Seasonal Craft Workshop

The Seasonal Craft Workshop is made up of a large group of adults with a learning disability who love to be part of such a varied workshop, where each individual is found a task that they enjoy to be part of. A whole range of materials are used in the workshop, wood, paper, fabric, wool fleece, willow and wax to name a few.

The seasonal craft workshop, as its name implies, follows the seasons of the year. They make use of the natural materials that become available as the seasons change and these natural materials are transformed into beautiful products to sell or eat! 

In spring they use willow, which is grown here in abundance at the Lantern. The adults with a learning disability harvest the willow, some of which is used "green" while some is stripped of its bark and used "white". Together we weave willow hurdles, make garden obelisks, use the smaller willow for basketry while the larger wood is used to make frames for Mongolian tents, or yurts.

Moving on to summer the gardens provide herbs for drying and the group works outside in the warm weather harvesting the herbs and making wool felt. The wool felt is then made into various products for selling in the shop.

In autumn as the fruit ripens, the group turns to pressing fruit juices and making preserves, such as chutney, pickles and jam.

Winter brings them to working with green wood, making walking sticks and bamboo flutes.

Some of the activities are inspired by seasons and festivals, including shadow puppetry.     The group designs and makes the puppets, often using recycled or scrap materials, and together they perform plays for the community and local schools. The variety of activity maintains interest and encourages the group to be expressive and creative. It is often their own ideas that are taken up and followed as new projects.