Foraging

Skills & Training Courses

Find Your AdventureBasket Weaving and Foraging Weekend

Basket Weaving and Foraging Weekend

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Summary
Join Heather of Heathery Heights and Jane of Seafield Baskets for a weekend of basket weaving and wild food at the lovely Seafield Farm in the Heart of Argyll. You will learn the art of basket weaving, make your own berry foraging basket, explore the coastal hedgerows and woodland and learn about and collect seasonal wild berries and edibles. Wild refreshments and lunches are provided on both days and you will be able to help prepare a wild lunch with some of the wild edibles collected too. This bespoke experience has limited numbers so early booking is essential. Accommodation is available locally.
Suitability
There are some steps in the farm although much of the access is at ground level. The foraging walk is through both woodland and along coastal paths which can be overgrown. The ground can be wet, muddy and boggy with some steep, uneven sections through the woodland. A reasonable level of fitness is required for a half day on foot. Sorry, but as this is event is partially indoors we are unable to accept dogs on the event. Please contact us if you have any queries re access.
Highlights

Learn about the art of basket weaving and different natural materials

Weave your own berry basket to take home

Discover the principles of sustainable foraging and about the plants that thrive here and in similar habitats

Learn the basics to safely identify common edible and non-edible species

Experience the flavours of wild ingredients in the refreshments and wild lunches provided over the weekend

Help make a communal wild lunch

Learn about some of the local wild ingredients that can be used in food and medicine

Crafting and immersing yourself in nature

Booking Terms

Booking is essential to ensure we can send you your booking details and required event information. For late availability please contact us on 07899765240. This experience requires a minimum of 4 people. Please ensure you tell us of any dietary requirements when you make your booking.

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Price:
£ 160.00 GBP

Walk Grades

Grade 1 - Easy

Relaxed walks on mainly flat or graded paths and tracks within easy access of a road/parking with little or no steep ground. These walks are designed to take in a specific tourist site or experience - perhaps to visit a ruined Scottish castle, wildlife centre or ancient carved stones - and are suitable for a wide range of abilities, typically never more than 3 miles or 2 hours of walking.

Grade 2 - Leisurely

Leisurely walking on paths and tracks with occasional steep or uneven sections or steps. Designed to offer an immersive and relaxing experience connecting with nature and the outdoors these walks help promote wellbeing and may include walks around lochs, along beaches, through woodland and glens, to visit a specific historic or geological site, to learn about foraging for wild plants or to reach viewpoint. These are suitable for a wide range of abilities and are typically 3 to 6 miles with up to 5 hours of walking and 300m of ascent and descent.

Grade 3 - Moderate

Expect a full day of walking using a mixture of paths, tracks and over mixed terrain. There are likely to be some steep or uneven sections or steps. These walks are suited to those used to being active and may include easier hill summits, coastal walks, sections of long distance trails such as the Kintyre Way, visiting sites off the beaten track and sunset walks. Walks are typically 6 to 8 miles with 4 to 6 hours of walking and no more than 600m of ascent and descent.

Grade 4 - Hard

An active day of walking using a mixture of paths, tracks and over mixed terrain which is likely to have steep rough sections. These walks are suited to those used to being active and may include hill summits, coastal sections with a lot of ascent and descent, remoter areas, longer sections of trails such as the Kintyre Way, visiting sites off the beaten track, trig point hunters and Wainwright baggers. Walks are typically 7 to 12 miles with 5 to 8 hours of walking and up to 800m of ascent and descent.

Grade 5 - Challenging

A full day of walking over varied ground, which may incorporate a mixture of tracks and paths but is likely to include rugged steep pathless terrain, requiring advanced skills, good fitness and stamina. Walks at this level are usually either long distance, which may or may not incorporate good paths, or in remote and mountainous areas. Typical walks include the easier Munros and Corbetts, the higher Lakeland and Welsh fells, challenges such as the Yorkshire Three Peaks and long distance backpacks such as the Coast to Coast or Pennine Way. Distances vary but are typically 10-25 miles with ascents of up to 1600m. A full days walking may take anything from 6 to12 hours.

Grade 6 - Severe

A full day of walking over varied ground, which may incorporate a mixture of tracks and paths, rugged steep and rough pathless terrain, exposed ridges and non-technical scrambles requiring advanced skills, good fitness and stamina. Walks at this level are usually either long distance, which may or may not incorporate good paths, or in remote and mountainous areas. Typical walks include the harder or more remote Munros and Corbetts, routes such as Striding Edge in the Lake District, high level or remote long distance backpacks or ultra long distance events. Distances vary but are often over 15 miles with ascents often exceeding 1000m. An example is the Patterdale Round which takes in 17 Wainwrights, is 30 miles and has over 3000m of ascent. A full days walking may take anything from 8 to16 or more hours.

More Information:

Heather's Highlight

Wild produce has been part of my life since early childhood and discovering a tasty morsel or trying a new recipe with wild ingredients is always a guilty pleasure. I am always experimenting with wild foods and the flavours they can impart which are so far removed from shop bought foods.

Detailed Description

This weekend experience is a wonderful way in which to immerse yourself into the world of natural crafts and connect with nature. Autumn is such a beautiful time to celebrate natural harvests of berries and wild edibles whilst enjoying the colours as they change from greens to golds, umbers and reds. We would very much like to share this bespoke experience with you at Seafield Farm in the Heart of Argyll.

So what to expect?

On the Saturday you will have time to learn the wonderful art of basket weaving with Jane of Seafield Baskets.

Basketry is one of the oldest crafts and requires nothing more than hands, flexible plant fibres and simple tools to produce containers of all shapes and sizes. Whether you are a complete beginner or have some experience and wish to improve existing skills or simply want to try a new craft, you will find basketry is absorbing, challenging and enjoyable. Jane has been making baskets and growing willow for over 25 years and still finding new things to learn. Passing on the skills is important to keep this sustainable heritage craft alive.

You will weave your own berry basket to take home and, of course, you will be able to take this out with you on the Sunday.

On the Sunday you will learn about foraging, explore the coastal hedgerows and woodlands and collect autumnal berries and edibles before returning to Seafield Farm to make a wild lunch together. Learning how to use different wild edibles and about their uses in food and medicine, particularly in an era of ultra processed foods, can open the door for so many to a world of benefits both in the mindfulness of spending time with nature and the health benefits of wild foods for our microbiome.

We will finish the weekend together either doing some wildcrafting or making a wild treat to take home, feeling blessed we have had the time to spend time together creating and immersed in nature. All refreshments and wild lunches are included for both days. If you are coming from further afield there are accommodation options available, please just ask and we will do our best to help you.

What's Included:
All guided walks include the following:
  • Your friendly qualified guide for the duration of your walk
  • Group Safety Equipment
  • Emergency First Aid Kit
  • Walk joining information
  • Kit List
  • Friendly advice
Specific to this walk:
Basket weaving tuition, make your own berry basket, guided foraging walk, all refreshments and wild lunches provided on both days. Kit list.
Itinerary

Saturday 10am - 4pm - learn about basket weaving, natural materials and make your own berry basket. Refreshments and a wild lunch included.

Sunday 10am - 4pm - foraging walk learning about local species and collecting berries and edibles to make a communal wild lunch. Refreshments and wild lunch included.

All materials are provided but please come prepared for your time outside and bring warm layers as we may go down to the hut to cook round the firepit on the Sunday. We will send you a list of things to bring.

Additional Information:
Not dog friendly

Unfortunately, although we welcome well behaved dogs on most of our walks (and you may well meet our trusty canine team member), our navigation courses - and experiences where specified - are not appropriate for dogs and may be on land or in property where dogs (other than guide/assistance dogs) are not allowed.

Please see our alternatives walks if you wish to bring your furry friend. Occasionally we may make an exception but please ensure you have contacted us and we have confirmed that your dog can attend.

Make this a private booking

All our activities can be booked for private groups as bespoke experiences.

Prices and terms & conditions for bespoke experiences apply.

Women only option

All our activities can be booked for women only groups either as bespoke experiences or where advertised.

Additional information:

Seafield Farm, Achnamara, Lochgilphead, Argyll, PA31 8PSTel: +44 (0)1546 850274

What3words: https://w3w.co/searching.glosses.headliner

Parking and toilets are available on site. Please ask if you require local accommodation and we will do our best to help you.

Please bring comfortable warm clothes for crafting on Saturday and your waterproofs, suitable walking boots/wellies water and, if you wish, your preferred snacks for during the walk on Sunday (please see out Kit List to help you plan for the day). Warm clothes are recommended, especially if we spend time down at the hut.

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