Come and join us at our community craft centre, right in the heart of the Forest of Dean & learn one of the most ancient crafts. Once upon a time every village had a tannery, and it is said that until the early 1900’s a man and his wife lived in King Arthurs Cave making herbal medicines, and tanning rabbit pelts!

Now you too will know exactly what to do with a rabbit or small mammal roadkill or food systems waste if you have the opportunity, reviving this almost lost, skill for resilience and survival.

Week 1

We will start with intact, freshly culled rabbits. You will learn how to skin, gut and cook the rabbits. We will prepare the bark tanning solution, scrape the skins and add the skins to the bark tea as well as learning the basics of the tanning process.

Week 2

We will get the skins out of the tanning solution and continue with stripping the membranes down as well as learning more about the tanning process.

Week 3

Time to start softening and moisturising the skins. This is a long process which is better when done as a group, with chatter and spring sunshine. You will have completed the process which can be transferred to use on any other small mammals.

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 these skills of 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 with our ‘weekday sessions for disadvantaged groups’ a lifeline for many local people who we pick up each day and bring to Kensley Sheds and others sites to build community, skills, and share nutritious hot, locally produced food.

Families & Children

You are welcome to bring well behaved children to any of our workshops, although we cannot guarantee you will have the same experience we will do our best to accomodate you all. Children aged 9-12 will need a half priced ticket (Use code CHILD50) and must be accompanied by a full paying adult at a 1:1 ratio, and children aged 13+ will need a full priced ticket in addition to full paying adult.

About The Course

This course is a great way to build your print and paper making skills and gain a board understanding about the range of techniques that can be used when working with this medium.

These evening classes are designed to be suitable for all ages, focusing on beginner level skills that you will develop over the course of three Friday evenings.

On the day of the workshop we invite to you arrive half an hour early so you can grab a cup of something warm, and get to know Kensley Sheds and The Rewild crew

Session One: Paper making

During week one we will invite you to explore the art of paper-making. You will get the chance to explore a range of colours and adding a variety of textures, dried petals and essential oils.

Session Two: Letter Printing

In week two, you will work with traditional letter block prints. You will make either a poster or a set of cards.

Session Three: Indian Block Print

During our third and final session you will explore the art of Indian Wood Block Printing. Wooden block printing is a technique used for printing patterns onto textiles

We will provide:

• Relaxed and fun instruction

• All tools and materials

• A covered area incase of rain

• Refreshments

About Michelle

Michelle is an author, publisher, and creative, who is obsessed with letterpress printing and everything that goes with it! She has been printing for three years, and in that time has started making her own paper from recycled fabrics, yarns and junk mail, to create unique prints.

She also enjoys many other creative pursuits, including knitting, sewing, crochet, and photography.

The Venue

This course is set in 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.

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.

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 these skills of 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 with our ‘weekday sessions for disadvantaged groups’ a lifeline for many local people who we pick up each day and bring to Kensley Sheds and others sites to build community, skills, and share nutritious hot, locally produced food.

Families & Children

You are welcome to bring well behaved children to any of our workshops, although we cannot guarantee you will have the same experience we will do our best to accomodate you all. Children aged 9-12 will need a half priced ticket (Use code CHILD50) and must be accompanied by a full paying adult at a 1:1 ratio, and children aged 13+ will need a full priced ticket in addition to full paying adult.