Native Hands

Native Hands Wild Craft Courses in the Woods. Sussex, UK. On offer: courses in Wild Basketry, Wild Pottery, Bushcraft. Sustainability is at the heart of Native Hands.
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Learn skills that will last you a lifetime; develop a sense of empowerment and resourcefulness; connect more deeply with the natural world, and make beautiful, useful items. Foraging for our materials from the land/woods/hedgerow is an integral part of our courses, which will make you look at plants and the landscape in a whole new light. Courses are held outdoors in peaceful Sussex woodland and w

e always have a roaring campfire, plenty of hot drinks & treats, and some cover just in case of rain. To support you in getting the most from the course and in having time away from our usual, hectic lifestyles, we start the day with a simple and enjoyable mindfulness exercise. All courses are suitable for beginners as well as those with some experience. Most courses are designed for adults, and 16-18 year olds are welcome if accompanied by a responsible, participating adult. Family courses are designed for varying ages (see the course descriptions for details). Please get in touch if you've any queries about age suitability, by emailing [email protected]

Accessibility: the woodland terrain where courses are held means that it's not suitable for wheelchair access. If you have mobility issues please get in touch to discuss what support you would need to attend, and we'll make every effort to accommodate you.

25/05/2026

Making pottery the original, ancestral way with clay dug from the land and the pots put through an open fire right there in the woods.

It's elemental and alchemical... creating beauty with the land beneath our feet.
We use an economy of wood as fuel and at the end we leave no trace.

Sussex UK 🔥🌿

You'll find details of courses via the link in my bio, or visit www.nativehands.co.uk/wild-pottery-courses





13/05/2026

It's wild cordage time, the plants are just about ready for harvesting for bast fibres 🌿

This weekend's courses are fully booked but there's one space left on Nettle Fibre Net Bags in June.
🌿 Details here www.nativehands.co.uk/courses-homepage


The bluebells have been so beautiful in the woods this spring.With so much plant growth it's soon time to harvest for wi...
04/05/2026

The bluebells have been so beautiful in the woods this spring.

With so much plant growth it's soon time to harvest for wild cordage making...

Wild Basketry has a whole chapter on wild cordage and there are also a couple of spots available on my woodland course later this month

🌿Details via link in my bio or go to
www.nativehands.co.uk/wild-basketry-book
www.nativehands.co.uk/wild-cordage-string




Cleavers and Nettle Tonic
06/04/2026

Cleavers and Nettle Tonic

I've been watching the cleavers and nettles in my garden over the last few weeks, waiting for them to get big enough to start harvesting for this, my all time favourite thing to make as spring arrives. Cleavers and nettles make one of the best spring tonics: cleavers are great for the lymphatic syst...

03/04/2026

Making a wild grass & bramble basket

One of my favourite baskets to make. I love going out in the summer to harvest grasses. They're stored over winter, which is when I gather bramble stems and split them down into strips.

The making itself is a satisfyingly repetitive motion, sinking into the rhythm of it. The scent of summer meadows coming from the grasses, early spring sunshine in the studio while I'm working.

Grass and and brambles transform into a beautiful form.
Life feels simpler in these moments.

🌿 I'm looking forward to teaching Wild Grass baskets in the Sussex woods soon.

🌿 You'll find all the details here www.nativehands.co.uk/wild-basketry-courses

🌿 MY BOOK 🌿 Wild Basketry has a grass basket project in it, it's available through your usual bookseller, details here www.nativehands.co.uk/wild-basketry-book

16/02/2026

It's a fabulous thing to turn brambles (blackberry) into a woven basket.

My teaching season starts in April with an immersive 2-day woodland course doing just that.

Amongst the spring birdsong and woodland flowers we'll forage brambles and weave together around the campfire.

It's a slice of sanity.

🌿 You'll find all the details here www.nativehands.co.uk/bramble-baskets

NOW CLOSED TO APPLICATIONS Are you based in East Sussex and looking for a great job outdoors that combines hospitality, ...
12/02/2026

NOW CLOSED TO APPLICATIONS
Are you based in East Sussex and looking for a great job outdoors that combines hospitality, fire-keeping skills and genuine nature connection?

We're looking for a seasonal part-time assistant for Ruby's woodland courses, April- October.

🌿 Deadline 20th Feb 🌿

01/02/2026

Bramble (blackberry) fibre looped bag.

A project that's great for picking up and putting down.

It's a methodical process, not quick, but deeply satisfying, and perfect when I need a couple of hours in the studio to settle my mind.

The work is growing, gradually, and will be quite large when finished. There are no knots so it will stretch bigger, too.

I'm looking forward to teaching these techniques in beautiful ancient woodland in Sussex UK, May 16 / 17 🌿

Join me for an immersive couple of days of in-depth learning, hands-on making and reflective connection.

A slice of sanity around a campfire under the mighty oak trees, with like-minded humans.
🌿 all details here www.nativehands.co.uk/courses-homepage

There's also a simplified version of this in the projects section of my book Wild Basketry, published in the UK, EU and USApress

Address

Lewes
BN7

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