THE VENUE
This one day course is set at our off-grid woodland craft centre, Kensley Sheds, right in the heart of the beautiful Forest of Dean, situated on the famous Sculpture Trail, close to the Stained Glass Window and Wildlife Trust reserve ‘Woorgreen Lake’
Kensley Sheds is the home of our Social Forestry Project ‘New Leaf’. Here, local adults who are struggling with social issues come learn & practice new skills. We follow regenerative woodland management practices, to extract and process wood from disused Forestry England coppiced woodland. Here the wood is turned it into functional items, firewood and charcoal, giving people access to new careers and a sense of real community.
Our long term goal is to acquire land to hold in a community land trust, run as a workers co-op, supporting local heritage craft skills by running apprenticeship schemes and creating a demonstration of true local economy and functional community eco living. Read more about SEED project here….
Kensley sheds has running water, a flushing disabled access toilet, onsite parking and is heated by wood-burner. You will be able to peruse our extensive library of eco / craft / alternative living books throughout the day
THE COURSE
Terracotta plant pot making
Fleen will lead a workshop in plant pot making, using the hand building techniques of coiling.
As well as straight forward coiling technique, Fleen will demonstrate how a pot can be constructed using scroll shapes, rolled balls and spirals to create intricate patterns.
Pieces of varying scale can be made on the day ranging from miniatures for cactus/ succulent plants, medium for herbs or a larger pot up to around 25 cm diameter for bulbs etc.
There will be opportunity to try out decoration techniques to include slip resist, impression of natural forms and Fleen will be bringing along her collection of beautiful Indian wooden stamps for impressing.
Terracotta is a beautiful clay to work with and once fired will be a toasty warm colour. Fleen will take away piece made on the day to her workshop, and once fired the finished pieces will be returned to Kensley sheds ready for collection.