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Monkton Wyld Court
a magical place
Set amid rolling hills and within walking distance of the stunning Jurassic coast, Monkton Wyld Court has hosted events for adults, children and families for 70 years. Visitors return time and time again - often just to relax as B&B guests. As well as workshops and family weeks, we teach skills for sustainable living: beekeeping, permaculture, eco-building, green technologies, sustainable land use and environmental crafts.
Become a Friend of Monkton Wyld Court and support our ongoing renovation efforts!
For more information download our infosheet or visit the Friends page under 'About the Court'.
Monkton Wyld Court
Charmouth
Bridport
Dorset
DT6 6DQ
Telephone: 01297 560342
info@monktonwyldcourt.org
Monkton Wyld School is limited company number 361419 and registered charity number 306217.
Monkton Wyld Court
a magical place
Set amid rolling hills and within walking distance of the stunning Jurassic coast, Monkton Wyld Court has hosted events for adults, children and families for 70 years. Visitors return time and time again - often just to relax as B&B guests. As well as workshops and family weeks, we teach skills for sustainable living: beekeeping, permaculture, eco-building, green technologies, sustainable land use and environmental crafts.
Become a Friend of Monkton Wyld Court and support our ongoing renovation efforts!
For more information download our infosheet or visit the Friends page under 'About the Court'.
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Monkton Wyld Court
Charmouth
Bridport
Dorset
DT6 6DQ
Telephone: 01297 560342
info@monktonwyldcourt.org
Monkton Wyld School is limited company number 361419 and registered charity number 306217.
Monkton Wyld Court - centre for sustainable living
near Dorset's Jurassic Coast
February 10th Local Lunch
Local Lunch for Local People*
from the Monkton Garden and Kitchens
the second Wednesday of (almost) every month
January 10th (Wed)
Informal grounds tour from 12:30,
Lunch from 1pm
Only £6
*non-locals also very welcome
Enjoy a healthy and delicious meal lovingly prepared with fresh ingredients from our own garden and other local producers. Book now to support local organic farming and network-building (or simply take advantage of the best meal deal in town).
from the Monkton Garden and Kitchens
the second Wednesday of (almost) every month
January 10th (Wed)
Informal grounds tour from 12:30,
Lunch from 1pm
Only £6
*non-locals also very welcome
Enjoy a healthy and delicious meal lovingly prepared with fresh ingredients from our own garden and other local producers. Book now to support local organic farming and network-building (or simply take advantage of the best meal deal in town).
February 10th Knit & Stitch
Knit & Stitch
February 10th (Wed)
1:30-4pm in the Piano Room
Donations welcome.
Bring your own project or come and learn new craft skills with a friendly group of local people. New faces welcome! Refreshments available.
February 10th (Wed)
1:30-4pm in the Piano Room
Donations welcome.
Bring your own project or come and learn new craft skills with a friendly group of local people. New faces welcome! Refreshments available.
February 20th Seed Swap
Seed Swap
February 20th (Sat)
10am-4pm
Admire our beautiful and organically-managed Victorian walled garden. Meet the gardeners and exchange notes. Bring your own organic seeds to trade for some of ours (or somebody else's). Join in the fun with other local organic growers. (And make your reservation for the Spanish Dinner in the evening to enjoy the fruits of all our labours.)
February 20th (Sat)
10am-4pm
Admire our beautiful and organically-managed Victorian walled garden. Meet the gardeners and exchange notes. Bring your own organic seeds to trade for some of ours (or somebody else's). Join in the fun with other local organic growers. (And make your reservation for the Spanish Dinner in the evening to enjoy the fruits of all our labours.)
February 20th Spanish Night: Dinner and Music
Spanish Night: Dinner and Music
with the flamenco guitar stylings of Roger Cox
February 20th (Saturday)
Dinner served at 7:30pm
£8 for the night (£4 kids 5-14)
(previous residents welcome at what-you-can-afford rates)
For our second monthly dinner party we bring you a taste of Spain in menu and music. We look forward to seeing you here.
with the flamenco guitar stylings of Roger Cox
February 20th (Saturday)
Dinner served at 7:30pm
£8 for the night (£4 kids 5-14)
(previous residents welcome at what-you-can-afford rates)
For our second monthly dinner party we bring you a taste of Spain in menu and music. We look forward to seeing you here.
February 24th Knit & Stitch
Knit & Stitch
February 24th (Wed)
1:30-4pm in the Piano Room
Donations welcome.
Bring your own project or come and learn new craft skills with a friendly group of local people. New faces welcome! Refreshments available.
February 24th (Wed)
1:30-4pm in the Piano Room
Donations welcome.
Bring your own project or come and learn new craft skills with a friendly group of local people. New faces welcome! Refreshments available.
February 26th - 28th Introduction to Permaculture
Introduction to Permaculture
February 26th - 28th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
Permaculture is a practical design system for sustainable living that offers an ethical, creative and inspiring response to the global challenges of climate change and peak oil. It stresses working with nature and helps you identify steps for positive change for yourself, your family and your community.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
George is a trainer and facilitator who has been organising and teaching permaculture courses in the UK, as well as in Central and Eastern Europe, since 1989. He is a founder member of the Permaculture Education Project, part of the Projects Network of the educational charity Permaculture Association (Britain) and is widely recognised as one of the UK's most experienced permaculture teachers.
February 26th - 28th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
Permaculture is a practical design system for sustainable living that offers an ethical, creative and inspiring response to the global challenges of climate change and peak oil. It stresses working with nature and helps you identify steps for positive change for yourself, your family and your community.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
George is a trainer and facilitator who has been organising and teaching permaculture courses in the UK, as well as in Central and Eastern Europe, since 1989. He is a founder member of the Permaculture Education Project, part of the Projects Network of the educational charity Permaculture Association (Britain) and is widely recognised as one of the UK's most experienced permaculture teachers.
March 5th - 7th Felt-Making Weekend
Feltmaking Weekend
with Anita Bell and Kim Squirrell
March 5th - 7th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
An introductory course to feltmaking for those with an interest in exploring art through our natural environment. Using the colours, textures and sounds of the natural world as our starting point, we will be creating simple but beautiful felts, exploring both wet and dry felting techniques. Anita Bell and Kim Squirrell are both members of Treewise, a small co-operative specialising in reconnecting people to their landscape.
This weekend would also be suitable for teachers, play rangers and those working with adults and children with disabilities: educators who want to explore environmental approaches to learning.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
with Anita Bell and Kim Squirrell
March 5th - 7th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
An introductory course to feltmaking for those with an interest in exploring art through our natural environment. Using the colours, textures and sounds of the natural world as our starting point, we will be creating simple but beautiful felts, exploring both wet and dry felting techniques. Anita Bell and Kim Squirrell are both members of Treewise, a small co-operative specialising in reconnecting people to their landscape.
This weekend would also be suitable for teachers, play rangers and those working with adults and children with disabilities: educators who want to explore environmental approaches to learning.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
March 7th - 12th Garden Work Week
Garden Work Week
March 7th - 12th (Sun - Fri)
£50 fully residential
Spend a week working alongside the gardeners in our organically-managed Victorian walled kitchen garden and grounds, develop your skills and take time out visiting this beautiful area.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
Some comments from past participants:
'Rachael was great to work with, very knowledgeable, patient and helpful.'
'Love the course and the project, everyone really friendly.'
March 7th - 12th (Sun - Fri)
£50 fully residential
Spend a week working alongside the gardeners in our organically-managed Victorian walled kitchen garden and grounds, develop your skills and take time out visiting this beautiful area.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
Some comments from past participants:
'Rachael was great to work with, very knowledgeable, patient and helpful.'
'Love the course and the project, everyone really friendly.'
March 12th - 14th Mixed Media Art Workshop
Mixed Media Art Workshop
with Julie Oldfield
March 12th - 14th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
The workshop uses unusual material combinations, such as sea water, sand and, in particular, iridescent paints and pastels across textural surfaces. Inspired by distant horizons and the play of light across the wide open spaces along the Dorset coast, the technique uniquely brings out the shifting effects of colour, light and shade on canvas.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
with Julie Oldfield
March 12th - 14th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
The workshop uses unusual material combinations, such as sea water, sand and, in particular, iridescent paints and pastels across textural surfaces. Inspired by distant horizons and the play of light across the wide open spaces along the Dorset coast, the technique uniquely brings out the shifting effects of colour, light and shade on canvas.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
March 14th Venue Booking: Teachings of the Medicine Wheel
Venue
Booking
Teachings of the Native American Medicine Wheel
with Carolyn Waterstone
March 14th (Sun)
In this workshop, we will explore ways to find harmony with ourselves and our environment, looking at our own paths to self-discovery and spiritual fulfilment. More info from Carolyn Waterstone tel: 01460 220653, email: carolynwaterstone@hotmail.com
Teachings of the Native American Medicine Wheel
with Carolyn Waterstone
March 14th (Sun)
In this workshop, we will explore ways to find harmony with ourselves and our environment, looking at our own paths to self-discovery and spiritual fulfilment. More info from Carolyn Waterstone tel: 01460 220653, email: carolynwaterstone@hotmail.com
March 15th - 18th Low-Impact Smallholding Survey
Low-Impact Smallholding Survey
with Simon Fairlie, Jyoti Fernandes and Rebecca Laughton
March 15th - 18th (Mon - Thurs)
£295 residential, £195 non-residential
Jyoti Fernandes and Simon Fairlie present a longer version of their popular Introduction to Smallholding course, this time joined by Rebecca Laughton, author of Surviving and Thriving on the Land. The course will cover how to find and buy land, basic grassland management and nutrient cycles, designing a sustainable unit, writing business plans, applying for planning permission and maintaining the energy you need to make it work (among other things!).
This course offers a special chance to learn the practical reality of many of these concepts in the context of site visits to Fivepenny Farm, Tinkers Bubble and other successful local smallholdings.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
with Simon Fairlie, Jyoti Fernandes and Rebecca Laughton
March 15th - 18th (Mon - Thurs)
£295 residential, £195 non-residential
Jyoti Fernandes and Simon Fairlie present a longer version of their popular Introduction to Smallholding course, this time joined by Rebecca Laughton, author of Surviving and Thriving on the Land. The course will cover how to find and buy land, basic grassland management and nutrient cycles, designing a sustainable unit, writing business plans, applying for planning permission and maintaining the energy you need to make it work (among other things!).
This course offers a special chance to learn the practical reality of many of these concepts in the context of site visits to Fivepenny Farm, Tinkers Bubble and other successful local smallholdings.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
March 19th - 21st Hedgelaying Weekend
Hedgelaying Weekend
with Jean Pierre Le Bretton
March 19th - 21st (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential / £145 non-residential
A wide-ranging course for the beginner or the out-of-practice, including instruction on:
*HSE-standard handsaw usage
*History and variations of hedgelaying throughout the UK
*Entry- and Higher-Level Stewardship (ELS and HLS) schemes
*Hedge preparation
*Hedgelaying
*Protection of the hedge after laying
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
with Jean Pierre Le Bretton
March 19th - 21st (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential / £145 non-residential
A wide-ranging course for the beginner or the out-of-practice, including instruction on:
*HSE-standard handsaw usage
*History and variations of hedgelaying throughout the UK
*Entry- and Higher-Level Stewardship (ELS and HLS) schemes
*Hedge preparation
*Hedgelaying
*Protection of the hedge after laying
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
March 21st - 26th Being at Monkton Wyld Court
Being at Monkton Wyld Court
March 21st - 26th (Sun - Fri)
£250 fully residential (some concessions available)
'A Community Experience Week'
Guided yoga, study and meditation sessions will form the morning programme. Karma yoga (work-based) and time for you in the afternoon. Community led activities in the evening will include an outside fire and craft sessions. A walk to Lyme will occupy one day.
Arrive from 4pm on Sunday and leave after lunch on Friday. Bring warm clothes and boots/waterproof for the walk and outside work.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
March 21st - 26th (Sun - Fri)
£250 fully residential (some concessions available)
'A Community Experience Week'
Guided yoga, study and meditation sessions will form the morning programme. Karma yoga (work-based) and time for you in the afternoon. Community led activities in the evening will include an outside fire and craft sessions. A walk to Lyme will occupy one day.
Arrive from 4pm on Sunday and leave after lunch on Friday. Bring warm clothes and boots/waterproof for the walk and outside work.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
March 26th - 28th Nature's Crafts
Nature's Crafts
with Jonathon Huet and Christina Wellbeloved
March 26th - 28th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
Learn traditional crafts such as making a simple wooden bowl, spoon and natural string… and take yours home !
Experience the ancient lore of trees and wild plants coming alive as you identify and use them for food and medicine.
Start the day with age-old energy moving techniques and unwind later with a relaxing shiatsu session.
This weekend is set in the beautiful grounds of Monkton Wyld Court which offers superb wholesome food and comfortable accommodation. If you would like a relaxing and insightful weekend learning new skills in the heart of the Dorset countryside, do come along.
Jonathon Huet has been a keen naturalist for over twenty years. He presents his workshops in an inspiring and original way with the aid of storytelling and poetry.
His partner Christina Wellbeloved will be offering shiatsu treatments and group support with her many years of experience as a therapist.
To learn about shiatsu visit www.youtube.com/shiatsu21.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
with Jonathon Huet and Christina Wellbeloved
March 26th - 28th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
Learn traditional crafts such as making a simple wooden bowl, spoon and natural string… and take yours home !
Experience the ancient lore of trees and wild plants coming alive as you identify and use them for food and medicine.
Start the day with age-old energy moving techniques and unwind later with a relaxing shiatsu session.
This weekend is set in the beautiful grounds of Monkton Wyld Court which offers superb wholesome food and comfortable accommodation. If you would like a relaxing and insightful weekend learning new skills in the heart of the Dorset countryside, do come along.
Jonathon Huet has been a keen naturalist for over twenty years. He presents his workshops in an inspiring and original way with the aid of storytelling and poetry.
His partner Christina Wellbeloved will be offering shiatsu treatments and group support with her many years of experience as a therapist.
To learn about shiatsu visit www.youtube.com/shiatsu21.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
March 26th - 28th Sacred Drumming
Sacred Drumming
with Doug Blacksmith
March 26th - 28th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
For millennia the drum has accompanied humans through daily life and our most sacred moments, carrying us into states of ecstasy, trance and healing. Creating a ceremonial and ritual space, inviting the helping spirits, experiencing the power of the drum, letting go, healing, exploring, feeling the pulse. Drumming is a spiritual experience, being with the rhythm of nature. Celebrate the sacred drummer in all of us. I will teach traditional rhythms of Guinea and Mali, along with the history and the cultural context for each piece and the ethnic grouping the music comes from. All levels welcome. Please bring a drum if you have one.
Doug has drummed for ritual, ceremonial and shamanic events for many years.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
with Doug Blacksmith
March 26th - 28th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
For millennia the drum has accompanied humans through daily life and our most sacred moments, carrying us into states of ecstasy, trance and healing. Creating a ceremonial and ritual space, inviting the helping spirits, experiencing the power of the drum, letting go, healing, exploring, feeling the pulse. Drumming is a spiritual experience, being with the rhythm of nature. Celebrate the sacred drummer in all of us. I will teach traditional rhythms of Guinea and Mali, along with the history and the cultural context for each piece and the ethnic grouping the music comes from. All levels welcome. Please bring a drum if you have one.
Doug has drummed for ritual, ceremonial and shamanic events for many years.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
April 4th - 9th Easter Family Week FULLY BOOKED!
Easter Family Week
THIS COURSE IS FULLY BOOKED!
Please try one of our other family week events or contact us to be added to the waiting list.
with Dorothy and Anita
April 4th - 9th (Sun - Fri)
£275 for the first adult,
£245 for the second adult or youth of 12+, £175 for each child of 5-12 years,
£80 for each child under 5
A week of fun, crafts, singing and outdoor activities for all ages with all the Monkton Family Week favorites.
Click here to book online.
THIS COURSE IS FULLY BOOKED!
Please try one of our other family week events or contact us to be added to the waiting list.
with Dorothy and Anita
April 4th - 9th (Sun - Fri)
£275 for the first adult,
£245 for the second adult or youth of 12+, £175 for each child of 5-12 years,
£80 for each child under 5
A week of fun, crafts, singing and outdoor activities for all ages with all the Monkton Family Week favorites.
Click here to book online.
April 11th - 16th Fossiling Family Week
Fossiling Family Week
April 11th - 16th (Sun - Fri)
£275 for the first adult,
£245 for the second adult or youth of 12+, £175 for each child of 5-12 years,
£80 for each child under 5
Making the most of Monkton's superb location near the famous Jurassic Coast, this fun-filled week includes: an expert fossil hunt on Charmouth Beach, pebble art, breadmaking, morning yoga and bonfires at night.
Most suitable for children over the age of 4 years.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
April 11th - 16th (Sun - Fri)
£275 for the first adult,
£245 for the second adult or youth of 12+, £175 for each child of 5-12 years,
£80 for each child under 5
Making the most of Monkton's superb location near the famous Jurassic Coast, this fun-filled week includes: an expert fossil hunt on Charmouth Beach, pebble art, breadmaking, morning yoga and bonfires at night.
Most suitable for children over the age of 4 years.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
April 16th - 18th Building a Compost Loo I
Building a Compost Loo I
with Malcolm Drew
April 16th - 18th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential / £145 non-residential OR
£375 / £250 for both weekends!
This course is part of an exciting new comprehensive two-weekend series. It offers participants the start-to-finish knowledge and experience required to site, design and build a low-impact (no-concrete) compost toilet at home (or anywhere, really).
Section I (April 16th - 18th) focuses on Theory, Design and Practice.
What is a compost toilet and why is it so worth having? What factors are important in choosing the site and what design options should be considered?
Section II (April 23rd - 25th) focuses on Construction.
What tools and materials are best suited to this kind of construction in this climate (and others)? Fundamental construction safety and proper tool usage reviewed and the building of the loo itself led and overseen by our experienced instructor.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
with Malcolm Drew
April 16th - 18th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential / £145 non-residential OR
£375 / £250 for both weekends!
This course is part of an exciting new comprehensive two-weekend series. It offers participants the start-to-finish knowledge and experience required to site, design and build a low-impact (no-concrete) compost toilet at home (or anywhere, really).
Section I (April 16th - 18th) focuses on Theory, Design and Practice.
What is a compost toilet and why is it so worth having? What factors are important in choosing the site and what design options should be considered?
Section II (April 23rd - 25th) focuses on Construction.
What tools and materials are best suited to this kind of construction in this climate (and others)? Fundamental construction safety and proper tool usage reviewed and the building of the loo itself led and overseen by our experienced instructor.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
April 23rd - 25th Building a Compost Loo II
Building a Compost Loo II
with Malcolm Drew
April 23rd - 25th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential / £145 non-residential OR
£375 / £250 for both weekends!
This course is part of an exciting new comprehensive two-weekend series. It offers participants the start-to-finish knowledge and experience required to site, design and build a low-impact (no-concrete) compost toilet at home (or anywhere, really).
Section I (April 16th - 18th) focuses on Theory, Design and Practice.
What is a compost toilet and why is it so worth having? What factors are important in choosing the site and what design options should be considered?
Section II (April 23rd - 25th) focuses on Construction.
What tools and materials are best suited to this kind of construction in this climate (and others)? Fundamental construction safety and proper tool usage reviewed and the building of the loo itself led and overseen by our experienced instructor.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
with Malcolm Drew
April 23rd - 25th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential / £145 non-residential OR
£375 / £250 for both weekends!
This course is part of an exciting new comprehensive two-weekend series. It offers participants the start-to-finish knowledge and experience required to site, design and build a low-impact (no-concrete) compost toilet at home (or anywhere, really).
Section I (April 16th - 18th) focuses on Theory, Design and Practice.
What is a compost toilet and why is it so worth having? What factors are important in choosing the site and what design options should be considered?
Section II (April 23rd - 25th) focuses on Construction.
What tools and materials are best suited to this kind of construction in this climate (and others)? Fundamental construction safety and proper tool usage reviewed and the building of the loo itself led and overseen by our experienced instructor.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
April 23rd - 25th Mixed Media Art Workshop
Mixed Media Art Workshop
with Julie Oldfield
April 23rd - 25th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
The workshop uses unusual material combinations, such as sea water, sand and, in particular, iridescent paints and pastels across textural surfaces. Inspired by distant horizons and the play of light across the wide open spaces along the Dorset coast, the technique uniquely brings out the shifting effects of colour, light and shade on canvas.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
with Julie Oldfield
April 23rd - 25th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
The workshop uses unusual material combinations, such as sea water, sand and, in particular, iridescent paints and pastels across textural surfaces. Inspired by distant horizons and the play of light across the wide open spaces along the Dorset coast, the technique uniquely brings out the shifting effects of colour, light and shade on canvas.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
April 30th - May 3rd The Green Man at Beltane
The Green Man at Beltane:
Discover the Green Spirit Within and Without
with Kit Berry
April 30th - May 3rd (Fri - Mon)
£295 residential, £195 non-residential
In the old pre-Christian days, Beltane was the festival of the Green Man. He symbolises all that is wild and growing, all that is fertile and fecund. His spirit quickens in spring and on May 1st he is alive and omnipresent in the woods. The Green Man represents the male energy of nature, and his face can be found in many churches and old buildings. The Green Man is the acceptable face of paganism, never demonised like the horned god.
The three day course will focus on discovering the Green Man for ourselves. It will be a weekend of reconnecting with nature in a beautiful environment, using the grounds of the Victorian neo-Gothic mansion and the countryside of west Dorset. There will be a blend of outdoor activities designed to engage and excite the senses, and indoor creative and meditative exercises for releasing our imaginations into the wyld. Most of all, it will be a lot of fun.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
Kit is the author of The Stonewylde Series, a collection of novels set in Dorset which celebrate the forces of nature. She speaks all over the UK on “Reconnecting with Nature”. She lived in Dorset for most of her adult life and was a schoolteacher in Weymouth for many years. Two profound spiritual experiences changed the path of her life and she now writes and lectures for a living.
Kit has a Batchelor’s degree in English and Media Studies, a PGCE and also a Master’s degree in Education. She has attended many holistic courses herself, both in the UK and Europe, and her talks are always inspirational and uplifting. She believes that unless we are grounded, our feet firmly in the soil and our senses engaged with the elements, we will not find true fulfilment or happiness.
Website: www.stonewylde.com
Discover the Green Spirit Within and Without
with Kit Berry
April 30th - May 3rd (Fri - Mon)
£295 residential, £195 non-residential
In the old pre-Christian days, Beltane was the festival of the Green Man. He symbolises all that is wild and growing, all that is fertile and fecund. His spirit quickens in spring and on May 1st he is alive and omnipresent in the woods. The Green Man represents the male energy of nature, and his face can be found in many churches and old buildings. The Green Man is the acceptable face of paganism, never demonised like the horned god.
The three day course will focus on discovering the Green Man for ourselves. It will be a weekend of reconnecting with nature in a beautiful environment, using the grounds of the Victorian neo-Gothic mansion and the countryside of west Dorset. There will be a blend of outdoor activities designed to engage and excite the senses, and indoor creative and meditative exercises for releasing our imaginations into the wyld. Most of all, it will be a lot of fun.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
Kit is the author of The Stonewylde Series, a collection of novels set in Dorset which celebrate the forces of nature. She speaks all over the UK on “Reconnecting with Nature”. She lived in Dorset for most of her adult life and was a schoolteacher in Weymouth for many years. Two profound spiritual experiences changed the path of her life and she now writes and lectures for a living.
Kit has a Batchelor’s degree in English and Media Studies, a PGCE and also a Master’s degree in Education. She has attended many holistic courses herself, both in the UK and Europe, and her talks are always inspirational and uplifting. She believes that unless we are grounded, our feet firmly in the soil and our senses engaged with the elements, we will not find true fulfilment or happiness.
Website: www.stonewylde.com
May 7th - 9th Yoga of the Breath: a residential retreat
Yoga of the Breath
with Ranju Roy
May 7th - 9th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
Since ancient times, breathing has been seen by practitioners of yoga as a profound tool for transformation. Breathing affects us at physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual levels.
Pasted Graphic
Different approaches to yoga emphasise different ways of breathing; during this retreat we will explore many ways of working with the breath and how they can best be utilised.
• How do the inhalation, exhalation and pauses differ?
• What are their characteristics?
• How does breath relate to prana?
• What does it mean to refine the breath?
• How are movement and breath related?
• What is the relationship between mind and breath?
There will be plenty of time for practice as well as discussion and theory.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
with Ranju Roy
May 7th - 9th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
Since ancient times, breathing has been seen by practitioners of yoga as a profound tool for transformation. Breathing affects us at physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual levels.
Pasted Graphic
Different approaches to yoga emphasise different ways of breathing; during this retreat we will explore many ways of working with the breath and how they can best be utilised.
• How do the inhalation, exhalation and pauses differ?
• What are their characteristics?
• How does breath relate to prana?
• What does it mean to refine the breath?
• How are movement and breath related?
• What is the relationship between mind and breath?
There will be plenty of time for practice as well as discussion and theory.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
May 14th - 16th Introduction to Beekeeping
Introduction to Beekeeping
with David Wiscombe
May 14th - 16th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
Spaces are limited for this immensely popular course!
Learn the art of beekeeping from an experienced apiarist, visit the hives and discover the secrets of this essential creature. Take up a new, absorbing, and potentially planet-saving interest AND keep the honey pot full!
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
Some comments from past participants:
'I loved the course; venue, staff, food, course tutor and information. I would definitely recommend the venue and course to others and hope to come back and stay next year.'
'Course excellent-- v. information, friendly and accessible.'
'Well done and well prepared with both theory and practical.'
'Bob Wiscombe excellent.'
'Food far, far too good. Now on a diet...'
Click here for images from past beekeeping courses.
with David Wiscombe
May 14th - 16th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
Spaces are limited for this immensely popular course!
Learn the art of beekeeping from an experienced apiarist, visit the hives and discover the secrets of this essential creature. Take up a new, absorbing, and potentially planet-saving interest AND keep the honey pot full!
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
Some comments from past participants:
'I loved the course; venue, staff, food, course tutor and information. I would definitely recommend the venue and course to others and hope to come back and stay next year.'
'Course excellent-- v. information, friendly and accessible.'
'Well done and well prepared with both theory and practical.'
'Bob Wiscombe excellent.'
'Food far, far too good. Now on a diet...'
Click here for images from past beekeeping courses.
May 16th Venue Booking: Teachings of the Medicine Wheel
Venue
Booking
Teachings of the Native American Medicine Wheel
with Carolyn Waterstone
May 16th (Sun)
In this workshop, we will explore ways to find harmony with ourselves and our environment, looking at our own paths to self-discovery and spiritual fulfilment. More info from Carolyn Waterstone tel: 01460 220653, email: carolynwaterstone@hotmail.com
Teachings of the Native American Medicine Wheel
with Carolyn Waterstone
May 16th (Sun)
In this workshop, we will explore ways to find harmony with ourselves and our environment, looking at our own paths to self-discovery and spiritual fulfilment. More info from Carolyn Waterstone tel: 01460 220653, email: carolynwaterstone@hotmail.com
May 21st - 23rd Dowsing: an Introduction and Overview
Dowsing: an Introduction and
Overview
with Alan Neal
May 21st - 23rd (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
This fascinating entry level course with a leading dowser of the Southwest introduces the history and lore of dowsing and its various uses. Includes a tour of local areas of interest (including some within Monkton Wyld Court's very borders)!
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
with Alan Neal
May 21st - 23rd (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
This fascinating entry level course with a leading dowser of the Southwest introduces the history and lore of dowsing and its various uses. Includes a tour of local areas of interest (including some within Monkton Wyld Court's very borders)!
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
May 21st - 23rd Wilderness Skills Weekend
Wilderness Skills Weekend
with Jonathon Huet
May 21st - 23rd (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
Would you like to feel at ease with your natural surroundings ? Learning bushcraft is an exciting journey of rediscovering nature finding a deep respect and confidence that will merge into all aspects of your life.
Learn to light and manage a fire in all weather conditions
using primitive and low-impact technology.
Feel confident in your surroundings and know you could survive if necessary. Identify trees and plants essential for your needs and collect your own water.
This course is designed for adults, although older children are welcome if you feel it is suitable.
It will be a foundation course for bushcraft, teaching correct tool use, an opportunity to create fire by friction completely from scratch and introduce fundamental wilderness skills.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
‘…..I now feel confident and safe in an environment I was unfamiliar with…. Thank you for a most enjoyable and informative weekend.’ D.G. Hampshire
‘The bushcraft weekend gave me confidence, freedom and friendship, merriment and an open appreciation of nature.’ A.S. Herefordshire
with Jonathon Huet
May 21st - 23rd (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
Would you like to feel at ease with your natural surroundings ? Learning bushcraft is an exciting journey of rediscovering nature finding a deep respect and confidence that will merge into all aspects of your life.
Learn to light and manage a fire in all weather conditions
using primitive and low-impact technology.
Feel confident in your surroundings and know you could survive if necessary. Identify trees and plants essential for your needs and collect your own water.
This course is designed for adults, although older children are welcome if you feel it is suitable.
It will be a foundation course for bushcraft, teaching correct tool use, an opportunity to create fire by friction completely from scratch and introduce fundamental wilderness skills.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
‘…..I now feel confident and safe in an environment I was unfamiliar with…. Thank you for a most enjoyable and informative weekend.’ D.G. Hampshire
‘The bushcraft weekend gave me confidence, freedom and friendship, merriment and an open appreciation of nature.’ A.S. Herefordshire
May 29th - June 1st Private Booking: Harper Family Week
Venue reserved for a private booking.
June 2nd - 4th Family Bushcraft Fun
Family Bushcraft Fun
June 2nd - 4th (Wed - Fri)
£215 for the first adult,
£145 for the second adult or youth of 12+, £105 for each child of 5-12 years,
£50 for each child under 5
Discover together the arts of firemaking, cooking damper bread over the flame and building a natural shelter in the Monkton Wyld woods. Most suitable for children over the age of 4 years.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
June 2nd - 4th (Wed - Fri)
£215 for the first adult,
£145 for the second adult or youth of 12+, £105 for each child of 5-12 years,
£50 for each child under 5
Discover together the arts of firemaking, cooking damper bread over the flame and building a natural shelter in the Monkton Wyld woods. Most suitable for children over the age of 4 years.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
June 8th - 10th Introduction to Beekeeping
Introduction to Beekeeping
with David Wiscombe
June 8th - 10th (Tues - Thurs)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
Spaces are limited for this immensely popular course!
Learn the art of beekeeping from an experienced apiarist, visit the hives and discover the secrets of this essential creature. Take up a new, absorbing, and potentially planet-saving interest AND keep the honey pot full!
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
Some comments from past participants:
'Course excellent-- v. information, friendly and accessible.'
'Well done and well prepared with both theory and practical.'
'Bob Wiscombe excellent.'
'Food far, far too good. Now on a diet...'
Click here for images from past beekeeping courses.
with David Wiscombe
June 8th - 10th (Tues - Thurs)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
Spaces are limited for this immensely popular course!
Learn the art of beekeeping from an experienced apiarist, visit the hives and discover the secrets of this essential creature. Take up a new, absorbing, and potentially planet-saving interest AND keep the honey pot full!
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
Some comments from past participants:
'Course excellent-- v. information, friendly and accessible.'
'Well done and well prepared with both theory and practical.'
'Bob Wiscombe excellent.'
'Food far, far too good. Now on a diet...'
Click here for images from past beekeeping courses.
June 14th - 18th Private Booking: Wynstones School Class VI Trip
Venue reserved for a private booking.
June 18th - 20th Trance Dance
Trance Dance
with Leo Rutherford
June 18th - 20th (Fri - Sun)
£240 residential, £170 non-residential
This Afro-Brazilian medicine magic opens up a unique path into healing and alternative reality. The rhythm of the drum guides the dancer and enables a connection with the soul's purpose.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
For more information on Leo and his work, visit the Eagle's Wing website.
with Leo Rutherford
June 18th - 20th (Fri - Sun)
£240 residential, £170 non-residential
This Afro-Brazilian medicine magic opens up a unique path into healing and alternative reality. The rhythm of the drum guides the dancer and enables a connection with the soul's purpose.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
For more information on Leo and his work, visit the Eagle's Wing website.
June 22nd - 24th Introduction to Beekeeping
Introduction to Beekeeping
with David Wiscombe
June 22nd - 24th (Tues - Thurs)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
Spaces are limited for this immensely popular course!
Learn the art of beekeeping from an experienced apiarist, visit the hives and discover the secrets of this essential creature. Take up a new, absorbing, and potentially planet-saving interest AND keep the honey pot full!
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
with David Wiscombe
June 22nd - 24th (Tues - Thurs)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
Spaces are limited for this immensely popular course!
Learn the art of beekeeping from an experienced apiarist, visit the hives and discover the secrets of this essential creature. Take up a new, absorbing, and potentially planet-saving interest AND keep the honey pot full!
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
June 24th - 27th Venue Booking: Earth Singers
Venue
Booking
Earth Singers
with Danu Fox
June 24th - 27th (Thurs - Sun)
For more information or to book, visit the website or email Danu Fox directly.
Earth Singers
with Danu Fox
June 24th - 27th (Thurs - Sun)
For more information or to book, visit the website or email Danu Fox directly.
July 2nd - 4th Scything Weekend
Scything Weekend
with Simon Fairlie
July 2nd - 4th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
Leader's Introduction:
Beginners often imagine that a two day scything course is a bit excessive, just to learn how to use a garden tool; and that is true if all you want to do is knock down weeds. But anyone who wants to mow grass on any scale will benefit from a two day course, and people who do them come away saying: "I don't know how you could cram all that into one day".
Two days gives you enough time to prepare your own blade (rather than use the Blue Peter blades that I prepare in advance for the one-day course); you get more time to practice different peening methods; and I also demonstrate how to make and stack a hay rack, which enables you to make hay even in changeable weather.
The course covers
• history and sociology of the scythe, in the UK and abroad;
• selecting the right blade and snath for the job (or making best use of what you've got);
• setting up a scythe and snath;
• peening with a jig, and and introduction to freehand peening with hammer and anvil;
• sharpening;
• mowing technique;
• how to avoid damaging the blade, and how to repair chips and cracks;
• managing grass with scything in mind;
• hay-making by hand;
• making and loading a hayrack.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
with Simon Fairlie
July 2nd - 4th (Fri - Sun)
£215 residential, £145 non-residential
Leader's Introduction:
Beginners often imagine that a two day scything course is a bit excessive, just to learn how to use a garden tool; and that is true if all you want to do is knock down weeds. But anyone who wants to mow grass on any scale will benefit from a two day course, and people who do them come away saying: "I don't know how you could cram all that into one day".
Two days gives you enough time to prepare your own blade (rather than use the Blue Peter blades that I prepare in advance for the one-day course); you get more time to practice different peening methods; and I also demonstrate how to make and stack a hay rack, which enables you to make hay even in changeable weather.
The course covers
• history and sociology of the scythe, in the UK and abroad;
• selecting the right blade and snath for the job (or making best use of what you've got);
• setting up a scythe and snath;
• peening with a jig, and and introduction to freehand peening with hammer and anvil;
• sharpening;
• mowing technique;
• how to avoid damaging the blade, and how to repair chips and cracks;
• managing grass with scything in mind;
• hay-making by hand;
• making and loading a hayrack.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
July 16th Moth Night
Moth Night
with Alan Kennard
July 16th (Fri), 8:30pm
This popular free event has refreshments available by donation and a 10% B&B discount on the night, the better to view the array of moths gathered in the morning!
2009 Monkton moth photos on Flickr!
with Alan Kennard
July 16th (Fri), 8:30pm
This popular free event has refreshments available by donation and a 10% B&B discount on the night, the better to view the array of moths gathered in the morning!
2009 Monkton moth photos on Flickr!
July 26th - 31st Private Booking: Power Family Week
Venue reserved for a private booking.
August 9th - 14th Bushcraft Family Week
Bushcraft Family Week
with Jonathon Huet supported by Mary Elliott
August 9th - 14th (Mon - Sat)
£275 for the first adult,
£245 for the second adult or youth of 12+,
£175 for each child of 5-12 years,
£80 for each child under 5
Ideal for children aged 7 upwards.
Jonathon Huet of Huet's School of Magical Treecraft and Wilderness Skills teaches basic fire skills, cordage making, campfire cooking, and shelter building in this hugely popular family week.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
What people said about Bushcraft Week 2008 and 2009:
"Very special week"
"Jonathon really engaged us all and was very inspiring; Mary is the perfect facilitator..."
"More of a paradise every day"
"I loved the shelter building"
"Food fantastic!"
Contact walkwithtrees@hotmail.com for more information about Jonathon's courses and activities planned.
with Jonathon Huet supported by Mary Elliott
August 9th - 14th (Mon - Sat)
£275 for the first adult,
£245 for the second adult or youth of 12+,
£175 for each child of 5-12 years,
£80 for each child under 5
Ideal for children aged 7 upwards.
Jonathon Huet of Huet's School of Magical Treecraft and Wilderness Skills teaches basic fire skills, cordage making, campfire cooking, and shelter building in this hugely popular family week.
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
What people said about Bushcraft Week 2008 and 2009:
"Very special week"
"Jonathon really engaged us all and was very inspiring; Mary is the perfect facilitator..."
"More of a paradise every day"
"I loved the shelter building"
"Food fantastic!"
Contact walkwithtrees@hotmail.com for more information about Jonathon's courses and activities planned.
August 16th - 21st Private Booking: Wyld Group (Mill Hill)
Venue reserved for a private booking.
August 23rd - 28th Theatre Family Week
Theatre Family Week
with Jacqui Kirkland of Chickenshed Theatre Group
August 23rd - 28th (Mon - Sat)
£275 for the first adult,
£245 for the second adult or youth of 12+,
£175 for each child of 5-12 years,
£80 for each child under 5
After an immensely popular week in 2009, Jacqui's back to share the love of storytelling, expression, puppetry, song, dance and all aspects of the theatrical arts! A treat or budding thespians of all ages. The week culminates in a unique performance: your own!
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
What people said about Theatre Week 2009:
"The different elements-- songs/signing, puppet making (individual and communal) combined to make a great community-spirited event."
"Well run, very enthusiastic leader, very inclusive and good with kids of all ages."
"Lovely room, food very appropriate for families."
"Jacqui was great, both with the adults and the kids, and was determined to bring proper theatrical values to our little production. She put a lot of thought/preparation into it, which paid off."
"I would look out for Jacqui again."
with Jacqui Kirkland of Chickenshed Theatre Group
August 23rd - 28th (Mon - Sat)
£275 for the first adult,
£245 for the second adult or youth of 12+,
£175 for each child of 5-12 years,
£80 for each child under 5
After an immensely popular week in 2009, Jacqui's back to share the love of storytelling, expression, puppetry, song, dance and all aspects of the theatrical arts! A treat or budding thespians of all ages. The week culminates in a unique performance: your own!
Click here to download our course booking form and instructions.
Contact us to check availability.
What people said about Theatre Week 2009:
"The different elements-- songs/signing, puppet making (individual and communal) combined to make a great community-spirited event."
"Well run, very enthusiastic leader, very inclusive and good with kids of all ages."
"Lovely room, food very appropriate for families."
"Jacqui was great, both with the adults and the kids, and was determined to bring proper theatrical values to our little production. She put a lot of thought/preparation into it, which paid off."
"I would look out for Jacqui again."
September 8th - 15th Venue Booking: Korean Zen Retreat
Venue
Booking
Korean Zen Retreat
with Master Jisu Sunim
September 8th - 14th (Wed - Tues)
For more information, visit the website or email Ned Reiter, coordinator.
Korean Zen Retreat
with Master Jisu Sunim
September 8th - 14th (Wed - Tues)
For more information, visit the website or email Ned Reiter, coordinator.
October 22nd - 24th Private Booking
Venue reserved for a private booking.
October 1st - 3rd Venue Booking: Yoga Weekend
Venue
Booking
Yoga Weekend
with Janet Evans and Zoe Martin
October 1st - 3rd (Friday - Sunday)
For more information, visit the website or email Zoe Martin, coordinator.
Yoga Weekend
with Janet Evans and Zoe Martin
October 1st - 3rd (Friday - Sunday)
For more information, visit the website or email Zoe Martin, coordinator.
November 13th Handicrafts Day: Holiday Willow Weaving
Holiday Willow Weaving
with Norah Kennedy
November 13th (Sat)
prices to be announced
Put away the tinsel and fairy light and come and spend a really enjoyable
day making your own Christmas decorations from willow - you can
expect to make wreaths, hearts, stars, wands, mince pie platters and perhaps even an angel!
See Norah's website for more about her beautiful work.
with Norah Kennedy
November 13th (Sat)
prices to be announced
Put away the tinsel and fairy light and come and spend a really enjoyable
day making your own Christmas decorations from willow - you can
expect to make wreaths, hearts, stars, wands, mince pie platters and perhaps even an angel!
See Norah's website for more about her beautiful work.
STILL TO COME Biodynamic Gardening
Biodynamic Gardening:
an introduction to the practice
and philosophy
with Marina O'Connell
The course will introduce participants to the thinking and philosphy behind Biodynamc gardening in a simple and experiential way. We will make and use some of the preparations and study the Biodynamic calendar in preparation to start the new growing season using these techniques.
Contact us to be added to the waiting list for this course!
Marina O'Connell has 20 years experience of Biodynamic growing and has taught these methods at Otley Agricultural College in Suffolk and at The Apricot Centre in Essex.
She runs a small organic fruit farm in the Stour Valley and the Apricot Centre on the farm, working in schools and running a wide range of courses on Sustainable living.
an introduction to the practice
and philosophy
with Marina O'Connell
The course will introduce participants to the thinking and philosphy behind Biodynamc gardening in a simple and experiential way. We will make and use some of the preparations and study the Biodynamic calendar in preparation to start the new growing season using these techniques.
Contact us to be added to the waiting list for this course!
Marina O'Connell has 20 years experience of Biodynamic growing and has taught these methods at Otley Agricultural College in Suffolk and at The Apricot Centre in Essex.
She runs a small organic fruit farm in the Stour Valley and the Apricot Centre on the farm, working in schools and running a wide range of courses on Sustainable living.
STILL TO COME Love Nature Family Week
Love Nature Family Week
with Jan Freeborn and the MWC Community
(as well as various resident small mammals, both flying and grounded)
This family week is devoted to simple, priceless appreciation of the beauty and wonder of the natural world so abundant around us here at Monkton. Children will enjoy gathering floral treasure, making and decorating fossil casts, fashioning clay seed bombs of wildflowers and herbs, meeting the bats and other creatures of Monkton, planting seedlings in their own mini-greenhouses and much more (and learning while they're at it)! Sports activities and a walk to the seashore will also feature, and much of the time will be organised to provide parents a much-deserved break of their own.
Contact us to be added to the waiting list for this course!
Photos of a few of Jan's 2009 small mammal discoveries here.
with Jan Freeborn and the MWC Community
(as well as various resident small mammals, both flying and grounded)
This family week is devoted to simple, priceless appreciation of the beauty and wonder of the natural world so abundant around us here at Monkton. Children will enjoy gathering floral treasure, making and decorating fossil casts, fashioning clay seed bombs of wildflowers and herbs, meeting the bats and other creatures of Monkton, planting seedlings in their own mini-greenhouses and much more (and learning while they're at it)! Sports activities and a walk to the seashore will also feature, and much of the time will be organised to provide parents a much-deserved break of their own.
Contact us to be added to the waiting list for this course!
Photos of a few of Jan's 2009 small mammal discoveries here.