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walks courses willow workshop talks

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.
the view from Wassledine [image thanks to Barry Halton/CPRE]

Find us on Facebook 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 an obelisk training day (image thanks to C doherty)

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
make a willow obelisk - a day workshop

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
one of Ed's lovely round baskets
Trainer Ed Burnett will lead you through how to make a simple round basket

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
Run Wild at Baulk Wood (image Lisa King www.lgkphotography.co.uk)
Who's afraid of the dark? Randalls Farm (image the Wildlife Trust, BCN)
wildlife watch leaders taking part in storytelling training
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.
walking in Gravenhurst (image Barry Halton)

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.

Jane leading a guided walk


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.

lower school pupils are farm detectives

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.

Jane  tells a tale (image thanks to Barry Halton)
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.
willow wreath

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
fresh cut willow
t.   01462 711815
m. 07794 013876
e.  info(at)wassledine.co.uk
 
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Wassledine landscape [image Barry Halton/CPRE]
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