Hands - On Learning Residencies programme.
Learn traditional Crafts at Naturally Useful on Marcassie Farm
You can tailor your course to your personal preferences.
Within a 3 month training with us, Ali made all of these baskets and more.
Accommodation
We have a hand built, rustic eco shepherd hut, a gypsy caravan called a ‘Vado’, an off - grid octagonal cabin and a teeny -wee caravan available to rent on our willow field. Each sleeps 1 person at a time (the octagon has a truckle bed so could sleep 2)
If you have a camper van or tent, you would be welcome to stay on the Willow Field in the Summer.
All students will share the ‘Hub’- separate cooking facilities, toilet and shower area which is going to be as disability accessible as possible. There is also a fire pit.
Shepherd hut / Vado/ Octagonal cabin : 1- 2 x nights: £45 a night. 3 - 6 nights: £40 a night. 1x week : £230. 1x month: £420. 2x months £800, 3 x months: £1100.
Caravan : 1 -2 night: £25 a night. 3-6x nights: £.20. a night 1x week: £120. 1x month: £340.
If you bring your own Camper van, caravan or tent: £15 per night.
Deposit is required for any of the accommodation options and will be non refundable if cancelled within 7 days of the arrival date.
If you are interested in staying with us when you come to learn, please get in touch via email or a phone call to discuss your requirements and our availability. We have a lovely neighbour who has b and b accommodation and Marcassie Farm has beautiful lodges here too if you would prefer. Please get in touch to book your bespoke training dates with us first and we can then help you find the right accommodation for your needs.
Tel: 01309 675 052
Shepherd hut for students at Naturally Useful
Vado Gypsy wagon student accommodation at Naturally Useful
tiny wee caravan student / volunteer accommodation
Shepherd hut Naturally useful, Rafford
Octagonal cabin - off grid with canvas roof
Inside the Octagonal cabin
Vado
Inside the Hub - shared kitchen area
Volunteer day snack time in the Hub
View from Vado window
Inside of Vado
Fire pit on willow field for student use
Bonfire at The Hub on the Willow Field
The Hub at Naturally Useful
Coming to Naturally Useful for a course
Our workshop is a large and airy barn. When summer is here we also have a beautiful outdoor space to work in. If its cold, the Dragoness – our hand made purpose built stove will warm you. Even our beautiful compost toilet (which has steps) may be a new experience for you. Course participant numbers are approx. 5 - 8 .
Please refer to our contact page for directions on how to find us on the farm, thank you.
If you sadly have to cancel your place on a course within 2 weeks of it’s date, we unfortunately would need to deduct a materials wastage cost of £20 from your refund. If we can fill your place within the 2 weeks, we would of course be happy to give you a full refund or offer you an alternative course date to suit.
If you are interested in a particular course on a particular date that is fully booked, please email us and we will pop you onto a waiting list and contact you if a place becomes available.
Saturday courses
Most of our Saturday courses run from 9.30am to 5pm unless stated otherwise. Please bring a packed lunch and we will provide hot drinks throughout the day. All equipment and materials are provided so there is no need to bring anything else unless the course description asks for it. By coming on one of our courses, you’ll learn a traditional craft, expanding on your existing skills or starting as a beginner. You’ll go home with a creation of your own making, and be a part of the lineage of traditional craft makers.
Bespoke courses
Personalised courses: in addition to our regular workshops, we also offer tailor made days, weeks or even up to 9 month courses to suit your requirements. The skills needed to create what is available in our shop or seen on this website can be taught. This includes basket making in all styles, coffins, art works, felting, knife making, botanical printing, batik, spinning, natural dyeing and tanning animal hides. We can cater for complete beginners to those who are more advanced. For 5 days of personalised training it would cost £425 which covers tuition and materials.
One day, bespoke learning £140.
Group courses
Groups of up to 6 people at at a time is possible in our own premises or we can come to your venue. Prices on application depending on your requirements- please just call or email and we will see how we can make your dreams come true. We can cater for hen parties, community groups and special occasions. Making with Naturally Useful is accessible to all, no matter the age or physical ability. We have a team of tutors who have many years of teaching experience between them. We offer a well-supported, empowering and warm learning environment where curiosity is nurtured through natural flow learning – working at a pace that is satisfying for you. Your eyes will become sharpened to the materials that the natural world offers you. If you are familiar with a particular craft, we can help to deepen your knowledge and further your skill. We offer one to one tuition tailored to your needs throughout the year. You will be working in our beautiful workshop alongside other professional crafters in willow, wool and textiles. We love sharing our skills, so if you are keen to learn with us, please get in touch and we can discuss your needs.
Vado glamping accommodation
learn to make willow plant supports
shepherd hut and Vado
Workshop making baskets
batik course
Workshop learning Batik
wooden spoon carving
Workshop Botanical Printing
Workshop log baskets
how to carve a wooden spoon
Workshop hooky - froggy rag rugging
3 month residential training
Community Workshop
Basket making
Workshop - home grown Japanese Indigo dye
Knife making workshop
Felt rug workshop
Traditional Celtic basket workshop
Spinning workshop
how to make a willow fence panel
eco printing course
how to make felt slippers
learn how to make a celtic frame basket
felting an alpacca rug
learning batik
learning eco printing
Preparing Vado accommodation for students
Shepherd hut accommodation for students
willow fence or hurdle
tiny wee caravan student / volunteer accommodation
“I can’t thank you enough. It’s been an amazing week and I’ve learnt loads. I can’t wait to introduce Mr Fox to everyone at home.” Said Rachel Kirk who spent a week learning sculptural skills in willow.