At a Glance
Location: Forest of Dean
Places: 5
No. of days: 2.5
Meals Included: Friday Supper, Saturday & Sunday Breakfast, Lunch , Snacks Refreshments.
** All food is sourced Locally Ethically / Wild / Organic / Paleo / Ancestral / Veggie catered for.
Sliding Scale Cost: From £250
What’s it all About?
Are you interested how traditional skills can shape a better future?
Have you ever wondered what happens to the millions of animal skins that are slaughtered through industrial food systems?
Maybe you know that almost all commercially produced leather & skins are treated
with Chromium a heavy metal
which renders the material IN-ORGANIC!!!
You are invited to join us, in the heart of the Forest of Dean to learn the traditional skill of
natural, organic, ethical, hide tanning.
Using a Shetland Sheepskin you will first learn how to create a connection with the spirit of the animal, honouring and giving thanks for the animals life,
before getting hands on and creating your very own, unique, beautiful organic tanned skin.
You will learn about various tanning techniques from around the world and what works best here in our climate and for the purpose of creating a beautiful soft sheepskin in a weekend.
There will be discussions and demonstrations on the use of the skins and organic tanning methods,
Tanning is physical work, and our team will ensure you are well catered for throughout the course.
About Scott
Leading this day is our skilled and experienced tanner and project Co-Director Scott Baine.
Scott has travelled across the world exploring, learning and practicing earth based ancestral skills.
He has learnt in the wilds of Scotland, Canada, USA, Sweden and Norway.
Being in contact with First Nations and Sami peoples brought him to a spiritual realisation. From this he joined a collective of likeminded people and formed a tribe living in the wilderness in Scandinavia. From here they organised DIY wilderness gatherings creating a unique environment for learning to happen.
Scott’s main focus on traditional tanning came from his time at renowned handicraft folk school in Sweden, which taught him to be resourceful not just with animal skins, but the whole animal being used as a means for surviving and thriving in the wild.
On his return to the UK, some 15 years ago Scott set up one of the UK’s only Ethical Organic Tanneries:
Teaching people in the Forest of Dean, and at festivals around the UK how to make use of waste from road kill, hunting and the food (waste) system. Sine then many others have followed suit - growing and reviving this fantastic, lineage and symbiosis with wild and domesticated animals
The Venue
This course is set at our off-grid 3/4 Acre Forest Garden / Permaculture Allotment. Here we have a fully kitted outdoor kitchen, uncover space, warm space and compost toilet.
The site may not be suitable for some people with physical disabilities - please get in touch if you are concerned.
Booking Information
Profits
The Rewild Project is a Not for Profit, Community Interest Company, and Social Enterprise. It is our mission to support local craftspeople and promote heritage craft skills.
We Rewild People by teaching skills in self reliance and resilience for an uncertain future.
After the craftspeople are paid, and costs are covered we put any profits back in to the community.
Families & Children
You are welcome to bring well behaved children to this workshops, although we cannot guarantee you will have the same experience we will do our best to accommodate you all.
Children aged 9-12 will need a half price child’s ticket (add below) and will need to be accompanied by a full paying adult. 13 and over will need a full priced ticket, and will also nee to be accompanied by a full paying adult.
Sliding Scale Payment
We trust that you will choose the payment level that feels most appropriate. We aim to keep all our courses affordable, and the bursary places are subsidised by the full price places.
Book Here
A 3 day weekend course
Includes: A raw rare / heritage breed sheepskin which will be yours to keep.
Includes: Expert instruction, all tools and equipment necessary.
Includes: Full guidance through the process of tanning to go away with the finished product at the end of the weekend.
Includes: All local, organic hearty & nourishing food. Friday - Sunday.
Includes: Camping accommodation in your own tent or live in vehicle on private camping field.
Includes: Hot showers.
Includes: Daily Qi Gong Practice.
Includes: Trip to St Anthony’s Well - Tuition on cold plunge and coaching through recommended breath-work practice.
Bring your own tent or live in vehicle, which is included in the workshop cost of the weekend or we can supply you with a ready set up option with a log burner, kindling and wood - add your choice below.
The price is for UP TO 3 nights camping: Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
The field is self contained with water, toilet, shower and kitchen facilities.
Our project geodome is 5M and has dorm space for 6 single camping spaces and has a log burner - you need to bring your own sleeping bags and roll mats or add these to the booking. Usual price: £35per night
Our bell tent has a log burner and has 2 comfortable, spacious sleeping spaces. Usual price: £45per night
If you require bedding we have 3 sets available which includes a self inflating mattress, sheepskins, pillows, and high quality minus 30-40 sleeping bags. £30per night