Join us for a two-day workshop, led by Paloma Gormley with the Material Cultures team, exploring both the theory and hands-on practice of working with wood.
THE WORKSHOP: The workshop is an introduction to working with wood, simple tools and do-it-yourself construction methods. We will be working with readily available sizes of timber to cut and assemble simple and functional furniture. Once constructed the furniture will be donated to the growers on the site. The workshop is intended to give you the skills and confidence to build things on your own. The workshop welcomes people of all building abilities, especially those with little or no prior experience. All materials and equipment are provided.
Paloma Gormley is codirector at Material Cultures. She has spent much of her architectural career on construction sites, building with reclaimed materials, timber, straw and clay. She has extensive knowledge of materials, their technical application, sourcing, and how bioregional and ecological approaches can be applied in buildings.
THE SITE: Pasteur Gardens is a seven-acre council-owned urban farm site situated in the borough of Enfield in north London. In the summer, the site is completely shielded from the city – a tranquil haven suggestive of a rural landscape. The land is farmed by Black Rootz and Wolves Lane. We spent last summer making an ecological building which will host this year’s workshops. Google Maps link here.
ACCESS: Some of the workshops will be held on rough terrain and may pose issues for those in wheelchairs or with reduced mobility. Reach out to us if you would like more information and photos in order to assess together whether you would be able to access the site. There are two compost toilets on the site, one of which is wheelchair accessible.
TRANSPORTATION: Material Cultures is rooted in a low-carbon approach so please travel to the workshop by public or shared transport if you can. We will be trying to do the same.
PRICE: Many people are under-represented in land work and construction and we want to do all we can to help respond to this. Material Cultures is a not-for-profit and we have tried to keep the price as low as possible. Before booking, we encourage all our learners to read the booking guidelines linked below. Price includes tuition, materials, tools and refreshments. We recommend you bring your own packed lunch with you as the site is no-where to buy lunch nearby.
£250/person Standard fee
£125/person Concession fee
£350/person Solidarity fee
BOOKING: There is a limited number of places in the workshop and booking is essential. Please read the BOOKING GUIDELINES before buying your ticket. If you have any questions, please email info@materialcultures.org
CONCESSION FEE: If you wish to apply for the concession fee, please email and explain your circumstances, based on the eligibility criteria listed. Please email your request to: info@materialcultures.org with subject line format: Workshop Name_concession tickets
Example: Clay Plastering with Annabel Cameron-Duff 2025_concession tickets