Unleash your green potential with these countryside-inspired courses...
From bushes adorned with glossy red hawthorn, rowan berries and rosehips to delicate arrays of deep purple elderberries and bilberries, September’s beauty is something to embrace and enjoy. Fortunately, Surrey is one of the most magical places to do so.
1. The Surrey Hills Challenge
Turn over an active new leaf against the striking setting of the Surrey Hills or the Edwardian Polesden Lacey estate. The Surrey Hills Challenge and Trust10 offer fitness trials ranging from 1km fun runs to 60km ultras (surreyhillschallenge.com and nationaltrust.org.uk).
2. Celebrate Surrey
For something a little less energetic, why not gather friends and family for a day of free community-focused activities and celebrate all things Surrey at the 10th anniversary of Live Local, Love Winkworth (nationaltrust.org.uk).
3. Eat in the great outdoors
Break free of a mealtime recipe rut to dine with a difference; Christian and Beckie from The Salt Box run sit down seasonal breakfasts and suppers, cooked over an open fire, among the trees of the Priory Farm Estate, Nutfield (wearethesaltbox.co.uk).
4. Sketch it out in nature
head to the rural setting of the Surrey Art School in Dorking for tailored programmes designed to transform you from an amateur artist to a painting pro. Choose from the six-week Learn to Draw course (suitable for absolute beginners), or the Sketchbook Club (options for all levels).
Term opens this month. Visit: surreyartschool.com
5. Create a wildlife haven
Learn how to select the best plants for your plot, whether for pots or open ground; sun or shade. Discover which ones will provide seasonal colour, those that repeat flower and the plants that encourage and support pollinators throughout the year.
Sep 18, surreyhillsgardeningschool.co.uk
6. Forage for your supper
Learn how to make a meal from weeds with one of the many foraging courses run by Wild Food UK throughout Surrey. Held at sites around Banstead, Guildford and Warlingham, you’ll find out how to identify edible plants, flowers, fruits and mushrooms and how to cook with them at home.
Various dates, wildfooduk.com
7. Make a lasting imprint
Create unique prints (in time for home-making Christmas cards!) on the five-week introductory screen printing course at the Ochre Print Studio in Guildford. Taking you through the process from the beginning, you’ll learn how to prepare your images, coat a silkscreen with photographic emulsion, use the dark room and print on paper.
From Sep 2, ochreprintstudio.co.uk
