Nature art as ritual
Hannah Hardy
A summary
Nature Art as Ritual: A Playful Rites of Passage for Deep Connection
Workshop Description
Embrace the transformational power of creative deep nature connection at this year’s National Forest School Association conference. This experiential workshop serves as a living rites of passage, balancing lighthearted play with deep, profound transformation.
Guided by Hannah, who is an international artist exploring deep nature connection and the Foxes Guild Leader at this year’s 8 Shields Connection Camp, you will journey through the 8 Shields design framework to explore the eight directions of deep nature connection through nature art ritual invitations.
Together, we will weave nature art into a powerful community ritual, creating a sanctuary to harmonise our relationships with ourselves, our peers, the living earth and the unknown.
Beyond your own personal immersion, we will practically deconstruct how to integrate, scale, and adapt these profound experiences for diverse community groups. You will leave this session with a robust reflective practice and the confidence to facilitate playful, creative, and transformational nature art rituals safely, mindfully, and gently within your own Forest School and outdoor programmes.
Learning Outcomes
* Explore the 8 Shields Framework: Discover how to map creative nature connection activities across the 8 directions.
* Facilitate Safe Rituals: Gain practical tools to structure transformational experiences with strong emotional and physical boundaries.
* Adapt for Diverse Groups: Learn how to tailor nature art practices for different ages, abilities, and community demographics.
* Deepen Reflective Practice: Acquire new artistic methods to anchor self-reflection and mindfulness in nature.
About the Facilitator
Hannah is a qualified Forest School leader, 8 Shields practitioner, holistic therapist, and meditation guide. As an international artist, her work bridges community participation and deep ecological connection. This September, she will be exhibiting her interactive nature art series, Ritual, as a public participation rites of passage trail on the Glandford public art sculpture trail in Norfolk.
* Weather-appropriate clothing (we will be outdoors, rain or shine).
* A personal journal and a pen for reflective writing.
* A small, meaningful natural object found on the conference grounds to contribute to our collective ritual space.
Accessibility Information
* Location: This workshop takes place entirely outdoors in a woodland setting.
* Terrain: Expect uneven forest floors, gentle slopes, and natural paths.
* Pacing: The session includes moments of slow, mindful walking and periods of sitting on logs or the ground.
* Please contact the organiser in advance if you require seating adaptations or mobility support.
Specific Requirements
* An open mind and a willingness to participate in community-centred creative play.
* No prior experience required.
Hannah Hardy
www.hannahhardyart.com
Tickets
Art as Ritual workshop
Art as Ritual workshop
About your mentors
Hannah Hardy
Tilly Hogrebe
Mimi Eastell
Location
Safety
Enhanced DBS
Basic DBS
Risk Assessment
Public Liability Insurance
Safeguarding Training
First Aid Training
First Aid Kit
Smoke Detector
Please note:
It is the responsibility of the booker to satisfy themselves about the adequacy of the measures provided above and any other details represented in this listing. This platform is merely an introducer and does not verify the items listed.
Cancellation policy
Free bookings do not require refunds but as places are limited, please cancel if you cannot attend so that your place can be offered to someone else.
My experience consists of a leisure activity, on a specific date(s), and therefore the 14-day ‘cooling off period’ under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 does not apply.
