Hands - On Learning Residencies programme.
Learn traditional Crafts at Naturally Useful on Marcassie Farm
You can tailor your course to your personal preferences.
Within a 3 month training with us, Ali made all of these baskets and more.
Mila and her creations after a 3 month stay with us on a multi medium artist residency
Accommodation
Stay on the Willow Field
When you join us for courses or workshops, you’re welcome to stay right here on our beautiful Willow Field. We offer a small collection of unique, rustic and eco-friendly spaces—each hand-built or lovingly restored.
Accommodation Options
All spaces sleep 1 person (the Octagonal Cabin has a truckle bed and can sleep 2, The Vado has a small double bed).
Shepherd Hut – hand-built, rustic eco retreat
‘Vado’ Gypsy Caravan – colourful and full of character
Off-Grid Octagonal Cabin – charming, light-filled cabin
Teeny-Wee Caravan – cosy and compact
In summer, you’re also welcome to bring your campervan, caravan or tent to stay on the field.
Facilities
All students share The Hub – our communal space with:
Separate cooking facilities
Toilet and shower area (designed to be as disability accessible as possible)
A welcoming fire pit for evenings under the stars
Washing machine (£3 per load)
Rates
Shepherd Hut / Vado / Octagonal Cabin
1 night = £55
2-6 nights £45 per night
1 week = £295 (7 nights)
1 month - £550
3 month stays = £1200
The above rates are for 1 person staying in the accommodation - if a second person is staying there with you there is a £20 per night cost for the 2nd person to cover the shared facilities
Teeny-Wee Caravan
1-2 nights: £35 per night
1 week: £175
1 month: £400
Bring Your Own Campervan, Caravan or Tent
£20 per night
A deposit is required for all bookings and is non-refundable if cancelled within 7 days of arrival.
Booking
If you’d like to stay with us while you learn, please get in touch by email or phone to discuss your needs and our availability.
If we’re fully booked, we can recommend our lovely neighbour who offers B&B accommodation, or the beautiful lodges at Marcassie Farm.
📞 Tel: 01309 675 052
Shepherd hut for students at Naturally Useful
Vado Gypsy wagon student accommodation at Naturally Useful
tiny wee caravan student / volunteer accommodation
Shepherd hut Naturally useful, Rafford
Octagonal cabin - off grid with canvas roof
Inside the Octagonal cabin
Vado
Inside the Hub - shared kitchen area
Volunteer day snack time in the Hub
View from Vado window
Inside of Vado
Fire pit on willow field for student use
Bonfire at The Hub on the Willow Field
The Hub at Naturally Useful
Coming to Naturally Useful for a course
Our workshop is a large and airy barn. When summer is here we also have a beautiful outdoor space to work in. If its cold, the Dragoness – our hand made purpose built stove will warm you. Even our beautiful compost toilet (which has steps) may be a new experience for you. Course participant numbers are approx. 5 - 8 .
Please refer to our contact page for directions on how to find us on the farm, thank you.
If you sadly have to cancel your place on a course within 2 weeks of it’s date, we unfortunately would need to deduct a materials wastage cost of £20 from your refund. If we can fill your place within the 2 weeks, we would of course be happy to give you a full refund or offer you an alternative course date to suit.
If you are interested in a particular course on a particular date that is fully booked, please email us and we will pop you onto a waiting list and contact you if a place becomes available.
Saturday courses
Most of our Saturday courses run from 9.30am to 5pm unless stated otherwise. Please bring a packed lunch and we will provide hot drinks throughout the day. All equipment and materials are provided so there is no need to bring anything else unless the course description asks for it. By coming on one of our courses, you’ll learn a traditional craft, expanding on your existing skills or starting as a beginner. You’ll go home with a creation of your own making, and be a part of the lineage of traditional craft makers.
Bespoke courses
Personalised courses: in addition to our regular workshops, we also offer tailor made days, weeks or even up to 9 month courses to suit your requirements. The skills needed to create what is available in our shop or seen on this website can be taught. This includes basket making in all styles, coffins, art works, felting, knife making, botanical printing, batik, spinning, natural dyeing and tanning animal hides. We can cater for complete beginners to those who are more advanced. All materials are normally included in our tuition prices - the only exception would be coffins, shrouds or big sculptural projects which may incur a surcharge but this would be discussed with you.
Tuition Prices:
One day, bespoke learning £140.
1 Week (5 days) - £550
1 Month = £1600
2-3 month stays £1300 pm
Group courses
Groups of up to 6 people at at a time is possible in our own premises or we can come to your venue. Prices on application depending on your requirements- please just call or email and we will see how we can make your dreams come true. We can cater for hen parties, community groups and special occasions. Making with Naturally Useful is accessible to all, no matter the age or physical ability. We have a team of tutors who have many years of teaching experience between them. We offer a well-supported, empowering and warm learning environment where curiosity is nurtured through natural flow learning – working at a pace that is satisfying for you.
Your eyes will become sharpened to the materials that the natural world offers you. If you are familiar with a particular craft, we can help to deepen your knowledge and further your skill. We offer one to one tuition tailored to your needs throughout the year. You will be working in our beautiful workshop alongside other professional crafters in willow, wool and textiles. We love sharing our skills, so if you are keen to learn with us, please get in touch and we can discuss your needs.
Vado glamping accommodation
learn to make willow plant supports
shepherd hut and Vado
Workshop making baskets
batik course
Workshop learning Batik
wooden spoon carving
Workshop Botanical Printing
Workshop log baskets
how to carve a wooden spoon
Workshop hooky - froggy rag rugging
3 month residential training
Community Workshop
Basket making
Workshop - home grown Japanese Indigo dye
Knife making workshop
Felt rug workshop
Traditional Celtic basket workshop
Spinning workshop
how to make a willow fence panel
eco printing course
how to make felt slippers
learn how to make a celtic frame basket
felting an alpacca rug
learning batik
learning eco printing
Preparing Vado accommodation for students
Shepherd hut accommodation for students
willow fence or hurdle
tiny wee caravan student / volunteer accommodation
“I can’t thank you enough. It’s been an amazing week and I’ve learnt loads. I can’t wait to introduce Mr Fox to everyone at home.” Said Rachel Kirk who spent a week learning sculptural skills in willow.