About

Thanks for visiting the Woodland Makery website, a Forest School based in Bristol. I’m Elise, Mum of two little Es, Wife to Eddie (The Es!) ex-primary school teacher of 14 years, textile artist, now creative Woodland Workshop Maker.

I run Forest School based Workshops and Parties for all ages: from Acorns (under 5s) to Women’s Wellbeing, pre-school, Primary Schools, to Adults and Wonderful charities. I love my job and everything about it and am passionate about nature, the outdoors and creating crafts from natural, sustainable materials, such as willow work, whittling, foraging and cooking food on the fire.

I am fully CRB checked, Forest School Level 3 qualified, Paediatric First Aid Trained, up to date safeguarding training and have the appropriate insurance to run these Workshops.

My original degree was in Multimedia Textiles at Loughborough University. After setting up my own collective workshop and Gallery on Park Street, Bristol (Leeky Gallery) for 5 years in my 20s I then went on to do my GTP and qualified as a Primary School Teacher.

I have run creative workshops since closing my gallery in 2006. Firstly, in and around teaching, now in and around having a family.

As a teacher my specialism and TLR was developing creativity within the curriculum (ART, DT, outdoor learning, whole school art/craft projects) I still work on a consultancy basis with local schools and pre-schools.

After teaching and when my children were young I left teaching and qualified as a child minder. I continued to run Craft Workshops alongside this, then lockdown
happened and changed my journey, taking the workshops outside. I haven’t looked back.

I feel so lucky and blessed to rent a beautiful little Micro Woodland on my good friend James Farr Family Farm in Tockington, Bristol. He and his family have been so supportive and encouraging since my set up in 2020. I love working on the farm where there are so many creative people around me: from the sustainable florist Wild Zinnia, (www.thewildzinnia.com )to Marcie K Designs (www.marciekdesigns.com), Juno Magazine (www.junomagazine.com) and lots more) as well as being a working farm.

I love teaching and being outside and I am really looking forward to meeting you and getting creative. Elise x