Events & Workshops
Celebrate ancient crafts, customs & festivals
Bronze Casting Workshops - March
Discover the metal that changed the world and craft your own bronze sword, axehead, knife, or torc. Running on the 7th, 13th, 21st.
FREE Heritage Crafts Taster Day for Local Residents
Renowned Master Arrowsmith and Fletcher Will Sherman, introduces you and one other person to dip your toes into the beginnings of his craft during a 2-hour session. With his portable forge he will help each person to make 2 different arrowheads to take home - a Type 8 medieval bodkin, and a tanged Viking hunting head! Also included is a 1 hour have-a-go archery session for continuous shooting.
Arrowsmithing Taster
Renowned Master Arrowsmith and Fletcher Will Sherman, introduces you and one other person to dip your toes into the beginnings of his craft during a 2-hour session. With his portable forge he will help each person to make 2 different arrowheads to take home - a Type 8 medieval bodkin, and a tanged Viking hunting head! Also included is a 1 hour have-a-go archery session for continuous shooting.
Corn Dolly Workshop
Learn an endangered craft deeply rooted to rural life, from one of the last remaining tutors in the country. Connected to the rhythms of the earth, corn dollies were also known as harvest tokens. A soothing and relaxing activity, this workshop is beginner friendly.
Flintknapping Workshop
Learn the ancient techniques used to shape flint, and create your very own hafted tool with flint, wood, twine, and pitch.
Spoon Carving Workshop
Explore the artistry of spoon carving, and discover the timeless craft of carving, shaping, and refining wooden spoons. Connect with tradition and create a functional and personalised piece of art.
Belt Weaving ~ Backstrap Loom
Join experienced heritage tutor Kat Wootton under an awe-inspiring roundhouse roof to weave your own belt using natural fibres and backstrap looms. Immerse yourself in ancestral crafts as you learn ancient techniques in the atmospheric buildings of our forebears as you are led in this historic and meditative technique.
Woven Rope Trivet Making
Take part in an endangered heritage craft, and work in a small group to twist your own rope using a hand-powered mechanism. Learn from experienced rope maker Sue Pennison as you are guided to create your own rope trivet - a useful addition to any home!
Bronze Casting Workshops - April
Discover the metal that changed the world and craft your own bronze sword, axehead, knife, or torc. Running on the 7th, 13th, 21st.
Ceramic Labyrinths
Create a functional, relief finger labyrinth, which you can further personalise to your own unique design using various coloured slips.
Ceramic Mask Creation
Spend a day learning various sculptural techniques to create your own artistic expression of a mask, including a variety of slips and mark making techniques.
Ceramic Labyrinths
Create a functional, relief finger labyrinth, which you can further personalise to your own unique design using various coloured slips.
Raku-fired Celtic Lanterns
Participants will pick from a variety of reliefs and glaze a pre-bisque fired, Celtic lantern. After personalising it by applying glazes, it will be Raku fired as you wait.
Copper Decorations ~ Inspired by Nature
Design and build you own copper table decoration. Begin with a small guided walk where you will forage for inspiring natural material. Nestled within the beauty of the South Downs National Park, you will then spend time translating your found inspiration and ideas into copper - resulting in a personal piece of art for your home.
Raku-fired Celtic Lanterns
Participants will pick from a variety of reliefs and glaze a pre-bisque fired, Celtic lantern. After personalising it by applying glazes, it will be Raku fired as you wait.
Anglo Saxon Amulet Making Workshop
Explore the ancient art of amulet making, inspired by intricate Anglo Saxon pendants and brooches. Led by artist and maker Lydia Asscher, learn techniques originally developed in the Bronze Age.
Chainmail (Maille) Making Workshop
Guided by two experienced maille-makers, learn to make your own piece of history to take away with you. Craft a bracelet, patch, and five links of riveted maille to gain hands-on experience of various tools and methods.
Viking Weave Jewellery Workshop
Learn how to craft a matching set of Viking weave jewellery in our Saxon Hall. Guided by expert Holly Berkley, craft a necklace and beaten spiral pendant, a bracelet, matching earrings and a beaten spiral ring.
The Stone Age Sewing Kit Workshop
Create a Stone Age Sewing Kit with natural materials under the guidance of Sally Pointer. Explore the evidence for kits based on archaeology and anthropology.
Flintknapping Workshops
Learn the ancient techniques used to shape flint, and create your very own hafted tool with flint, wood, twine, and pitch.
Ancient Metalworking Workshop
Step back in time and experience the wonders of ancient copper metallurgy! From smelting copper from malachite to creating bronze alloys and casting your own metal object, you’ll be hands-on with the processes that shaped human history.
The Stone Age Sewing Kit Workshop
Create a Stone Age Sewing Kit with natural materials under the guidance of Sally Pointer. Explore the evidence for kits based on archaeology and anthropology.
Ancient Wire Work ~ 5 Ring Designs
Learn how to craft 5 ancient copper ring designs based on historic finds. Guided by expert Holly Berkley.
Bronze Casting Workshops - May
Discover the metal that changed the world and craft your own bronze sword, axehead, knife, or torc. Running on the 7th, 13th, 21st.
Amber Pendant Making Workshop
Reach back in time to discover how the ancient world was connected through amber. Create your own amber pendant and string under the guidance of experimental archaeologist Vanessa Bunton.
Corn Dolly Workshop ~ Intermediate Weaves
Learn an endangered craft deeply rooted to rural life, from one of the last remaining tutors in the country. Connected to the rhythms of the earth, corn dollies were also known as harvest tokens. A soothing and relaxing activity, this workshop is for those with some previous experience.
Create a Bone Artefact
Bone is a versatile material used through history. Gain inspiration from examining bone objects before being guided to create your own from a selection of choices! Use tools from prehistory to early medieval under the guidance of experimental archaeologist Vanessa Bunton.
Introduction to the Stone Age
Gather by the fire for a session of hands-on history - handling artefacts, skins and braiding your own leather tooth necklace! This introduction to the Stone Age rocks!
Flintknapping Workshops
Learn the ancient techniques used to shape flint, and create your very own hafted tool with flint, wood, twine, and pitch.
Botanical Relief Roundel & Mini Cast
Explore & enjoy making your own unique botanical relief roundel and learn from experienced local artist Josie Butler how to paint a plaster impression using a mini botanical cast.
Bronze Casting Workshops - June
Discover the metal that changed the world and craft your own bronze sword, axehead, knife, or torc. Running on the 7th, 13th, 21st.
Chainmail (Maille) Making Workshop
Guided by two experienced maille-makers, learn to make your own piece of history to take away with you. Craft a bracelet, patch, and five links of riveted maille to gain hands-on experience of various tools and methods.
Wild Cordage & Coil Basketry Workshop
Learn how to make cordage, a prehistoric form of string, in this ancient crafts workshop. Work with a variety of foraged, wild-growing plants and start work on a coil basket! Running both days this weekend.
Ancient Metalworking Workshop
Step back in time and experience the wonders of ancient copper metallurgy! From smelting copper from malachite to creating bronze alloys and casting your own metal object, you’ll be hands-on with the processes that shaped human history.
Corn Dolly Workshop
Learn an endangered craft deeply rooted to rural life, from one of the last remaining tutors in the country. Connected to the rhythms of the earth, corn dollies were also known as harvest tokens. A soothing and relaxing activity, this workshop is beginner friendly.
Spoon Carving Workshop
Explore the artistry of spoon carving, and discover the timeless craft of carving, shaping, and refining wooden spoons. Connect with tradition and create a functional and personalised piece of art.
Copper Decorations ~ Inspired by Nature
Design and build you own copper table decoration. Begin with a small guided walk where you will forage for inspiring natural material. Nestled within the beauty of the South Downs National Park, you will then spend time translating your found inspiration and ideas into copper - resulting in a personal piece of art for your home.
Ancient Metalworking Workshop
Step back in time and experience the wonders of ancient copper metallurgy! From smelting copper from malachite to creating bronze alloys and casting your own metal object, you’ll be hands-on with the processes that shaped human history.
Historical Plants Workshop
Discover the historic use of plants in the Butser Gardens, and create your own ointment. Explore how plants through time have been used for food, flavourings, dye, medical treatments, strewing, and making protection amulets.
Amber Pendant Making Workshop
Reach back in time to discover how the ancient world was connected through amber. Create your own amber pendant and string under the guidance of experimental archaeologist Vanessa Bunton.
Netmaking Workshop
Reach back in time to learn the essential skill of weaving nets. Make a useful bottle holder, a net bag and start a straight net under the tutelage of experimental archaeologist Vanessa Bunton.
Drum Making Workshops
Discover the sound of our ancestors and craft an ancient instrument used in performance and ritual by Neolithic, Celtic, Viking, and modern peoples. Running each day this weekend.
Ancient Metalworking Workshop
Step back in time and experience the wonders of ancient copper metallurgy! From smelting copper from malachite to creating bronze alloys and casting your own metal object, you’ll be hands-on with the processes that shaped human history.
The Folklore of Plants
Join us fireside to travel through a year of nature as you hear old stories about familiar flowers. End with making scented Saxon Amulet Beads with ingredients you have heard about from the ancient tales.
Nalbinding Workshop
Discover a prehistoric form of knitting, and learn nalbinding stitches used by the Vikings to create sturdy, warm clothes from mittens to socks!
Nalbinding Development Workshop
Grow your nalbinding knowledge and discover how to do the Oslo stitch, a stitching technique that dates back to the pre-historical period.
Using the Whole Animal Course
This course will introduce you to which parts of an animal are useful for different products, and how to preserve those parts until they can be used. We will cover all basic butchery for both food and utilitarian items, as well as those parts not often seen as useful.
Deer Skin Tanning Course
Before the advent of modern tanning agents, humans were turning raw skin into usable leather products using very basic techniques and materials. Learn to produce incredibly soft, strong and durable leather from raw animal skin using one of human kind’s earliest tanning technologies!
Corn Dolly Workshop
Learn an endangered craft deeply rooted to rural life, from one of the last remaining tutors in the country. Connected to the rhythms of the earth, corn dollies were also known as harvest tokens. A soothing and relaxing activity, this workshop is beginner friendly.
Viking Arm Cuff Workshop
Learn to make a decorated copper arm cuff in the style of Viking jewellery. On this course, you will use the technique ‘chasing and repoussé’ to make simple patterns on a band of copper, which you will later form into an arm cuff.
Introduction to the Stone Age
Gather by the fire for a session of hands-on history - handling artefacts, skins and braiding your own leather tooth necklace! This introduction to the Stone Age rocks!
Drum Making Workshop
Discover the sound of our ancestors and craft an ancient instrument used in performance and ritual by Neolithic, Celtic, Viking, and modern peoples. Running each day this weekend.
Corn Dolly Workshop ~ Intermediate Weaves
Learn an endangered craft deeply rooted to rural life, from one of the last remaining tutors in the country. Connected to the rhythms of the earth, corn dollies were also known as harvest tokens. A soothing and relaxing activity, this workshop is for those with some previous experience.
Viking Weave Jewellery Workshop
Learn how to craft a matching set of Viking weave jewellery in our Saxon Hall. Guided by expert Holly Berkley, craft a necklace and beaten spiral pendant, a bracelet, matching earrings and a beaten spiral ring.
Copper Decorations ~ Inspired by Nature
Design and build you own copper table decoration. Begin with a small guided walk where you will forage for inspiring natural material. Nestled within the beauty of the South Downs National Park, you will then spend time translating your found inspiration and ideas into copper - resulting in a personal piece of art for your home.
Ancient Wire Work ~ 5 Ring Designs
Learn how to craft 5 ancient copper ring designs based on historic finds. Guided by expert Holly Berkley.
Treasure Hunt of Folklore Stories
Ideal for children. Follow The Storyteller around our beautiful site hunting for clues to folklore stories of nature and hearing folklore stories about kindness and pride from around the world, finishing with making protective Saxon Amulet Beads to take home from natural ingredients.
Bronze Casting Workshops - February
Discover the metal that changed the world and craft your own bronze sword, axehead, knife, or torc. Running on the 1st, 7th, 14th, 21st.
Bronze Casting Workshops - January
Discover the metal that changed the world and craft your own bronze sword, axehead, knife, or torc. Running on the 1st, 7th, 14th, 21st.
Spoon Carving Workshop
Explore the artistry of spoon carving, and discover the timeless craft of carving, shaping, and refining wooden spoons. Connect with tradition and create a functional and personalised piece of art.
Tree Ornament Workshop
Plait straw to create a range of tree ornament corn dollies for Yule or Christmas. A soothing and relaxing activity, this workshop offers a calming escape from the bustle of modern Christmas, and is beginner friendly.
Tree Ornament Workshop
Plait straw to create a range of tree ornament corn dollies for Yule or Christmas. A soothing and relaxing activity, this workshop offers a calming escape from the bustle of modern Christmas, and is beginner friendly.
Tree Ornament Workshop
Plait straw to create a range of tree ornament corn dollies for Yule or Christmas. A soothing and relaxing activity, this workshop offers a calming escape from the bustle of modern Christmas, and is beginner friendly.
Bronze Casting Workshops - December
Discover the metal that changed the world and craft your own bronze sword, axehead, knife, or torc. Running on the 7th, 13th, 21st.
Bronze Casting Workshops - November
Discover the metal that changed the world and craft your own bronze sword, axehead, knife, or torc. Running on the 1st, 7th, 14th, 21st.
Flower/Samhain Tealight Workshop
Enjoy a mindful crafting session at Butser Ancient Farm by making a carrier of light! Create a copper flower tealight holder in a historic setting.
Wire Tree Sculpture Workshop
Guided by expert Holly Berkley, craft a wire tree set on a stone, and discover how to sculpt it to your desired shape.
SOLD OUT - Corn Dolly Workshop
Learn an endangered craft deeply rooted to rural life, from one of the last remaining tutors in the country. Connected to the rhythms of the earth, corn dollies were also known as harvest tokens. A soothing and relaxing activity, this workshop is beginner friendly.
Atlatl/Spearthrower Course
Learn to make and use this prehistoric hunting technology. Create a complete set including a Dart, tipped with a stone tip and hafted with prehistoric glue, and carve your own Spearthrower.
Viking Weave Jewellery Workshop
Learn how to craft a matching set of Viking weave jewellery in our Saxon Hall. Guided by expert Holly Berkley, craft a necklace and beaten spiral pendant, a bracelet, matching earrings and a beaten spiral ring.
Bronze Casting Workshops - October
Discover the metal that changed the world and craft your own bronze sword, axehead, knife, or torc. Running on the 5th, 11th, 19th, 26th.
Flower Tealight Workshop
Enjoy a mindful crafting session at Butser Ancient Farm by making a carrier of light! Create a copper flower tealight holder in a historic setting.
Bow Making Course
Learn how to craft your Bow using simple Bushcraft tools, discovering the knowledge and skills that have been passed on from one generation of Bowyers to another. Explore Bow design through the ages and find the right design for you.
Willow Bird Feeder Workshop
Join us to learn how to weave these natural bird feeders designed as fat ball holders, but are just as useful for storing onions in the kitchen.
SOLD OUT - Corn Dolly Workshop
Learn an endangered craft deeply rooted to rural life, from one of the last remaining tutors in the country. Connected to the rhythms of the earth, corn dollies were also known as harvest tokens. A soothing and relaxing activity, this workshop is beginner friendly.
Bronze Casting Workshops - September
Discover the metal that changed the world and craft your own bronze sword, axehead, knife, or torc. Running on the 6th and the 14th.
SOLD OUT - Drum Making Workshops
Discover the sound of our ancestors and craft an ancient instrument used in performance and ritual by Neolithic, Celtic, Viking, and modern peoples. Running each day this weekend.
Flintknapping Workshops
Learn the ancient techniques used to shape flint, and create your very own hafted tool with flint, wood, twine, and pitch.
Roman Graffiti Kids Workshop
Nice people don’t write on walls, do they? Perhaps not, but the Romans were not always nice, and they wrote on walls constantly.
Roman Arithmetic Kids Workshop
How did Romans manage arithmetic in Roman numerals? By using dried beans on a counting board. Explore how this highly visual system uses different mental skills and how it helps learners who struggle with maths.
Roman Magic Kids Workshop
Explore Roman magic, what is was used for, and discover how to make your own! Can be extended for a whole day experience 9am-5pm
Viking Arm Cuff Workshop
Learn to make a decorated copper arm cuff in the style of Viking jewellery. On this course, you will use the technique ‘chasing and repoussé’ to make simple patterns on a band of copper, which you will later form into an arm cuff.
Copper Shadow Puppet Making Workshop
Spend the day making copper shadow puppets inspired by folklore of the British Isles. Then gather around the fire in one of our atmospheric Iron Age roundhouses and watch your designs come to life.
SOLD OUT - Warp Weighted Weaving Workshop
Learn how to weave on a warp weighted loom, a technology used throughout history, dating back to the Neolithic in Central Europe. This workshop can be paired with our Setting up Warp Weighted Looms Workshop, during which you will learn to set up a warp weighted loom.
Flintknapping Weekend
Discover one of humanity’s oldest crafts, and see expert knappers from the Lithics Studies Society turn raw flint into a range of beautiful tools and objects!
SOLD OUT - Setting up Warp Weighted Looms
Learn how to set up a warp weighted loom, a technology used throughout history, dating back to the Neolithic in Central Europe. This workshop can be paired with Warp Weighted Weaving workshop, during which you will learn to weave and develop your weaving techniques.
SOLD OUT - Flintknapping Workshops
Learn the ancient techniques used to shape flint, and create your very own hafted tool with flint, wood, twine, and pitch.