RESPECT YOUR ELDERS with Wild Combination
A tasty series of workshops on foraging, preserving, folklore, and connection, centred on the seasonal offerings of the Elder tree.
Location
Shepherd Wheel
Hangingwater Road Sheffield S11 2YE United KingdomGood to know
Highlights
- 2 hours, 30 minutes
- UNDER 18 WITH PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN
- In person
Refund Policy
About this event
A series of outdoor workshops on how to identify plants, their cultural and ecological importance, and the multiple ways we can preserve and process them for modern use.
In this series we will center our meetings around The Elder, a tree known as a mother for its generosity in all that it provides.Often overlooked when not in bloom, the Elder is a culturally important tree full of folklore, tradition, and many practical, medicinal and culinary uses. This will be a chance to really get to know and develop a relationship with a plant, from buds to flowers, berries to bare branches and fungus. In each stage of growth we will explore how to preserve different parts of the tree, going way beyond elderflower cordial.
We will use our meetings to explore the ways people used to commune with trees could be brought into our lives as an act of resistance to modern malaise, creating a feeling of connection not only with the plant and the world around us but with each other too.
Each meeting will provide you with the opportunity for foraging, preserving, crafting and discussion. We will be sharing experiences and knowledge with plenty of wild cooking and recipes to try all from this magical, mythical, mama of a tree.
Session 1 - Yeah Buddy 11/05/2025
Identifying Elders and other nearby foragables.
How to talk to your mother, exploring the folklore and customs linked to Elders.
How to preserve and use buds.
Practical and Medicinal uses.
Crafting from elder activity.
Wild snacking and refreshments - tasters of what you can make.
Session 2 - I’ll bring you flowers (not in the rain) 08/06/2025
Identifying Elderflowers and their lookalikes and other forageables.
Sweet and savory preservation methods.
Flower folklore.
Practical and Medicinal uses.
Make a face spray.
Wild Snacking and refreshments - tasters of what you can make .
Session 3 - Berry good time to make tasty things 17/08/2025
Wine, sauces, pickles, jellies, vinegars and more! Using elders and other nearby foragables.
Practical and medicinal uses .
Elder as a dye.
Sun printing.
Wild Snacking and refreshments - tasters of what you can make.
Session 4 - Lend me your Jelly ears 28/09/2025
Folklore of how the elder got it's ears.
How to identify and use Jelly ear fungus and other nearby foragables.
Witchy business, craft activity and stories.
Wild Snacking and refreshments - tasters of what you can make.
Grand Finale! Bring and share makes.
Frequently asked questions
We will arrange location in Sheffield one week before the event as we will be following the seasons and choosing the best spot for each sessions needs. They will likely be Whitley woods/ Cat lane woods, Heeley parks and similar.
We will be walking over uneven terrain for 1-2km per session making it unsuitable for wheelchair users. If you have any other access needs please contact us directly and we can discuss whether the session will be suitable or adaptable for you.
Suitable footwear, waterproof clothes in case of rainfall. Some small bags or jars and scissors to collect foraged items in. A means of making notes if you wish.
We will rearrange the date of the workshop. We'll let you know 24 hours before. If we cancel and you can't make the rescheduled workshop you will receive a refund for that session.