Workshops with Wildways Artists

Drop-in to these workshops, try these sustainable art techniques and pick up tips direct from the artists to help you continue using these approaches to make your own art and creative projects:

Paper-making Workshop with Tana West 12pm- 3pm

Learn how to make paper using found materials and organic plant fibres gathered along the banks of the Ching River. From making the pulp to pressing and forming sheets of paper this hands-on workshop explores the connection to the books in the library to its local river.

Hapazome Leaf Printing with Fatima Najm 12pm - 3pm

Extract the natural pigments of real leaves to create a print design. Use a hammer to transfer leaf detail onto fabric, learn how to make colour fixing formula with everyday ingredients. You can even revive unloved white cotton or linen t-shirts to make them into wearable art. Bring leaves from your garden or allotment, or use Fatima's selection.

Festive Koinobori Windsock Making with Julian Beere

1pm - 3pm

Inspired by the Japanese tradition of Koinobori, make a fish-shaped windsock with paper or fabric. Carry your completed Koinobori with pride and a shoal of colourful fish could grow inside and outside the library.

Painting using Earth Pigments with Karelia Blum Prompt start at 1pm, duration 2 hours*

A hands-on opportunity to learn how we can make earth pigments from clay and tree bark collected around the River Ching. Explore the process of transforming these natural materials into pigments and use them to make watercolours. Use the handmade colours to create a small A5 artwork inspired by the textures, forms and colours of the earth, trees and water around the river. *Capacity for 8-10 people for the pigment preparation. We might be able to welcome more participants later in the workshop to paint with the newly made pigments.

Introduction to Making Cordage with Jess Snell of Woodlarks Forest School

Try cordage twining techniques using rafia and quiz Jess about how she and Rachel Summers make cordage lengths by preparing local plants, pick up tips on which plants are especially good for cordage and why, and how to collect them responsibly. Cordage could be as thick as rope, this drop-in introductory workshop will guide you in making twine or string. Image courtesy of Karelia Blum

Frequently Asked Questions?

What does it cost?

Every workshop is FREE

Who can take part?

Anyone visiting the library. Children can take part in activities when accompanied by an adult.

Do you recommend any activites for children?

The Festive Koinobori Windsock workshop could be enjoyed by children from age 3 and older with their adult and friends.

Hapazome Leaf Printing and Papermaking workshops are suitable for children supported by an accompanying adult to use the tools and materials. Painting using Earth Pigments workshop lasts two hours so recommended for adults and young people with a deep interest in finding out about these techniques.

Where are the workshops?

Hapazome Leaf Printing, Papermaking, Painting with Earth Pigments workshops are outside, at the entrance to Hale End Library. Festive Koinobori Workshop is inside Hale End Library.

What to wear?

Dress for the weather. These are creative workshops - wear clothes that you feel relaxed about getting marked by colours, glue or paper pulp!

Are there any toilets?

Yes, including an accessible toilet

Will we be able to see the Artists Field Notes exhibition too?

Yes! This is the last day of the exhibition - you are so welcome to come along, explore the exhibits, and ask any questions.

About Wildways along the Ching

Wildways along The Ching is one of 26 projects made possible by the Mayor of London’s Green Roots Fund to ensure that the urban ecosystems in our city are thriving habitats for nature longterm. Building on years of determined grassroots eco-activism and robust citizen science monitoring by resident groups including

the Ching Action Group and Highams Park Snedders, project partners also include East London Waterworks Park, OrganicLea, TCV, The Hive and Thames21. Together with Waltham Forest Council’s Climate Action, Housing, and Green Spaces teams, these project partners are addressing pollution, flood risk and habitat

management for this fragile, natural asset.

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Your name and contact details may also be shared with London Borough of Waltham Forest Climate Team who have commissioned us to deliver this project so they can contact you about the event if they need to.

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For more information on how we use your data, please see our privacy policy. For more information about how the Climate Team processes your data for this project please view the Wildways along the Ching Privacy Notice.