| Visit
us |
|
|
We love it
here and think you might
too
|
|
|
|
|
Gravenhurst lies equidistant between Bedford and Luton. It's a parish on the edge of Bedfordshire's bit of the Greensand
Ridge. From its hill-top location there are lovely views to the south
towards Shillington and beyond to the last vestiges of the Chiltern
Hills - Pegsdon Hill, Telegraph Hill, Noon Hill, Sharpenhoe.
It's a quiet village, hidden away and not really on the way to
anywhere, although surpringly close to Luton, Biggleswade and
Bedford. Good walking on public rights of way make it a lovely spot to
take in on a ramble through Bedfordshire's middle bits. Read on to find
out more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Training courses
Whole
day sessions in
making simple things for the home and garden. Held on
site, outside on the farm - in the woods or the barn in Gravenhurst. Make a plant support for your
garden, a simple basket, learn to tell a tale, carve a spoon...
If you would like to book or arrange a training day for your group please contact us; 01462 711815 email |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Make
a plant support - March - May (now looking at 2014) A day session in
making simple things for the garden from willow. Make a plant
support for your
garden.
We make lots of obelisk or pyramidal 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. Held on
site, outside on the farm in Gravenhurst, so you'll need to come
prepared.
To find out more please contact us on 01462 711815 or email |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basket making for beginners - Sunday 12 May 2013, 9.30am-5pm (sorry now fully booked, but please contact us to register an interest in future dates)
Join local craftsman Ed Burnett for a day's tuition. You will go home
with your very own round basket - no experience required. if you do
have some experience we may be able to try some different techniques.
Bring warm old clothes
to wear and secateurs but there will be spare secateurs if needed.
Ed is a local,
self taught green wood worker and basket maker. he reckons his first baskets were dreadful
so he'll be able to help you avoid all his mistakes! He enjoys making functional, beautiful
things and knowing about where the materials come from. You will go home with
your very own round basket at the end of the day - no experience required. if
you do have some experience you may be able to try some different techniques.
Cost £65 to include all materials, tea, coffee, cake and fruit. Bring your own packed lunch. To book or find out more please contact us on 01462 711815 or email |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Storytelling in the woods, Saturday 8 June 2013, 10-4pm
An
introduction to storytelling outdoors. For anyone who'd like to have a
go at telling tales and campfire stories themselves.
Location - Bottoms'
Corner, Gravenhurst
This
course is for anyone who works with children in an outdoor setting and /or
would like to take the first steps to telling a story themselves. If you’re a Cub Scout/ Brownie Leader looking
to tell a campfire tale; a Wildlife Watch Leader looking for new ideas; a
teacher wanting to leave the book behind at story time; or a parent who’s
always loved stories, then this course is for you.
The
course will look at how to use elements of stories in outdoor activities, how
to help children create their own stories through fabulous fibs and will get
participants started on telling a tale themselves.
Trainer:
Jane Lambourne, Wassledine Storytelling
Jane
has been telling stories for over 15 years. She has a wide range of experience
that combines storytelling and environmental education with countryside
management and farming. In the past Jane has been in employment with The
Wildlife Trust, English Nature and Bedfordshire County Council. Jane has worked
as freelance storyteller for several years working on school projects and at
countryside events; telling stories and leading activities for nature reserves,
museums, parks, libraries and community groups.
For more information about Jane's storytelling work click here
Cost £65 to include tea, coffee, cake and fruit. Bring your own packed lunch. To book or find out more please contact us on 01462 711815 or email |
 |
|
|
|
Coming soon!
Spooncarving with Martin Hazell
The pop end of the woodworking world; watch out for this summer day with Martin in our hazel wood; something not to miss. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Come for a walk
Much
of our small farm is accessible
all the time, either on public footpaths or through permissive access
that
forms part of our Countryside Stewardship Scheme.
The farm also lies on a promoted walk that passes through
Silsoe and Shillington - details at www.letsgo.org.uk so if you just
fancy a
walk, why not take a look?
Find out more
Lots
of locals enjoy walking
around our fields every day of the week. People are interested in the
cattle
and the willow and regularly ask about what we do and how it affects
the countryside
and the wildlife that lives here; we can often be found chatting
– it’s a
friendly kind of place. If you’d like to find out more about
the farm; what we
do, how we do it and why (and a whole load more besides), we would be
delighted
to show you around. Read on for details.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guided walks
All walks can be tailored to suit your group's needs
The Wassledine farm walk
Take a walk with
us. Let us introduce
you to the cattle, visit our willow beds, find out about our wonderful
hedgerows and meadows and hear about the day to day issues we are
dealing with
at the moment. Whatever the time of year,
there are common farmland birds to be
seen; sometimes we’re lucky to catch a glimpse of a heron,
buzzard, little
owl or kingfisher. Here’s a chance to get a little closer to
the land, ask
anything you wish about what we do and enjoy this beautiful bit of
Bedfordshire.
Duration 2-2.5
hours.
Terrain unsurfaced, undulating grass with some slopes of
up
1:10. No stiles or other similar barriers. Two steps of approx. 20cm
onto and off a footbridge (can be avoided)
Charge
£2.50/person; maximum number 25; minimum charge £35
Light
refreshments can be provided at the end or during these sessions if
required at an extra cost.
|
|
|
|
|
Farm detectives
Aimed at children 6 -10 years old,
suitable for family groups, school groups, brownies or cubs. At the beginning
of the walk children are given a Farm Detectives Case Book full of mysteries to
solve and questions to answer about the farm. As we explore the farm, children
search for clues to discover the wildlife on the farm, find out facts about our
cows and the Wassledine willow crop, learning about farmland habitats and food
production.
Duration: 2-2.5 hours
Terrain: unsurfaced, undulating grass with some slopes of up to 1:10. No stiles or other similar barriers.
Charge: £2.50/person; maximum number 30; minimum charge £35
Light refreshments can be provided at the end or during these sessions if
required at an extra cost.
|
|
|
|
|
Wassledine tales
Take a different
look at the farm through storytelling. A short farm walk takes you to our
peaceful riverside field - a perfect location to enjoy a story and hear tales
of the farm. Stories are for everyone and all ages so whether you are a
pre-school group or a community group looking for something different, this
could be for you.
Duration: hours depending on your group
Terrain: unsurfaced, undulating grass with some slopes of up 1:10. No
stiles or other similar barriers.
Charge: £2.50/person; maximum number 50;
minimum charge £35
The
riverside side field makes a good spot for a picnic, bring your own or we can
provide something for you.
|
|
|
|
|
Walk
and willow workshop
(Suitable for all ages over eight years)
A
shorter walk to our willow beds, a
chance to cut some stems and have a go at making something willowy to
take
home. Willow is a wonderfully tactile material to work with; we find
that most
people can be decidedly creative and thoroughly enjoy the opportunity
to make
something. No experience is necessary and we provide everything you
need.
Duration
3 hours.
Terrain
unsurfaced, undulating grass with some slopes of up 1:10. No stiles or
other similar barriers.
Charge
£5.00/person; maximum number 15; minimum charge £50
Light
refreshments can be provided at the end or during these sessions if
required at an extra cost. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Talks
We
are very happy to come to your group's meeting and provide a talk of
perhaps 40 minutes to an hour. Currently we offer two standard talks -
'Wassledine's farming year' - a
season by season account of what we do, how we do it and why; with the
opportunity to get your hands on some willow if there's time.
'Storytelling' - the whys, hows and whens; a chance to hear some tales and perhaps even try some of your own.
We charge from around £40 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
t.
01462 711815
m. 07794 013876
e.
info(at)wassledine.co.uk
|
|
|
|
|
![Wassledine landscape [image Barry Halton/CPRE]](landscape700.jpg)
|
Subscribe by clicking
on the link above. |
|
|
|
|
|
| Web
site © Guy &
Jane Lambourne, January 2008-13 |
Home
Red
Poll Beef Willow
Hazel
Storytelling
About
us Products
Visits
Blog Contact
us Order |
|
|
![the view from Wassledine [image thanks to Barry Halton/CPRE]](landscape_barry_halton250.jpg)
