Classes and Events
Traditional Christmas Wreath Making
Get in the Christmas spirit by making your own decorative wreath. Using natural materials, learn how to construct and decorate your own eco-friendly traditional Christmas wreath in the beautiful surroundings of the historic Cotesbach Estate. The informal and friendly class will be held in our Georgian Schoolhouse building, in a small group. From building the...
Find out more »Traditional Christmas Wreath Making
Get in the Christmas spirit by making your own decorative wreath. Using natural materials, learn how to construct and decorate your own eco-friendly traditional Christmas wreath in the beautiful surroundings of the historic Cotesbach Estate. The informal and friendly class will be held in our Georgian Schoolhouse building, in a small group. From building the...
Find out more »Traditional Christmas Wreath Making
Get in the Christmas spirit by making your own decorative wreath. Using natural materials, learn how to construct and decorate your own eco-friendly traditional Christmas wreath in the beautiful surroundings of the historic Cotesbach Estate. The informal and friendly class will be held in our Georgian Schoolhouse building, in a small group. From building the...
Find out more »Children’s Christmas Trail
A Christmas themed walk for children, through the magical gardens of historic Cotesbach Hall. Follow the trail around the beautiful gardens and grounds of Cotesbach Hall, discover ancient trees and secret pathways on your Christmas quest! Ticket price includes a gift at the end of the trail. Please wear appropriate footwear, ground can be uneven...
Find out more »Orchard Wassailing
Shrug off the January blues with some traditional singing, cider and storytelling, in the heritage orchard of historic Cotesbach Hall. Join us for the ancient tradition of Orchard Wassailing this winter, which aims to ward off evil spirits and bless the trees in the hope of a good harvest later in the year. Dress up...
Find out more »Apple Tree Pruning with Jody Cornfield
Formative and winter fruit-tree pruning course, with a focus on Apple trees. Suitable for beginners onwards. The class will take place in the heritage orchard of Cotesbach Organic Gardens, which has many local and old varieties of apple trees. On this course you will learn the theory behind why we prune; health benefits to the...
Find out more »Spoon Carving with Tom Jennings
Carve your own spoon in a day from green wood, and learn about the tools and techniques that you can use to create a variety of shapes. This course offers an introduction to woodcarving with craftsman Tom Jennings. You will be guided step by step through the entire process of crafting your own beautiful eating...
Find out more »Some Antics Comedy Night – Leicester Comedy Festival
Some-Antics is Leicester's third best poetry night and will be bringing some of the East Midlands' finest comedy acts to Cotesbach Educational Trust as part of Leicester Comedy Festival. Not to be missed!
Find out more »Natural Bee Keeping with John Noble
This class is for you if you love bees! Natural beekeeping puts the welfare of the bees first, and our desire for honey second! An introduction to the fascinating world of natural beekeeping. Learn about the honey bees natural cycles and how following a more bee-centred approach to apiculture may benefit both the bees and...
Find out more »Hedgerow Basket Weaving with Maggie Cooper
Make your own beautiful hedgerow basket from natural materials in a variety of colours. Learn how to weave a traditional basket, making use of the decorative colours of different willow varieties. A place on this day course would be a great gift to give someone who loves crafting, or you could make a basket to...
Find out more »Sourdough Breadmaking with Paul Raddan
Sourdough breadmaking with master bread baker Paul Raddan of Rugby Real Bread. Sourdough is slow-fermented bread that does not require commercial yeast in order to rise as it uses 'wild' yeasts. We will make a wheat sourdough and a flavoursome dark rye and spelt bread. Learn all the techniques to produce your own sourdough loaves...
Find out more »Wild Food Foraging Walk with John Noble
Join expert forager John as he guides you through hedgerows and meadows, in search of nature's free food. Learn how to identify edible plants (and what to avoid) and find out what's available seasonally. Tickets from Eventbrite (booking fee applies) click here
Find out more »Dawn Chorus Walk with Gavin Bennett
Join us for an early morning walk, and immerse yourself in the joyful sounds of bird song, as the dawn chorus reaches its peak. From March to July the dawn chorus can be heard as birds defend their territories and sing to attract a mate. Ornithology expert Gavin Bennett will teach you to identify different...
Find out more »Weave your own Garden Obelisks and Plant Climbers with Maggie Cooper
Make your own garden structures for climbing plants using natural materials. Expert weaver Maggie Cooper will show you step by step how to use traditional weaving techniques to make garden obelisks, sculpture or plant-climbers using a variety of natural materials. Course fee includes all materials and a delicious lunch from The Yard Cafe (a hand-made...
Find out more »Traditional Austrian Scything with Nicole Clough
This one day course is designed to introduce the attendee to using and looking after an Austrian scythe. The course is suitable for a range of experience levels, from complete beginners to those who have been using a scythe but feel that it could be working better for them. The course covers: • Setting up...
Find out more »Introduction to Organic Gardening with John Noble
Join the team at Cotesbach organic garden for an introduction to organic gardening principles and practices. How we grow our food is important for our health, and the health of our planet. If you are interested in growing healthy food without unnecessary chemicals, but don't know where to start, then this course is for you....
Find out more »Composting for beginners with John Noble
Everything you always wanted to know about composting but were afraid to ask! Learn how to turn your kitchen waste into black gold! Home composting is the most environmentally-friendly way of dealing with kitchen and garden waste, plus it produces compost that can be used as an excellent soil improver. Join john as he talks...
Find out more »Seed Saving with John Noble
Seed saving is a great way to cultivate and increase varieties in your garden in the cheapest way possible and it is also the best way to protect endangered varieties and heritage plants. Join John for an introduction to the fascinating and rewarding topic of seed saving. Learn why, when and how we save seed...
Find out more »We are a Covid-secure venue and have taken all precautions to ensure that your visit is as safe as possible.
Please do not attend if you have any symptoms of coronavirus; have tested positive for coronavirus; are in a household or support bubble with someone who has symptoms of or has tested positive for coronavirus; or have been advised to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app, or following entry to the UK from a country with a high coronavirus risk. If any event is cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19, you will be offered a full refund (excl. booking fees).
Past Events
Scroll to the bottom of the page to find our archive of past events and programmes. We will be adding to this in the coming months, to build up a complete picture of the work of the Trust to date.
Autumn Wild Food Foraging
Free food is all around - if you know where to look for it! The ultimate in zero waste and low food miles. Learn where, what, and when! Join expert forager John Noble as he guides you through hedgerows and meadows, in search of nature's free food. Learn how to identify edible plants (and what...
Find out more »Autumn Wild Food Foraging
Free food is all around - if you know where to look for it! The ultimate in zero waste and low food miles. Learn where, what, and when! Join expert forager John Noble as he guides you through hedgerows and meadows, in search of nature's free food. Learn how to identify edible plants (and what...
Find out more »Some Antics Comedy Night
Some-Antics return to Cotesbach, following their successful Comedy night this summer. Featuring an exciting line up of stand up and improv comedy from across the East Midlands, as well as music from DJ Ninja Bob! This is an outdoor open-air performance so please bring your own coats & blankets (chairs will be provided). Let's hope...
Find out more »Some Antics – Comedy Night
Some-Antics presents an exciting line up of stand up and improv comedy from across the East Midlands, as well as music from DJ Ninja Bob! This is an outdoor open-air performance so please bring your own blankets and camping-chairs. Let's hope the weather will be kind but please come prepared – the performance will continue...
Find out more »Tom’s Midnight Garden – A Midsummer Ballet – Sunday 6pm
An open-air ballet performance of a brand-new adaptation of 'Tom's Midnight Garden' by Frankly Speaking Productions. When Tom is exiled to his aunt and uncle’s dreary flat while his brother recovers from measles, he fears that his holidays are doomed. But the vast old house hides enchanting and wondrous secrets, and the grandfather clock is...
Find out more »Tom’s Midnight Garden – A Midsummer Ballet – Sunday 3pm
An open-air ballet performance of a brand-new adaptation of 'Tom's Midnight Garden' by Frankly Speaking Productions. When Tom is exiled to his aunt and uncle’s dreary flat while his brother recovers from measles, he fears that his holidays are doomed. But the vast old house hides enchanting and wondrous secrets, and the grandfather clock is...
Find out more »Tom’s Midnight Garden – A Midsummer Ballet – Saturday 3pm
An open-air ballet performance of a brand-new adaptation of 'Tom's Midnight Garden' by Frankly Speaking Productions. When Tom is exiled to his aunt and uncle’s dreary flat while his brother recovers from measles, he fears that his holidays are doomed. But the vast old house hides enchanting and wondrous secrets, and the grandfather clock is...
Find out more »Some Antics – Spoken Word Night
Some-Antics is one of Leicester's leading poetry events and will be showcasing some of the East Midland's finest spoken word talent, also featuring music from DJ Ninja Bob! This is an outdoor open-air performance so please bring your own blankets and camping-chairs. Let's hope the weather will be kind but please come prepared – the...
Find out more »An Audience with Satish Kumar
This is a really exciting opportunity to hear life-long activist and former monk, Satish Kumar talk about his life and work. Satish has been inspiring global change for over 50 years. In his 20s, he undertook a peace-pilgrimage for nuclear disarmament, walking without money from India to America. Now in his 80s, Satish has devoted...
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