Come to SSW every Thursday from 11.30am–1.30pm for our Thursday Club, a relaxed space to explore some of the skills needed to nurture the world around us, and enjoy making together. These weekly sessions invite you to try out different processes, learn from one another, and connect with the land in Lumsden as well as skills and making processes used to nurture it. The focus of our Thursday Club will be rooted in the SSW Materials Garden where we will learn techniques and skills that help us to explore the question What Grows Here?
Each session includes a free community lunch shared with the SSW team and artists.
The Community Fridge will also be open before Thursday Club from 11am.
No experience is needed, and all materials, tools and refreshments are provided. These sessions are open to all — children and young people of all ages are welcome but must be accompanied by their parent/ caregiver.
Sessions are free but please book by emailing communities@ssw.org.uk letting us know all of the events you plan to attend.
12 February – Exploring the Physic Garden with Idle Women
19 February – What Grows Here? Part 1 with Jessica Crisp
26 February – Dead hedging part 1 with Jimmy from Cults Croft
5 March – Dead hedging part 2 with Jimmy from Cults Croft
12 March – What Grows Here? Part 2 with Ellie Ballantine
19 March – Making willow plant supports with Deeside Willow
26 March – Embedding willow supports in the materials garden and spring preperations
Exploring the Physic Garden with Idle Women
12 February 11.30am – 1.30pm
Join Idle Women for a talk exploring their physic garden, including the inspiration behind it, the intentions for the space, and how it was built and continues to be cared for. This session offers time to learn from their approach to growing, knowledge-sharing, and working with plants in a thoughtful, community-led way.
What Grows Here? with Jessica Crisp
19 February 11.30am – 1.30pm
Led by artist and gardener Jessica Crisp, this session begins a deeper exploration of the question What Grows Here?. Together we’ll start to look more closely at the Materials Garden, carrying out simple soil sampling, exploring the environment around different parts of the garden and continuing to plan for the growing season ahead. We’ll also harvest the first crop of woad from the garden, using this as a starting point to explore indigo dyeing and the journey from plant to material.
Dead hedging with Jimmy from Cults Croft
26 February 11.30am – 1.30pm
This is the first of two sessions with Jimmy from Cults Croft, introducing the practice of dead hedging and how it can support wildlife, provide shelter, and enrich the soil through decomposition. In this session, we’ll begin by selecting and plotting a site in the Materials Garden, learning the basic technique, and gathering materials from the garden to start building the hedge together.
Dead hedging with Jimmy from Cults Croft
5 March 11.30am – 1.30pm
This second session continues our work with Jimmy from Cults Croft, building on the foundations set in the first week. We’ll continue constructing the dead hedge in the Materials Garden, adding structure and layering materials while learning more about how dead hedging supports wildlife, soil health, and the wider garden ecosystem.
What Grows Here? Part 2 with Ellie Ballantine
12 March 11.30am – 1.30pm
This session builds on the first What Grows Here? workshop and takes a closer look at the plants that grow well at SSW. Rather than trying to make plants grow here, we’ll focus on working with what is already thriving in the garden and across Lumsden. Led by artist and researcher Ellie Ballantine, the session will explore how these plants can be used in making processes, their qualities as materials, and the ways plants connect people and communities.
Making willow plant supports with Deeside Willow
19 March 11.30am – 1.30pm
Join Deeside Willow for a hands-on session exploring willow – a local and sustainable material. You’ll learn simple weaving techniques while working together to create practical and beautiful obelisk plant supports for the Materials Garden, with plenty of time to get stuck in and enjoy working with natural materials.
Embedding our willow in the materials garden and Spring prep
26 March 11.30am – 1.30pm
This final session focuses on placing and embedding the willow obelisks into the Materials Garden, getting them ready to support the growing season ahead. As we round off the winter programme and look towards spring, we’ll also spend time preparing the garden with any final maintenance tasks needed to set it up for the months to come.
Sign up for your free sessions online by emailing communities@ssw.org.uk with the following information:
- Your full name
- Email address
- Telephone number
- List all the events that you would like to book
- List the names of the other people attending with you
- If anyone is under 18, please list their age/s
- Any relevant information about medical conditions or accessibility needs
You can also call the SSW office on 01464 861372 between 9:30am and 3:30pm Tuesday to Friday.
Travel support:
If you live locally and travel or travel costs to SSW are a barrier to you taking part please get in touch with us so we are able to support you. Call us on 10464 861 372 or email communities@ssw.org.uk.
Please note:
Children and young people of all ages are welcome to The Thursday Club but must be accompanied by their parent/ caregiver.
