Welcome! Moors Wood is a small private woodland owned and managed by Sarah and Ian Blenkinsop as a nature reserve and as a sustainably managed source of various wood products.

Sarah is a freelance Environmental Educator, Lecturer and Forest School Leader. Based at her own site at Moors Wood, Sarah provides fun natural/recycled craft workshops; play or storytelling sessions; eco themed parties; workshops on food preservation, setting up an organic garden, setting up a composting area or keeping chickens; or training courses in various woodcraft and play skills. These services are available for adults and/or children. Sarah is also very happy to come to you and deliver any of the above, or to give talks to groups.

Follow the links to find out more about what is on offer. Please click on the photos if you need to make them larger. Also visit Sarah's other site, The Compost Bin, for more general info and advice on sustainable living.

Craft courses in fibre, food or wood









These workshops can be made suitable for adults or children


Recycled materials - papermaking and other papery crafts (3 hours) The ultimate recycling workshop! I provide the papermaking equipment and recycled paper pulp. We discuss paper, where it comes from, how it is made and why we need to recycle it. I demonstrate the process of making paper and then we all make some.













You can bring your own embellishments to add to the paper pulp (dried flowers, sparkly stuff etc), and we will go through the fun and messy process to produce a small piece of recycled paper craft for you to take away. (Please note you have to leave the paper to dry out and collect it at a later date)











Paper themed crafts

We can also look at various other paper themed crafts such as weaving and plaiting strips, papercasting, papier mache, simple origami and a simple card loom to embellish with recycled materials. This can be offered as a second workshop, you can use the paper/paper casts you made in the first workshop and once dried. they can then be decorated OR you can use ready supplied materials. (2-3 hours) 

Papercasting


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Cards

Simple card looms

Learn to crochet!
(2- 3 hours)
I will take you through the process of crochet - how to do it and how to crochet a "granny square" If time permits we will also look at some basic crochet stitches.




Stick weaving


30 mins - 1 hour

I will show you how to stick weave,  - how to do it and how to make scarfs for toys, bracelets and hair scrunchies.



Seasonal/natural crafts (1-2 hours)
 
Using materials gathered around us from nature OR from recycled materials we will make a seasonal wreath and embellish it with recycled material, ribbon, cones, paint and whatever else takes your fancy! We may also make simple lavender bags, cone bees, twig stars, hapa zome flags and other natural seasonal offerings.





























  
Cheap cheap ways to feed the birds (1-2 hours) 


Make bird feeders, birdhouses and paint edible pictures to help our feathered friends in the colder weather! Using some natural and some recycled materials we will make feeders, and talk about why it is so important to feed the birds all year round. Different sorts of feed and feeders will be discussed. This workshop can be done all year round but is good to tie in with February and the RSPB “Big Garden Birdwatch”. Bird box making can also be discussed, with advance notice. We will also do some bird and bird song identification, as well as some bird themed simple activities to take away. I will bring examples of different ID charts and CD/ DVDs available and also talk about where to get some free or low cost help and advice.


 Bug hotels, feeders and bug identification (1-2 hours)

Make bee, ladybird and other bug houses to help insects survive through colder weather! Using some natural and some recycled materials we will make various different types of bug hotel and talk about why it is so important to do this. We will also talk about mini beast hunts and have a go at some simple identification. A low cost butterfly feeder can also be made. I will bring examples of various different ID charts and also talk about where to get free or low cost help and advice. Samples of compost or leaf litter to do "live" bug hunts can also be arranged.This workshop can be done all year round but is especially good to do in the autumn.


Learn to Needlefelt and make a brooch/bookmark to take home (1- 2 hours)





 Glass decoration



Learn to paint your own decorative glass. I will show you what paints to use and how to do it

Preserving nature's bounty.

 No more room in your freezer? Still have loads of produce waiting in the kitchen? Come and find out about different ways to preserve your harvest which don't need a freezer. I  discuss dehydrating, wine, chutney, jam, cordial, juice making and storing. I will also discuss other preserving methods (salting, bottling, pasteurizing)  as well as freezing tips. I bring a selection of my equipment and demonstrate (if in season) how to use the equipment.





















For the above courses I come and deliver a session for you at your setting. I can also offer advice on the tools you will need to do this activity at your setting . I can deliver this anywhere there are tables, a floor that can be cleaned, and a sink to wash up. If you want something else, ask me, as I will probably be able to help.





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