EVENTS

  • ARE YOU HOSTING AN EVENT OR PLANNING A COMMUNITY DAY?

    Whether you are running a family fun day, a village fete or a private event I can bring a range of nature-based crafts and activities to entertain your guests and provide them with a lovely memento from their day.

    In most cases, when I am at an event I will have a small area set up (possibly with a gazebo and table) from where I can run my crafts and activities.

    The activities I bring do not necessitate being in a woodland, so please get in touch to let me know about your event so that I can make suggestions on what I think will work well for you.

LET'S EXPLORE POSSIBILITIES!

ACTIVITIES

Popular activities that would be available at an event are; weaving/bracelet making, nature printing, nature painting, dream catchers, wreath making, birch twig hearts, mindfulness activities, basic knots, fire striking with flint and steel, clay creations, paracord bracelets (with an additional £10 fee), mallet making (with an additional £10 fee)

Event Packages & Pricing

Prices include travel within a 20-mile radius. A travel supplement will apply to events further afield.

  • DURATION: 2.5 hours

    COST: £350 for a group of 8

    AGENDA:

    Meet & introduction

    Walk through woods, identifying trees and other plants. Talk includes the tree’s cultural significance through folk stories, historical associations and purposes.

    Refreshments

    Time to wander and reflect before taking part in a facilitated creative session. Materials will be available to make a woodland wreath, use natural paints and colours to create some art or write a poem. The choice is yours.

    Debrief and for those who want to, share their creations.

  • COST: £150/half-day or £300/full-day*

    I can set up a table with woodland crafts for one-to-one or small groups to engage with on an ad hoc basis. Woodland crafts include, but are not limited to the following:

    Making and decorating wooden discs

    Woodland Jewellery

    Magic string/rope making

    Magic eyes

    Paracord bracelets

    Paracord key rings

    Wooden puzzles

    Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter wreaths!

    Many of the above activities will involve using tools such as a bow saw, palm drill and mallet so a barrier space in front of the table is also useful.

    *All materials are included within this cost other than paracord bracelets and mallet making which have an additional £10 fee each due to the additional materials required.

FUN DAY FEEDBACK

“We have worked with Claire from Claire Pickman Forest School for a number of years for our Fun Day for Children in Care.

The Woodland crafts sessions Claire holds are always extremely popular with the children.  Claire has a wonderful way of engaging with the children and teaching them how to use the tools to make items like jewellery, magic string, Nordic weaving and wooden puzzles that they can keep as a souvenir of their time with us. 

Claire works tirelessly with the children from as soon as we open the gates right up until we finish and is now such a highlight in our planning that we really couldn’t imagine running our event without Claire there.”

-Trudy Bennett, Park Farm

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Travel within a 20-mile radius from Trowbridge, is included in the party price.

    Travel beyond 20 miles is subject to an additional fee.

  • No, I have been part of larger events where I deliver my nature-based activities from under a gazebo or in a barn. The setting and space will dictate what activities will be on offer but there are plenty of crafts and activities we can do that do not necessitate being in a woodland.

  • Yes, I can provide a range of activities from mindfulness to crafts, plant identification, folk tales, foraging and much more all directed to an adult audience.

    If you are thinking about a team building away day or would like to connect more with the nature around you, please get in touch for more information.

  • I will be keeping a close eye on the weather in the run-up to an event and if necessary, will change activities so they are appropriate for the weather.

    It may be possible to have an indoor space at an event to do nature-based activities and crafts.

    High winds or extreme cold weather may necessitate a cancellation. In which case I would seek to rebook as soon as possible. No charges would apply.

  • Please see the Claire Pickman Forest School Terms and Conditions for full details.

    1-month’s notice is required for a full refund.

    Over 14 days’ notice is required for a 50% refund.

    If there is a cancellation within 14 days of the event date, no refund will be given unless in exceptional circumstances (what is deemed ‘exceptional circumstances’ is subject to the discretion of Claire Pickman)

  • Yes! I am insured with Birnbeck Insurance for public liability and employer’s liability and for all forest school activities undertaken at Claire Pickman Forest School. A copy of my insurance certificate is available upon request.

  • Yes! I undertake regular Outdoor First Aid training including Paediatric First Aid. I am happy to share my latest certification upon request.

The Woodland Process

A PRIVATE EVENT TESTIMONIAL

On a  gloriously sunny September morning, a group of women met at a rural location in North Wiltshire to take part in an esoterically named 'Woodland Process'. 2020 had been an unsettling year for everyone: COVID, mask-wearing, lockdowns so it was wonderful to be enjoying, with others, our beautiful surroundings and the prospect of an intriguing morning led by Claire and Sue.

As we sat on logs in a dappled clearing chatting to each other it became apparent that we were from very different backgrounds and stages in life.  Claire and Sue gave us a brief overview of what to expect. They had bought welcome refreshments with them, together with a selection of books and pamphlets and craft materials. We started by having a discussion about what trees, woodlands and forests meant to us as individuals. Responses ranged from childhood memories, fairy tales and the environment, some sentimental, others more sinister!

We then wandered around the surrounding woodland to experience being in a naturalistic environment with none of our usual daily routines to distract us. The sound of birdsong was soothing and the sunlight filtering through the trees was warm and comforting.

Some sat and wrote poems and prose, while others were creative in different ways: fashioning hats from found materials, arranging bouquets of foliage and others experimenting with a Japanese printing technique known as Hapa Zome. This involved selecting foliage, berries and flowers and crushing/hammering them into a folded piece of cotton resulting in some stunning artwork. This was hugely therapeutic for me and I then went on to write a very short poem about the morning we had spent together. 

I wasn't sure what to expect and my expectations were massively exceeded. Whether it was meeting others, which had been difficult during COVID,  communing with nature or just having time to think, the 'Woodland Process' was something different, unexpected and pleasurable and I would recommend it to anyone.

- Lesley Palmer, September 2020