Forest From Seed ‘Greet the Trees’ Autumn term offering (for community)

Price Options

Adults £48, children free (for 6 week block) or £8.50 drop-in per family

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Mondays 4pm-5.30pm in a 6 week block including:

Oct 30th, Nov 6th, Nov 13th, Nov 20th, Nov 27th & Dec 4th

About the course

Each week we will meet a new native tree, close to the tree nursery. We will learn the song of the tree together and gather in gratitude for the fruits and seeds. We will process the tree seeds to prepare them for germination after their winter sleep and enjoy together a story and tea around the fire.

This course replaces our Thursday tree nursery tending sessions. It will continue through the winter and into the spring when we will be tending the germinating seeds we gather in autumn as they grow into saplings for planting in Children’s Forests.

Who is this course suitable for?

  • This course is suitable for adults and accompanied children, both beginners level and those with more experience in nature connection.

The course will cover

  • Learn how to identify and forage seeds from native trees
  • Foraging and plant lore
  • Learn a variety of tree songs and stories
  • Learn how to process the tree seeds to prepare them for germination.
  • Connecting more with local community

With gratitude to the People’s Project in partnership with The National Lottery for supporting this course.

About the tutors

Pippa Johns: Pippa has 25 years experience of working with land, designing and making ecological gardens that produce food for people alongside providing habitat for abundant wildlife and building soils. She has worked on Organic farms and smallholdings and has taught Permaculture for over 20 years. Pippa is passionate about inspiring people to develop their own connection to a piece of land to grow food for families and communities. She has designed and taught on Permaculture design courses, been a tutor for the Permaculture Diploma and developed her own courses in ecological gardening and connection gardening. She has created the first Children’s Forest tree nursery, facilitating children to grow native trees from local seed, for planting Children’s Forests. 

Erica Shorter: Erica has been learning and playing in nature as a Forest School Leader and Nature Connection Mentor for over 10 years. She is happiest wandering barefoot in the forest and brings a flavour of deep nature connection into her work with children and adults. She is informed and inspired by the 8 Shields and is passionate about creating spaces for people to feel deeply connected with nature and their inner landscapes.

Jack Durtnall Jack is a musician, nature connection facilitator and forest school leader who came to nature connection work through an innate love for nature and folk song, inspired by the life-work of Jon Young and the 8 Shields. Jack’s background is in music. As well as his role leading workshops and facilitating on plantings, Jack co-leads the Children’s Forest Tree Choir and is part of the team bringing through the Song Forest project. Jack is part of the Folkadelix band, hosts a monthly jam session at the Hop Yard in Forest Row and performs solo shows.

Testimonials

Upcoming courses

April 28 2025, 5-6pm

'Greet the Trees' Spring term (for community)

£10 drop-in per family, block booking discount available

Weekly outdoor education sessions with games, songs, stories, crafts, food and tree tending as we experience the gifts of the trees.

Find out more

May 10th 2025, 5-6.30pm

Community Fire Ceremony (for community)

Free

Community Fire ceremony in support of the children of all species now and yet to come.

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May 11 2025, 10-2pm

Tree Nursery Community Volunteer day

Free

Tend the tree nursery and learn about growing trees. Learn some aspects of growing and caring for young native trees.

Find out more