A two-day workshop offering creativity, nature connection, and conversation through wild clay bead making.

Through creating with wild clay, sourced on site at Hengistbury Head, participants will be invited to deepen their connection with both nature and one another in a welcoming and reflective environment.

Facilitated by two art psychotherapists, Simon and Tanya, you are invited to foster creativity, strengthen social connection, and help reduce feelings of isolation. We offer a creative and supportive space where people can connect, create, and belong.

CIRCLE OF CONNECTION

Everything is interconnected - Earth is one vast breathing ecosystem where nothing happens in isolation. Wellbeing, identity and sense of meaning emerge through our participation in a wider web of relationships that includes self, community, Earth.

A fundamental, mutual connection between us can be created: marvelling at a spider’s web together, gazing at a tree in full leaf or excitedly watch a kite wheel and circle above us. We connect through a mutual awe and wonder of the natural world.

BELONGING THROUGH BEADS

Bead work is one of the oldest ways to indicate our belonging, it is an external expression of our identity and relationship to others or to place. We may make the necklace ourselves or be given it by others as a sign of belonging. We can be gifted jewellery by others to mark our passage through life.

Over the two sessions, participants will create clay beads that are fired on site and assembled into a unique necklace, incorporating beads made both by themselves and by others in the group as a lasting symbol of connection, community, and shared experience.

Participants will be invited to make a central pendant representing their connection to nature.

They will also be invited to make beads to share with others in the spirit of social connection.

Please bring a packed lunch for each day, there is also a cafe nearby.

Your Practitoners

Below are links to other websites that may be of interest

Link to the Community Outdoor Art Therapy Service, co-founded by Simon and Tanya:

COATS

Link to Simon's Art Therapy website:

You and Art Therapy

Ecopsychology writing and blog webpage:

www.simonwoodward.world

Sliding-scale pricing

We are offering a sliding-scale pricing system for a limited number of tickets to promote accessibility and community involvement. We will never ask you to justify your choice, but if you can, please consider selecting the 'supporter' or 'comfortable' option to allow accessibility for lower-income participants.

We rely on the honesty and good judgment of participants to contribute fairly. Thank you!

Testimonials

'Great experience + well-led, safe environment to share'

'Loved the use of local and authentic material'

Description supplied by the event organiser.