OTR will be partnering with Bristol Tree Craft once again in Autumn 2025 to offer young people another 8-week ‘Woodcraft, Wellbeing & Leadership’ programme. In a welcoming, non-judgmental, relaxed space, you will be supported learn craft skills, connect with nature and deepen your strengths, passions and curiosities. 

Each week will be different, whether that’s learning to carve a spatula to cook something delicious over the fire with, or planting your own tree along with an intention for yourself. There will be tools & tips to support your wellbeing, as well endless snacks/refreshments, craft games to play and some very friendly pigs to scratch! 

The team at Bristol Tree Craft will make sure you have everything you need to feel safe & comfortable, supported by OTR Nature Works.

Sessions will run from 2pm – 5pm on Wednesday afternoons at Bristol Tree Craft, Bridge Farm, Glenfrome Road BS16 1BQ. The first session will take place on Wednesday 1st October and will run for 8 consecutive weeks. The final session will be on Wednesday 19th November. Ideally it’d be great if you can make every session. 

Who is this session for? 

Anyone aged 16-25 who is interested in making things and being creative in nature as part of a group. All materials, tools, equipment & cake (!) are provided, and all activities are beginner-friendly. 

Whether you have done anything like this before or not, you are super welcome, and we’d love to see you! 

Please note we often have more sign-ups than places for these programmes. Nicky, OTR’s Nature Works Coordinator, will be in touch in early September to confirm whether we can offer you a space this time or not. If there are more sign-ups than places, we will prioritise young people who haven’t attended a ‘Woodcraft & Wellbeing’ (previously Green Woodworking) programme with us before, as we want to make sure we offer these opportunities to as many young people as possible. 

The group will be a maximum of 10 young people. 

How does this relate to mental health? 

Making things with our hands in nature helps our wellbeing and can improve mental health in few different ways: 

1. Learning new skills by doing them instead of ‘being taught’ allows us to direct our own learning, which is empowering. All activities are optional, meaning you can opt out or take things at your own pace to suit your needs.
2. Making something unique & beautiful (e.g. a butter spreader) from an ordinary branch is really fulfilling (especially when you then use it to make a delicious snack!)
3. Taking part in shared learning processes helps us to feel that we belong to a community.
4. Being in nature grounds us by offering a calming break from the stress of everyday city life.

Young people on previous programmes have said it was “amazing experience” and that they “could get totally lost in what [they were] doing and forget everything else”. 

They described the feeling afterwards as one of “wholeness” and “like a weight has been lifted.” 

What happens after the programme? 

Towards the end the programme, we introduce the Green Leader Scheme, which anyone on the programme can sign up for (please note that if places fill you will be added to a waiting list.) The scheme builds on what we have started to explore during ‘Woodcraft, Wellbeing & Leadership’: how creativity and nature can support us to take action to care for nature in turn, using our newly developed skills, interests and networks to protect the future of Bristol’s green spaces. Each Green Leader will receive ongoing support over 9 months to embark on their own ‘Green Journey’ to support nature, whether that’s by making art, shooting a film or running a workshop. Whatever you are interested in exploring, we will be with you every step of the way, offering 1-2-1 meetings, wellbeing support, peer learning & training sessions. At the end of your journey, we will help you tell your story in the way you want to, celebrating your achievements and hopefully encouraging more young people to embrace creativity and step into creative Green Leadership. Bristol Tree Craft also offer a variety of volunteering opportunities, which can be found  here. 

Access info 

The workshop is located at Bridge Farm in Bristol (BS16 1BQ), which is accessible by car, bus, bike or foot. Once at the main farm entrance, there is a 200m walk to the workshop on a mix of tarmac, cobbles and farmland track. The second half of the walk is uphill, with one moderately steep section (there is a handrail for this part.) There is an alternative entrance from the top of the site (Parkside Gardens), which is a similar distance over farmland track, though much flatter. Entry from here can be arranged by request. The workshop has basic toilet facilities nearby (separate standing & sitting urinals), and there are 2 standard flushing toilets and handwashing facilities 100m away at the base of the hill. There are currently no accessible toilets. The workshop is a warm, comfortable space, protected from the elements and heated when cold. There is plenty of seating for resting. For more details on how to find us & accessibility info, Click  here. 

If you have any questions or would like to talk through anything about the programme, get in touch with Nicky, OTR’s Nature Works Co-ordinator. You can drop her an email at nicky.s@otrbristol.org.uk. However, please note that Nicky will be away on leave until the start of September, but will get back to you as soon as she returns.