Workshops
New for 2025
We are launching our first seasonal program of hands-on courses, to be held at our studio in East Sussex, as well as a walking workshop, exploring the materiality of our local landscape.
The studio courses and walking workshops will focus on understanding materials, their landscape origins and practical methods of processing and making.
Discounts are available for multiple bookings of workshops (does not include the walking workshop):
10% off for second booking
15% off for second and third booking
20% off for second, third and forth booking
Please email us for multiple bookings, rather than using the Eventbrite link
2025 courses at our studio will be:
Winter (Pre-Vernal) – Working with Coppiced Timber – 7th March
Spring (Vernal) – Working with Natural Paints – 25th April
Summer (Aestival) – Working with Waste Excavation Earth – 20th June
Autumn (Serotinal) – Building with Harvest By-Products (plants) – 26th September
The first walking workshop will be in the South Downs in East Sussex, looking at chalk, flint and lime – 9th May
Course No.3
Walking Workshop:
Chalk, flint & lime
A walking workshop to discover how the unique landscape around Lewes enabled Lime production from the Chalk of the South Downs to develop buildings and agriculture across the region. Lewes has some amazing examples of Flint buildings, all constructed using Lime from the local Chalk pits.
Meeting at Lewes railway station at 9.45am, the workshop includes a tour of the Flint buildings in the town and a walk up onto the South Downs to see the historic chalk mines.
We will also be walking through The Phoenix – an area of the town that will be redeveloped from a 7.9 hectare brownfield site into a sustainable neighbourhood made using materials from the bio and geo-region.
The walk will be led by Ben and Loretta Bosence, founders of Local Works Studio. Ben has a background in building repair focussing on Lime and masonry materials. Loretta is a Landscape Architect and will introduce the unique Downland landscape of this region.
The workshop is open to 18 people
This circular walk will be around 5 miles in length and includes a steep hill climb of 120 meters elevation up onto the chalk footpaths of the South Downs.Please wear outdoor clothing and walking shoes suitable for the weather on the day
Bring some water and a cup and we will supply hot drinks and snacks
We will finish back at the Railway station in Lewes at approximately 1pm
9th May 2025
10am – 1pm
Price = £45 per person
18 participants maximum
Please follow this link to make a booking:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/walking-workshop-chalk-flint-lime-tickets-1217829905029?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl
Course No.4
Summer (Aestival)
Working with Waste Excavation Earth
This hands-on course will take place at our studio and workshop in East Sussex.
In this practical workshop, you’ll learn how to access, assess, process and use waste excavation materials to create natural plasters, rammed earth, daubs and un-fired bricks. We will explain the process through some of our recent projects, including the Gent waste brick and our Chalk/clay plasters for a house on the South Downs. We will also describe how plant fibre can be added to these materials for particular features.
20th June 2025
10am – 4pm
Price = £220 per person
12 participants maximum
Please follow this link to make a booking:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/working-with-waste-excavation-earth-tickets-1217954487659?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl
Vegetarian lunch provided – please contact us if you have any dietry requirements
The nearest train station is Cooksbridge (2 miles), with direct trains to London and Lewes. We can pick-up and drop-off from Cooksbridge at 9.40am and 4.15pm. Please email us if you require this lift: [email protected] There is a limited bus service to the village and some car parking at the farm.
Please bring work clothes and outdoor shoes
This course is open to everyone, including those with no experience of working with these materials.
If you are unable to pay for the course in full, and would like to discuss making 2 stage pre-payments, please email us: [email protected]
Course No.5
Autumn (Serotinal)
Working with Harvest By-Products (plants)
A hands-on workshop exploring the use of plant fibre for building structure, insulation and finishes. This year we will be focussed on using Wheat straw and Sweetcorn material, both grown at a farm that we are currently working with on a research project.
26th September 2025
10am – 4pm
Price = £220 per person
12 participants maximum
Please follow this link to make a booking:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-with-harvest-by-products-plants-tickets-1217978519539?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl
Vegetarian lunch provided – please contact us if you have any dietry requirements
The nearest train station is Cooksbridge (2 miles), with direct trains to London and Lewes. We can pick-up and drop-off from Cooksbridge at 9.40am and 4.15pm. Please email us if you require this lift: [email protected] There is a limited bus service to the village and some car parking at the farm.
Please bring work clothes and outdoor shoes
This course is open to everyone, including those with no experience of working with these materials.
If you are unable to pay for the course in full, and would like to discuss making 2 stage pre-payments, please email us: [email protected]
About Us
Local Works Studio was formed in 2017 as a partnership between a landscape architect and a building craftsman.
Our Approach
Local Works Studio takes a landscape-led approach to design, using site-based resources and processes to plan, make and repair.
Services
Our services aim to provide the varied tools needed to make any site a more environmentally sustainable, equitable, interesting and joyful place to be.