Cotswolds Hideaways announce woodland experiences

Cotswolds Hideaways and Cotswolds National Landscape have announced dates this spring for their popular rural skills and experience weekends set to take place locally across the regions, telling the story of the Cotswolds. Why not book a stay in a hand-picked Cotswolds Hideaways cottage, pictured, and make the most of a mini-moon in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty? The Call of the Wild - Woodland Experience involves gathering wood for a fire, log splitting with axes, charcoal burning and cooking a meal outdoors in a stunning Cotswold wood that was once part of the estate of Henry VIII. The dates are Sat 30th April, Fri 13th May, Sat 28th May, Fri 10th June and Sat 25th June 2022.

Outdoor-loving couples planning a mini-moon in the region will love the Fossils & Fun - Cotswold Stone Experience where they can discover the origins and secrets of this historic stone and how it has shaped the story of the Cotswolds. A fossil hunt will reveal ancient sea creatures from the Jurassic period when the area was a warm tropical sea and those creatures are now encapsulated in the stone. Guests can even try their hand at fossil hunting and finders, keepers! Set in a stunning quarry off the beaten track, they'll also get to see the lengths the quarrymen went to, even going underground. They can also experience dry stone walling, using the stone to make this iconic landscape feature. The dates are Fri 6th May, Fri 20th May, Fri 3rd June and Fri 17th June 2022.

The one-day Foraging and Wild Foods Course will see guests try a range of seasonal wild foods while exploring the Cotswolds countryside, learning about key principles of foraging, plus matters of safety, and a little about the laws regarding harvesting wild food.

The two-day Dry Stone Walling Course will see participants building a wall that will remain part of the Cotswolds landscape for the next 100 to 200 years. They'll learn about dismantling walls, stone sorting, laying foundations, building up the wall, adding and dressing the different types of stones and how to use the necessary tools. The dates are Sat 7th to Sun 8th May, Sat 19th to Sun 20th May, Sat 28th to Sun 29th May, Sat 11th to Sun 12th June and Sat 23rd to Sun 24th June 2022.

For more information, visit www.cotswoldshideaways.co.uk/cotswolds-national-landscape