Date: Fri 20th Dec 2024
Time: 4:30 am – 6:30 pm
Venue: Park in the Past
Cost: Adult £14, Child £11, Under 3’s Free
Want a sneak preview of this event? Watch this short video of a previous Woodland Winter Solstice gathering we hosted.
Your Guides: James & Lea Kendall
James is the Head Bushcraft Instructor at Woodland Classroom, having worked in environmental education & conservation for over 10 years. James’ approach to teaching steers his students toward fostering a deeper connection with nature through understanding the landscape around us; “Bushcraft skills are an effective way to do this as we learn how to make use of natural materials and live lightly with the land, whilst also connecting with our own ancient past by seeing the land through the eyes of our ancestors.”
Lea is a qualified Counsellor and Mindfulness in a Woodland Setting practitioner. She is a firm believer in the power of nature to be therapeutic for everyone. Lea is an active forager, passionate about how we can use common plants for both food and medicine. She enjoys making her own tinctures and medicinal remedies for treating common ailments.
Skills you will learn
Over the course of the evening you will experience a range of activities, including…
Nature Connection
Campfire Treats
Family Bushcraft
Ancestral Skills
Campfire
Stargazing
Tree & Plant identification
Wellbeing in Nature
Book now
Adults tickets £14 each, Child tickets £11 each. Under three’s come for FREE. Children of all ages are welcome. You can read our Event Terms & Conditions here.
Step into nature with the confidence to lead others. Join Our Woodland Activity Leader Training.
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new accredited training course Woodland Activity Leader Training (WALT). This program is designed for anyone passionate about leading outdoor education sessions but who may lack the confidence or formal training to do so. Whether you’re a school teacher, park ranger, social worker or health professional, WALT provides the skills and knowledge needed to lead engaging and educational woodland-based activities.
James Kendall, co-director of Woodland Classroom shared his excitement, “Over the years we’ve been asked time and again by so many people whether we offer any accredited training in how to do what we do, hosting woodland based activity sessions. And now we can finally say yes. We’re looking forward to sharing our knowledge, enthusiasm and passion for outdoor education with others so they can take their first steps into this world.”
WALT is the brainchild of Scottish environmental education charity Wild Things! where a need was recognised for a course which empowered and qualified teachers to take their lessons out to nature with a good balance of outdoor learning theory, naturalist knowledge and practical bushcraft skills. Luke Strachan, CEO of Wild Things!, shares, “Wild Things is excited to partner with Woodland Classroom to bring our professionally recognised and much-loved Woodland Activity Leader Training course to Wales! As an environmental education charity, providing ways to empower others to deliver life-enriching experiences in the great outdoors is a core part of our mission.”
Want to know more about WALT? Watch this promotional video from the course creators Wild Things!
Why Choose WALT?
Accredited Alternative: WALT offers an accredited alternative to formal Forest School Leader training, making it a credible option for professional development.
First in Wales: This is the first time the course is available in Wales, providing a unique opportunity for local educators and professionals.
Comprehensive Training: Learn to lead groups of all ages in a variety of outdoor settings, enhancing your ability to teach and inspire through nature.
Established Success: WALT training is proven, having already trained hundreds of outdoor educators successfully for 10 years.
What You Will Learn
Participants will gain a wide range of skills and knowledge including:
Understanding woodland ecosystems and how to use them as an educational resource.
Practical skills such as safe tool use, fire lighting, shelter building, and rope work.
Activity planning and risk management to ensure safe and enjoyable sessions.
Techniques for engaging groups and fostering a connection with nature.
Approaches to inclusivity and accommodating diverse groups.
A Viable Alternative to Forest School Leader Training
One of the significant attractions of WALT is that it serves as a less intensive alternative to Forest School Leader Level 3 training. The course demands a smaller time commitment, incurs lower costs, requires less written paperwork, and qualifies you to start running sessions immediately after passing your assessment. With 10 years of successful training since its inception in 2014, WALT is a proven pathway to becoming a confident and effective outdoor leader.
James explains, “As an experienced Forest School Leader myself, I’m very much a champion for the Forest School way of learning. However, I also see that there are many people wanting to take groups into nature that are put off by the time and financial commitment required to achieve the Forest School Leader Level 3 award. Having worked with schools for years, I’ve seen that the reality is that not many school settings can host Forest School programmes in their purest form, as there are often clashes with the school curriculum and a restrictive timetable. The skills learned in WALT take participants through those essential steps and skills to where they need to be in order to take their own groups out into nature whilst being realistic with how those sessions will fit into the structure they are already working in, such as integrating outdoor learning into the curriculum.”
WALT is accredited through the NCFE for a Level 2 award. The course is delivered through a combination of online learning, for the theory modules, and outdoor face-to-face sessions for the practical elements. Previous participants have told us that they really like this more flexible format to training, which allows them to fit the course around their work commitments.
On completing the course, participants can join an online community of graduates where they can ask questions, share successes and connect with other outdoor educators.
Not Just for School Teachers
WALT is the perfect first step in training for school teachers seeking to include more outdoor learning in their sessions for children. However, this training is also suitable for anyone wanting to take groups of adults into natural settings such as for a socially prescribed programme with a focus on mental health and wellbeing through nature connection.
“Before the course, I lacked the confidence and didn’t know where to start with practically running outdoor-based sessions for adults. The course was enjoyable and informative, providing me with the skills and confidence to effectively lead my sessions. I am excited to take what I’ve learned and apply it to my work, helping others benefit from quality time in nature.” WALT Course Participant
WALT equips educators with the practical skills and confidence needed to enhance their teaching through engaging outdoor activities.
“Excellent, a fully immersive experience, so I gained very useful knowledge and skills to take away. Very informative and relevant information and activities I can take away and teach to any level of primary aged children.” WALT Course Participant
Course Availability and Custom Options
We will be hosting WALT courses twice a year, in the spring and autumn. Additionally, we offer the flexibility to host private group sessions and can potentially travel to your own outdoor venue to run the course.
“The course was excellent. It met all my expectations. I came with almost zero knowledge, especially in the practical areas and I feel much more confident now in trying to develop these areas. It has also ignited my passion for learning more.” WALT Course Participant
Our Partnership with Wild Things!
We’re proud to partner with Wild Things!, an award-winning environmental education charity based in Scotland. Since 2003, Wild Things! has been fostering a deep connection between people and nature through transformative experiences. Their expertise and dedication to environmental education make them the perfect collaborator for this exciting new course.
Luke Strachan, CEO of Wild Things! adds, “There are few other outdoor courses that pack so much into such a short space of time, but our aim has always been to provide people with an affordable and exciting way to facilitate outdoor experiences, whatever their reasons may be. At Wild Things, we have been impressed by the quality, ethos, and heart of the Woodland Classroom team and we’re excited to work with them to bring our most popular training courses to new audiences across the country!”
Join us in making outdoor education more accessible and inspiring. Sign up for the Woodland Activity Leader Training (WALT) course today and become a confident leader in outdoor learning.
Celebrate This Ancient Apple Festival with your Family
Crackling fire, glowing lanterns, steaming hot mulled apple juice and merriment a-plenty for all the family! Celebrate a traditional Wassailing with us as we bless the fruit trees for a bountiful harvest. Let’s face it, January is a rubbish month when nothing much happens, but in villages up and down the country, around Old Twelfth Night, traditional Wassails are returning, so let’s bring some light and celebration to this time of year. Families with children of all ages are welcome to join us under our big parachute shelter at Park in the Past for an event which promises to be very special and magical with music, food and good company. “Wassail!”
Make a lantern with your family and join our procession to the orchard where you will learn about the tradition of wassailing and take part in the ceremony. We will be passing around the traditional wassail bowl filled to the brim with our secret winter-warming recipe, sharing slices of home-made apple cake and cooking up sticky toffee apple slices over the campfire. Come a-wassailing, as we sing-along to traditional songs of the season with live music provided by James’ mandolin.
Lea and James will be your guides to this traditional celebration as we gather under our huge parachute canopy and share the warmth of the winter fire.
Craft a willow lantern with your family
Enjoy hot mulled apple cider (non-alcoholic)
Traditional Wassailing ceremony – blessing of the trees
Cook up toffee apple slices on our blazing campfire
Join the lantern procession to the orchard
Share a sip from the wassail bowl & munch on apple cake
Sing-along with wassail songs; James will have his mandolin
Discover the ancient traditional of Wassailing & learn the history behind it
WHAT IS WASSAILING?
Wassailing refers to drinking (and singing) the health of trees in the hopes that they might better thrive. The purpose of wassailing is to awake the cider apple trees and to scare away evil spirits to ensure a good harvest of fruit in the autumn. The ceremonies of each Wassail vary from village to village but they generally all have the same core elements. A wassail King and Queen lead the song and procession to be played from one orchard to the next. This ancient British tradition is still very much thriving today.
Want to know what Wassailing is all about? Come along and find out what roles soggy toast, pots & pans and a child up a tree have to play in this ancient tradition. By wassailing the apple and pear trees we will be blessing them for a bountiful harvest next autumn. The old call will go out for “Hatfuls, capfuls, three bushel bagfuls and little heaps under the stairs!”
Event details
Date: Sat 13th Jan 2024
Time: 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Venue: Park in the Past
Cost: Family (up to 4) £35
Your Guides: James & Lea Kendall
James is the Head Bushcraft Instructor at Woodland Classroom, having worked in environmental education & conservation for over 10 years. James’ approach to teaching steers his students toward fostering a deeper connection with nature through understanding the landscape around us; “Bushcraft skills are an effective way to do this as we learn how to make use of natural materials and live lightly with the land, whilst also connecting with our own ancient past by seeing the land through the eyes of our ancestors.”
Lea is a qualified Counsellor and Mindfulness in a Woodland Setting practitioner. She is a firm believer in the power of nature to be therapeutic for everyone. Lea is an active forager, passionate about how we can use common plants for both food and medicine. She enjoys making her own tinctures and medicinal remedies for treating common ailments.
Skills you will learn
Over the course of the evening you will experience a range of activities, including…
Nature Connection
Campfire Treats
Family Bushcraft
Ancestral Skills
Book now
Tickets are £35 for a family of up to 4 people. Additional family members are £5 each Additional children aged under 3 come free. You can read our Event Terms & Conditions here.
Celebrate the Winter Solstice with us in the woods. Adults or families with children of all ages are welcome to join us at our sheltered fire circle hidden in the beautiful woodland of Park in the Past for an early evening session of solstice celebration around the campfire. We will start with a lantern-lit walk along the trail, across the river and into the woods where our crackling campfire will give us a warm and welcome light at the darkest time of the year. Our previous events have been amazing, and this year promises to be a very special and magical event with music, food and good company.
Be sure to wrap up well with appropriate clothing as old Jack Frost will be out and about.
“We can look back on our journey since Summer Solstice, to acknowledge what we have completed in this cycle, what we have experienced and what wisdom we have gained. It is also a moment to look forward, to name the new seeds and intentions we wish to take into the next cycle.” Glennie Kindred
Lea and James will be your guides as we gather under our huge parachute canopy and share the warmth of the midwinter fire.
We are hosting this session on 2 consecutive nights so if this date fills up, check out our event on the 21st Dec.
Lantern walk down the trails to the fire circle
Hot spiced apple cider (non-alcoholic)
Festive fireside storytelling
Wishing Tree
Gentle games for the kids; night-line, glow worm trail & more
Roasted chestnuts
Sing-along with seasonal songs; James will bring his mandolin
Light a candle of your own and make a wish for the coming year
Event details
Date: Dec 22, 2023
Time: 4:30 am – 6:30 pm
Venue: Park in the Past
Cost: Adult £14, Child £11, Under 2’s Free
Want a sneak preview of this event? Watch this short video of a previous Woodland Winter Solstice gathering we hosted.
Your Guides: James & Lea Kendall
James is the Head Bushcraft Instructor at Woodland Classroom, having worked in environmental education & conservation for over 10 years. James’ approach to teaching steers his students toward fostering a deeper connection with nature through understanding the landscape around us; “Bushcraft skills are an effective way to do this as we learn how to make use of natural materials and live lightly with the land, whilst also connecting with our own ancient past by seeing the land through the eyes of our ancestors.”
Lea is a qualified Counsellor and Mindfulness in a Woodland Setting practitioner. She is a firm believer in the power of nature to be therapeutic for everyone. Lea is an active forager, passionate about how we can use common plants for both food and medicine. She enjoys making her own tinctures and medicinal remedies for treating common ailments.
Skills you will learn
Over the course of the evening you will experience a range of activities, including…
Nature Connection
Campfire Treats
Family Bushcraft
Ancestral Skills
Campfire
Stargazing
Tree & Plant identification
Wellbeing in Nature
Book now
Adults tickets £14 each, Child tickets £11 each. Under two’s come for FREE. Children of all ages are welcome. You can read our Event Terms & Conditions here.
Give yourself the gift of quality time in nature as you join us around the midwinter campfire, for a celebration of the Winter Solstice. You will be guided through a range of activities aimed at deepening your nature connection whilst we mark this special moment in the calendar year together.
Experiencing nature with all our senses is a powerful doorway to practising mindfulness which is proven to improve your health & well-being. Practising bushcraft brings us closer to our ancestors and a very old way of understanding the natural world around us. It also fosters a stronger connection to nature. Fire has a hypnotic quality which can really aid getting into a mindful head space. Lighting fires at the darkest time of the year is also an ancient custom and symbolises creating our positive intentions for the new year.
“Winter Solstice, like Summer Solstice, is a moment of pause between two cycles, a moment of transition that can be held and savoured, a doorway, an opening, a place on the edge, when we can stop our busy lives and take a moment to experience this edge between these two great cycles of the year.” Glennie Kindred
Lea and James will guide you through a range of seasonal activities aimed at giving you real techniques which you can use to foster a deeper nature connection in your own time.
You will join us around the campfire amoungst the beautiful woodland of Park in the Past in North East Wales for a relaxing session of learning and celebrating in amongst the trees.
Enjoy a winter warmer; hot spiced apple cider (non-alcoholic) from our campfire
Awaken your ‘five animal senses’
Use traditional tools; knife, axe and froe
Identify native tree species in winter
Craft your own wild weaving to take home
Unwind with a tree meditation
Roast chestnuts on an open fire
Use traditional firelighting tools; flint & steel
Build your own Midwinter campfire; bring light to the dark
Set your intentions for the new year ahead
Make herbal teas from wild plants
Discover what your Celtic Birth Tree is and what it says about you
Event details
Date: Dec 22, 2023
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Venue: Park in the Past
Cost: £35
Your Tutors: James & Lea Kendall
James is the Head Bushcraft Instructor at Woodland Classroom, having worked in environmental education & conservation for over 10 years. James’ approach to teaching steers his students toward fostering a deeper connection with nature through understanding the landscape around us; “Bushcraft skills are an effective way to do this as we learn how to make use of natural materials and live lightly with the land, whilst also connecting with our own ancient past by seeing the land through the eyes of our ancestors.”
Lea is a qualified Counsellor and Mindfulness in a Woodland Setting practitioner. She is a firm believer in the power of nature to be therapeutic for everyone. Lea is an active forager, passionate about how we can use common plants for both food and medicine. She enjoys making her own tinctures and medicinal remedies for treating common ailments.
Skills you will learn
Over the course of the programme you will learn a range of skills, including…
Nature Connection
Hedgerow Medicine
Mindfulness
Greenwood crafts
Firelighting Skills
Ancestral Skills
Tree & Plant identification
Meditation techniques
Book now
This session costs £35 per person and is open to adult learners aged 16 years and over. You can read our Event Terms & Conditions here.
Celebrate the Winter Solstice with us in the woods. Adults or families with children of all ages are welcome to join us at our sheltered fire circle hidden in the beautiful woodland of Park in the Past for an early evening session of solstice celebration around the campfire. We will start with a lantern-lit walk along the trail, across the river and into the woods where our crackling campfire will give us a warm and welcome light at the darkest time of the year. Our previous events have been amazing, and this year promises to be a very special and magical event with music, food and good company.
Be sure to wrap up well with appropriate clothing as old Jack Frost will be out and about.
“We can look back on our journey since Summer Solstice, to acknowledge what we have completed in this cycle, what we have experienced and what wisdom we have gained. It is also a moment to look forward, to name the new seeds and intentions we wish to take into the next cycle.” Glennie Kindred
Lea and James will be your guides as we gather under our huge parachute canopy and share the warmth of the midwinter fire.
We are hosting this session on 2 consecutive nights so if this date fills up, check out our event on the 22nd Dec.
Lantern walk down the trails to the fire circle
Hot spiced apple cider (non-alcoholic)
Festive fireside storytelling
Wishing Tree
Gentle games for the kids; night-line, glow worm trail & more
Roasted chestnuts
Sing-along with seasonal songs; James will bring his mandolin
Light a candle of your own and make a wish for the coming year
Event details
Date: Dec 21, 2023
Time: 4:30 am – 6:30 pm
Venue: Park in the Past
Cost: Adult £14, Child £11, Under 2’s Free
Want a sneak preview of this event? Watch this short video of a previous Woodland Winter Solstice gathering we hosted.
Your Guides: James & Lea Kendall
James is the Head Bushcraft Instructor at Woodland Classroom, having worked in environmental education & conservation for over 10 years. James’ approach to teaching steers his students toward fostering a deeper connection with nature through understanding the landscape around us; “Bushcraft skills are an effective way to do this as we learn how to make use of natural materials and live lightly with the land, whilst also connecting with our own ancient past by seeing the land through the eyes of our ancestors.”
Lea is a qualified Counsellor and Mindfulness in a Woodland Setting practitioner. She is a firm believer in the power of nature to be therapeutic for everyone. Lea is an active forager, passionate about how we can use common plants for both food and medicine. She enjoys making her own tinctures and medicinal remedies for treating common ailments.
Skills you will learn
Over the course of the evening you will experience a range of activities, including…
Nature Connection
Campfire Treats
Family Bushcraft
Ancestral Skills
Campfire
Stargazing
Tree & Plant identification
Wellbeing in Nature
Book now
Adults tickets £14 each, Child tickets £11 each. Under two’s come for FREE. Children of all ages are welcome. You can read our Event Terms & Conditions here.
Give yourself the gift of quality time in nature as you join us around the midwinter campfire, for a celebration of the Winter Solstice. You will be guided through a range of activities aimed at deepening your nature connection whilst we mark this special moment in the calendar year together.
Experiencing nature with all our senses is a powerful doorway to practising mindfulness which is proven to improve your health & well-being. Practising bushcraft brings us closer to our ancestors and a very old way of understanding the natural world around us. It also fosters a stronger connection to nature. Fire has a hypnotic quality which can really aid getting into a mindful head space. Lighting fires at the darkest time of the year is also an ancient custom and symbolises creating our positive intentions for the new year.
“Winter Solstice, like Summer Solstice, is a moment of pause between two cycles, a moment of transition that can be held and savoured, a doorway, an opening, a place on the edge, when we can stop our busy lives and take a moment to experience this edge between these two great cycles of the year.” Glennie Kindred
James and Kay will guide you through a range of seasonal activities aimed at giving you real techniques which you can use to foster a deeper nature connection in your own time.
You will join us around the campfire amoungst the beautiful ancient woodland of the National Trust’s Erddig estate in North East Wales for a relaxing session of learning and celebrating in amongst the trees.
Enjoy a winter warmer; hot spiced apple cider (non-alcoholic) from our campfire
Awaken your ‘five animal senses’
Use traditional tools; knife, axe and froe
Identify native tree species in winter
Craft your own wild weaving to take home
Unwind with a tree meditation
Roast chestnuts on an open fire
Build your own Midwinter campfire; bring light to the dark
Set your intentions for the new year ahead
Make herbal teas from wild plants
Discover what your Celtic Birth Tree is and what it says about you
Event details
Date: Dec 21, 2022
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Venue: Erddig
Cost: £30
Your Tutor: James Kendall
James is the Head Bushcraft Instructor at Woodland Classroom, having worked in environmental education & conservation for over 10 years. James’ approach to teaching steers his students toward fostering a deeper connection with nature through understanding the landscape around us; “Bushcraft skills are an effective way to do this as we learn how to make use of natural materials and live lightly with the land, whilst also connecting with our own ancient past by seeing the land through the eyes of our ancestors.”
Your Tutor: Kay Ribbons-Steen
Kay has worked for a number of years in eco-therapy having trained as a Mindfulness in a Woodland Setting practitioner. Kay studied a work based diploma in Environmental Conservation with Flintshire Countryside & Coast Service. She is also an Ambassador for the National Autistic Society, and an autism awareness speaker.
She is also a qualified Forest School Leader and Social Forester.
“I am passionate about reconnecting people with nature for our own holistic wellbeing whilst conserving our unique and irreplaceable environment.”
Skills you will learn
Over the course of the programme you will learn a range of skills, including…
Nature Connection
Hedgerow Medicine
Mindfulness
Greenwood crafts
Firelighting Skills
Ancestral Skills
Tree & Plant identification
Meditation techniques
Book now
This session costs £30 per person and is open to adult learners aged 16 years and over. You can read our Event Terms & Conditions here.
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