Sun 30 Jun 24- Hedgerow Brush making Experience (09:30-1:30pm)
Learn to make a unique brush using foraged wood and Tampico fibre, transform a branch into a brush you can use for years to come using traditional craft techniques with wood expert Amy Leake. You’ll also learn to make Rush cordage. Spend a relaxing time on our farm in the Surrey Hills away from the hustle. Tea, coffee and biscuits by the open fire included (Weather permitting). Aimed at beginners. Over 18 years old.
Review on Facebook - "A fabulous morning making a brush. Beautiful setting, great hosts and a lovely teacher. Tea, coffee, biscuits & nibbles throughout the morning with water kept hot on the open fire. Highly recommend" Jane, May-23
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Interested but can’t find a date to suit you? Enquire about other dates
Learn to make a hedgerow brush with expert wood crafter Amy Leake, she is highly regarded in her profession for her work and teaching. She has been working with wood for years before deciding to teach.
All tools and materials will be provided, along with all the tea, coffee around the campfire and all the biscuits to keep you going.
What is brush making
Transform a branch into a brush you can use for years to come using traditional craft techniques.
You will be using Natural Tampico Fibre for brush making. This fibre makes excellent brushes for sweeping or scrubbing. It comes from the agave lechugilla plant in northern Mexico. The fibres are extracted, dried, and processed from the cactus leaft without any use of chemicals.
What is Tampico? and what are Tampico brushes used for?
For decades the Tampico or “ixtle” fibre has been a popular material of choice for bristle brushes used in home and commercial applications.
The natural Tampico Fibre is made from a plant unique to the semi-desertic areas of northern Mexico; the Agave Lechugilla. These natural fibres are absorbent, and are said to aid in lifting and absorbing the dirt from the leather and are commonly used by wood flooring contractors. Tampico bristle also tend to be resistant to bending and flattening and also naturally acid resistant. So an all round great natural material.
What to expect?
Classes are made up of a maximum of 10 students and take place in the beautiful setting of our family farm nestled on the edge of Sheepleas nature reserve and at the foot of The Surrey Hills, an area of outstanding natural beauty.
This is aimed at being a creative day “making” at a relaxed pace, being out in nature. No experience neccessary. The workspace is undercover in a former open sided farm building.
The worshop will run from 09:30 am and aim to finish around 1:30pm
The workshop is led by expert Amy Turner. Read more about Amy and others in the Team
We will guide you through the steps of making your brush. This is an exercise in learning a new craft, being creative and slowing down to appreciate the art of making.
See our FAQs page for more detail of what to bring, wear and timings
If you’re not sure this course is quite for you, explore the other crafts and experiences we offer.
”"This venue really is a special place and you can tell the owners have put their heart and soul into making it as warm and welcoming as possible. Set in the beautiful Surrey Hills in an open sided barn, it really is a peaceful and mindful experience. I will most definitely return!" Laura, Jun 22 See what other students say about their experience.
