OTR and Bristol Tree Craft regularly partner to offer this 8 week programme of Woodcraft, Wellbeing and Wilding. In a welcoming, non-judgmental, relaxed space, you will be supported to learn craft skills, connect with nature, and nurture your inner wellbeing.

This programme is not open for sign ups at the moment, but please do register your interest in future courses by clicking on the link above. You can also contact nicky.s@otrbristol.org.uk for more information.

Who is this session for?

Anyone aged 16-25 who is interested in traditional ways of making things and connecting with 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 mid February 2026 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 previously attended this 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 12 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 by doing’ in a hands-on, supportive environment where you can direct your own learning feels 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 from scratch (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.

 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. If you would prefer to use this entrance, please let us know and we can give more information.

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