Top 10 Things to Do at the Weekend to Reconnect with Nature

For many of us, the weekend is a time to recharge and restore our spirits after a long and stressful week. Luckily, there are many ways to relax and recover from a busy week! Regularly getting in touch with nature has proven to be a beneficial habit in many ways and there are a number of different avenues that will help you introduce this into your lifestyle! From creating a mini eco-system in the form of a terrarium to painting in a leafy park, we have rounded up the top 10 things to do at the weekend to reconnect with nature.

Top 10 Things to Do at the Weekend to Reconnect with Nature:

• Terrarium Masterclass with Botanical Boys
• Wildlife Photography Workshop in Richmond Park with Matthew Williams-Ellis
• Ceramic Leaf Platter Online Course with Ceramics Inspired by Nature
• African Elephant Acrylic Painting Kit with MasterPeace
• Outdoor Painting Workshop in Hyde Park with Katya Art Studio
• Beginners Spoon Carving Course with Bristol Tree Craft
• Vintage Upcycling Workshop with Touch Wood Vintage Designs
• Sculptural Willow Weaving Workshop with Creative Nature HQ
• Fermentation and Preserving Workshop with Greenwich Pantry
• Dried Flower Arranging Class with The Flower Factory LDN

Terrarium Masterclass with Botanical Boys

Location: Kings Cross, Central London

You may be asking yourself, what is a terrarium? A terrarium is a miniature environment of living plants that thrive off moisture. In this workshop, you will learn how to make a self contained living botanical environment!

Once built, your garden will require very minimal maintenance! However, your expert tutors in this class will enlighten you to the simple and easy tips and tricks of caring for your terrarium at home.

Ben and Darren founded Botanical Boys because they are enthusiastic about sharing their passion for plants. In their workshops, you will reconnect with nature through creating and maintaining your own terrarium.

Wildlife Photography Workshop in Richmond Park with Matthew Williams-Ellis

Location: Richmond, South West London

During this Richmond Park photography workshop, you will learn how to capture exciting, creative wildlife images through ‘in the field’ tutorials in front of the majestic Red and Fallow deer that occupy the Royal park.

There are countless beautiful backdrops, including Silver Birch Tree copses, lone Oak Trees, ferns and lakes, ensuring you will come away with beautiful images to be proud of.

At the same time as learning the technical side of photography, you will also have the opportunity to admire the beautiful natural landscape around you.

If you love getting out and about in nature, and want to learn how to capture beautiful wildlife photographs then this is the workshop for you!

Ceramic Leaf Platter Online Course with Ceramics Inspired by Nature

Location: Pre-recorded workshop

Sonya at Ceramics Inspired by Nature believes in the healing energy of nature and is passionate about helping students reconnect with the natural world around them!

In this online workshop, the goal is for you to enjoy creating with clay, to feel calmer as you do so and gain in skills and knowledge.

Throughout this workshop, students will be guided with simple step-by-step instructions to make a beautiful, professionally crafted pottery leaf plate or platter.

Whether you are a complete beginner when it comes to working with clay or you're a seasoned potter who wants to explore designs influenced by nature, this online workshop is engaging for students of all levels.

African Elephant Acrylic Painting Kit with MasterPeace

Location: International delivery options available

The African Elephant is the largest land animal on earth and possibly the most majestic. But, it is impossible to admire the beauty of the natural world without also reflecting on its vulnerability.

Now endangered, charities like Tusk are working hard to prevent poaching in countries like Kenya, Zambia and Mali alongside community projects.

Sophie, a talented Conservation artist at MasterPeace, has created this painting kit to express a vibrant celebration of the elephant’s imposing grace.

This kit includes all of the guidance and equipment you will need to complete this striking acrylic painting. Plus for every kit bought, a £5 donation to conservation charity Tusk will be made on your behalf.

Outdoor Painting Workshop in Hyde Park with Katya Art Studio

Location: Hyde Park, Central London

Learn something new in the beautiful setting of Hyde Park, one of the most wonderful parks in London! Katerina invites you to appreciate and capture on canvas one of the most beautiful scenes in London.

Working in an intimate part of the park, the aim of this workshop is to produce a series of 'plain air' sketches and paintings that simplify the varied and complex natural views seen.

Join Katerina Kovalova, international artist and art teacher for this wonderful opportunity to paint in the orchard and gardens of one of the most iconic and inspirational park in London.

Beginners Spoon Carving Course with Bristol Tree Craft

Location: Eastville, Bristol

You will make your spoon from locally sourced green wood using an axe and two types of knife, which the tutor will teach you to use safely and effectively.

This course is suitable for both complete beginners, and those who’ve made spoons before and would like to hone their skills and develop their designs.

Woodcraft brings connection to the natural world and the simple wellbeing that comes from making something with your hands, which promotes good mental health.

Bristol Tree Craft is a community organisation dedicated to bringing people together to make things out of wood. They encourage participants to express feelings through creative and physical means, enjoy each other's company and take pride in their work.

Vintage Upcycling Workshop with Touch Wood Vintage Designs

Location: Streatham, South West London

Have a treasured piece of furniture that is looking a bit worse for wear? In this workshop, you will discover how to restore, mend and upcycle your favourite furniture pieces.

Breathing new life into vintage furniture is a very rewarding way to get in touch with nature! When learning how to upcycle vintage furniture, you are saving money and saving the planet, a true win-win!

This skill will allow you to live a more sustainable lifestyle and appreciate as well as support the environment.

In workshops with Touch Wood Vintage Designs you will discover how you can use natural ethical paints, accent colours and waxes to bring a whole new layer of creativity to your re-purposing and up-cycling projects.

Sculptural Willow Weaving Workshop with Creative Nature HQ

Location: Woolwich, South East London

In this willow weaving workshop, you will look at willow in its dry and wet states and begin to handle and learn techniques to manipulate it. Once you have a good understanding, students will then immerse themselves into the wonderful rhythm of weaving.

Stephen at Creative Nature HQ, has been working with willow for over 30 years and trained as a sculptor and Forest School teacher. Using impressive techniques, you can work on your own on a small piece, or in a group with your friends and family to create more ambitious scaled work.

Creative nature HQ is a collective of artists, makers and designers who believe that we are all inherently creative. In their workshops, students can expect to slow down, be in the moment and engage with nature.

Fermentation and Preserving Workshop with Greenwich Pantry

Location: Greenwich, South East London

Discover the processes and concepts behind fermenting delicious foods and drinks. Explore the world of fermentation and get inspired to get started with fermenting and preserving food.

This class will introduce you to the art of fermentation and equip you with simple practical skills to ferment at home.

This fermentation and preserving workshop will show you how you can cut down your food waste! Introducing this sustainable habit into your lifestyle, will help you reconnect with nature as well as protect the environment as you will be producing considerably less food waste.

Dried Flower Arranging Class with The Flower Factory LDN

Location: Clerkenwell, Central London

Love dried flowers? Then this is the workshop for you! Learn how to make your own hand-tied bouquet using beautiful dried flowers with the guidance of a flower fanatic!

Not only are dried flowers great because they last forever and will always look as good as the day you made them, they are also sustainable and eco friendly.

Using carefully selected dried blooms and foliage, you will make a wild and wonderful bouquet that will look amazing anywhere in your house. Your talented, professionally qualified teacher is full of useful tips and tricks that will help you make your floral arrangement truly amazing.

Need more advice?

Whether you want to bring a piece of the outdoor world indoors with a terrarium workshop or incorporate more sustainable habits into your lifestyle, there are many activities that will help you reconnect with nature. From weekend woodworking courses to weaving workshops at the weekend, fill your free time with activities that celebrate nature! Not only does engaging with the outdoors help spark creative inspiration, engaging with the natural world around us also helps boost our mood and wellbeing.

Take a read of some of our other amazing guides and best round ups below. We're sure you'll find something useful, oh - and don't forget to share the love.

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• Top 8 Best Horticulture & Gardening Courses in London