Live Lightly Workshops
About our staff
How we work
A couple of examples
List of workshops
For current events and workshops planned, please click here
Basket in progress made by a 14 year old boy at a workshop, 2008.
Above, top row: wooden fence and willow arch; wooden bench and willow dome; Roman Fort; all created alongside primary school children in 2008.
Above, bottom row: Felting workshop with children 3-7 years old, 2007
About our staff
Our workshops are delivered by staff with many years of experience in teaching children, adults, and people of different abilities. As we are a co-op, we have a diverse skills base, allowing us to use the staff most skilled and experienced in the area of work you require. Our staff are caring and understanding, and will work at whatever speed and ability needed by our clients.
We are also very flexible in approach, and will tailor our workshop to your exact needs.
All our staff hold Enhanced CRB checks.
We offer workshops using the teaching method of ‘Learning Through Doing’ or ‘Active Learning’. This is an extremely simple and effective method of teaching, as the best way of learning about something is to simply experience it.
Alongside your school or group, we will come and facilitate the development of your unique and beautiful creation. The end products of our workshops are always practical, too.
We start by involving you in the design of the product. Then, in the case of a school, we will begin with the simple parts of the job involving the youngest children. We will gradually involve older children in more complex parts of the job. We usually end with the smallest children coming back to see what they helped create, and give them a real sense of acheivement. They will often help complete the job by doing a last, simple task.
We find this is a very effective way of involving all of your school in tasks suited to their skills at different ages. This method also helps ensure the end product is practically useful, as the most skilled children are doing the jobs needing most attention to detail. By seeing a project through from start to finish, the children have an incredible sense of acheivement, as well as learning many skills as they progress.
Making a bird-box:
When we make bird-boxes, we bring a pre-made bird-box, which is held together with simple metal pins. This means the children can the take apart the birdbox before they start work on their own. This is an excellent way of showing them how it is made.
With each age group we always try to have a discussion about why we make wildlife boxes, and the importance of living alongside wild creatures.
10-11 year old children: design session, dismantle demonstration bird-box, discussion of how to reassemble.
5-6 year old: sanding (local, sustainably sourced) wood
7 –8 year old; health & safety talk, use protective equipment, start sawing wood.
9-11 year old: health & safety talk, use of protective equipment, drilling holes with hand drills, hammer/screw together bird-box.
5-6 year old: painting bird-box with bird friendly eco-paints
7-11 year old: siting bird-boxesCreating a living willow structure:
With each age group we always include a discussion on the amazing growing abilities of willow, coppicing, and 'sustainability'. Some children invariably go home to plant a couple of willow rods to make their own coppice bed!
10-11 year old: design session on site, mark out structure.
5-6 year old: health & safety, use handtools to dig outline of structure
7-8 year old: health & safety, use wooden mallets & wooden pegs to make planting hole for willow, talk on living willow, finish with planting some willow rods
9-11 year old: health & safety, finish making holes, finish planting willow, learn how to make willow ties to create shape of structure.
7 years +; weaving structure
9-11 years: complete weaving structure
5-6 years: mulch structure with organic compost & bark chips.
List of workshops we deliver, with some examples!
Living willow play structures – dragon tunnels, whale domes, labyrinths, castles…
Woven willow sculptures – stars, wreaths, pea climbers, crowns, dragonflies, pyramids…
Wildlife boxes – birds, bats, hedgehogs
Wooden fences – boundary fences, ‘forts’, pond dipping platforms…
Wildlife ponds – for pond dipping, planting, harvesting for craft materials…
Tree planting projects – orchards, willow coppice, hedging…
Vegetable garden projects – raised beds, seed trays, compost bins…
Roundhouse walls – we make the roundhouse, you make the walls from wattle & daub, willow hurdles, or cordwood & clom…
Wool processing – carding, spinning, simple peg loom weaving…
Felting – using soap, water & organic wool, make mats, banners, cushions…
Processions – flags, banners, lanterns, recycled costumes, masks….
Creative play – storytelling, drama, crafts and song…
Contact us for more information on any of the above. We have more photos of products listed above which we can send you on request.We look forward to hearing from you.
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