Hawkwood Nursery, Sunday 29 March, 12-4pm
This month’s open day is part of the Cultivate Festival with a veritable feast of different activities, something for everyone! Take a look round our unique site and take part in shared work tasks and drop-in learning opportunities. Drop by at any time or stay for the day. We will have cake from Norman Loves and Hawkwood Herbal teas on offer at our popular cake stall. Our first plant and fruit bush sale of the season will also be open all day. There’s a special parents and babies-toddlers singing at Hawkwood in our Yurt, as well as a Forest School session for children of all ages to explore and play in our woodland space. At the end of the day we will close the Cultivate Festival with a Waltham Forest Harvest of Stories panel where local food and community leaders share in the success and look forward to transforming our community into the food growing hub of London.
‘If you go down to the woods today….’
Singing session at 11.30am-12.30pm for under 3s, with accompanying adult!
Join parents and babies/toddlers singing at Hawkwood, led by Anita from Tiny Tempos, bringing her truly engaging musical sessions to the Hawkwood site and our yurt classroom.
Introduction to Garden Wildlife
Drop-in workshop running at 12pm–1.30pm and at 2pm–3.30pm
Wildlife is an essential part of any garden, the buzzing of bees and insects is a welcome sound to any gardener. Join this workshop to learn more about the wildlife we have on site and the benefits of biodiversity as well as simple ideas to create some wildlife spaces of your own.
Spring Seed Sowing
Drop-in workshop running at 12pm–1.30pm and at 2pm–3.30pm
As Hawkwood gears up for regular seed sowing, we’re offering a workshop where you can learn this simple growing skill. If you’ve ever had trouble growing from seed, or you’d like to drop in and ask some advice this is a great place to be.
Fly Your Food Flag
Drop-in workshop running at 12pm–1.30pm and at 2pm–3.30pm
The Fly Your Food Flag workshops make it to Hawkwood! Throughout the festival community gardens have been exploring their place within our complex food system. This is a chance to chat, to draw, to write poetry and to think a little more deeply about the food on our plates and the plants in our gardens. Sow some seeds of creativity and see what artistic fruits they will bear.
1.30pm Break for lunch, please bring a packed lunch or buy our freshly made sandwiches and cake
2.30pm Hawkwood Site Tours
Site tours are informative and fun. Hawkwood has much to offer beyond its glasshouses and growing beds. Learn more about our site design, vineyards and our work beyond the fields. Even volunteers who have been on site for years are still finding special nooks and crannies, so who knows what you might discover!
12–3pm Forest School
A forest school is a type of outdoor education in which children visit forests and woodlands, learning personal, social and technical skills. Forest schools are often ‘led by the child’s interests’ by comparison and encourage them to explore with all of the senses, empowering children in the natural environment. Activities and free play for children of all ages. Children under 6 must be accompanied. Spaces are limited so please email londonforestschool@gmail.com
3-3.30pm Waltham Forest Harvest of Stories Panel and Closing of Cultivate Festival
Cultivate Festival is an incredible insight into food growing activity that is happening throughout the borough. It’s exciting times around here with market gardens and food enterprises popping up everywhere. Schools are teaching students how to grow veg and restaurants are working with growers to get more local veg on our dinner plates. Come and listen to the stories from community leaders who are the movers and the shakers behind this ‘growing’ movement.
12-4pm Plant stall and coffee & cake stall open all day
Directions to our Hawkwood site here.
We look forward to seeing you!
