Wednesday 23rd July 2025 to Saturday 26 July 2025
The Woven Briar Wool School invites you to join Bec Briar, shepherd and weaver, for 4 days of immersive wool crafting this summer.
The Wool School takes place at The Woven Briar, a rural wool workshop located on the outskirts of the Exmoor town of Wiveliscombe, a market town with a historical connection to the wool trade.
The school invites learners of all levels to immerse themselves in the world of wool crafting and discover the deep, timeless connection between wool, plants, and the land.
Under the guidance of founder Bec Briar, you'll explore the art of spinning, dyeing, weaving, and even ink and medicine making, all while fostering a deeper connection to the plants and fibres that inspire your creativity. Bec’s hands-on approach allows you to work with wool from her own flock of sheep, whose fibres are woven into the very heart of your craft. You'll visit the sheep, learning first hand how their care and the surrounding land influence your materials and process.
But it doesn't end there. You'll discover the healing properties of plants, foraging from local hedgerows to create natural dyes and medicines that bring both color and wellness to your work. Discover how the abundant flora around you can enrich your creative practice.
For those looking to fully immerse themselves in the experience, The Wool School offers on-site camping, with the option to stay in a cozy mini yurt. Just across the road from the ewes and their young lambs, you'll sleep under the stars, wake to the sounds of nature, and embrace the peaceful beauty of the land. It's the perfect retreat for rest, reflection, and crafting, where you can disconnect from the hustle and bustle and reconnect with nature's rhythm.
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced maker, The Woven Briar Wool School is a welcoming space where creativity, sustainability, and community flourish. Sign up to discover the magic of wool, plants, and the land, and enjoy learning new skills in a friendly atmosphere.
Bec is an artisan of her craft - and her sheep are her loyal students. I don’t think I knew what quality sheep fleece was supposed to feel like until I started purchasing her fleece subscription boxes. Now as a spinning teacher, when I’m asked where to get good quality fleece and spinning supplies, The Woven Briar is top of the list. I’m taken back to times where the knowledge of raising sheep for fleece was as well understood as this flock and their wonderful shepherd.
Alexandra Juliette
About Bec Briar
Bec is the founder of The Woven Briar, a creative haven nestled in the heart of West Somerset. With a passion for wool crafting, sustainable living, and the healing power of nature, Bec has dedicated herself to sharing her craft and plant knowledge as a way to create connection with landscape.
Bec's friendly flock, the HoneyWoods Flock, reside with their lambs just across the road from the workshop, their beautiful rare breed fleeces forming the foundation of her craft. Each sheep is blade shorn in early spring, cared for with attention to their well-being, and their wool is handled with great respect throughout the entire process.
Drawing on years of experience in spinning, dyeing, and weaving, as well as a deep connection to the plants that surround her, Bec brings a holistic approach to every aspect of her work. She holds certificates in bushcraft, wild medicine and ethnobotany, has over 15 years’ experience teaching crafts and plant knowledge, holds a Forest School qualification and is generally extremely passionate about the ways mental health, nature and crafting come together. Through The Woven Briar, Bec invites others to discover their own creative path, deepen their connection to the earth, and embrace a slower, more mindful way of living.
The School
Arrival from 6pm Tuesday 22nd for those staying over.
Wednesday 23rd 9.30am Start.
Sessions (subject to change)
Wednesday 10am to 1pm. Introduction to wool, sheep breeds, fleece categories, choosing and skirting fleeces, washing, carding and combing fleeces.
Wednesday 2pm - 5pm. Beginner wool spinning on a spinning wheel.
Wednesday 6.30pm. Short plant walk , introduction to plant medicines and dyes (optional).
Thursday 10am to 1pm. Wool spinning continued. Plying, skeining, finishing. A chance to practice and discover different kinds of fleece.
Thursday 2pm to 5pm. Dyeing with plant materials. A short introduction to plant dyeing techniques, dyeing a skein of wool for you to take home.
Thursday 5.30pm. Optional drive to local lake, short walk and wild swim. We reccommend this is followed by 2 for 1 pizza night at The Bear Inn, Wiveliscombe, booking essential.
Friday 10am to 1pm. Weaving with a rigid heddle loom. Learn to set up and weave on a rigid heddle table loom, using some of your hand spun yarns.
Friday 2pm to 5pm. Spinning and weaving your projects, practice time.
Friday 6.30pm. Plant medicine session.
Saturday 10am to 1pm. Ink Making with plant materials.
Saturday 2pm to 4pm. Practice time - any details you need to finish off; complete your projects; option to try out band weaving.
Saturday 4pm. Closing.
What is included
All tea and coffee, biscuits, hot water (please bring a packed lunch).
All materials and equipment hire for the sessions. You may also wish to purchase additional materials to continue practicing in between sessions or evenings.
All tuition.
Accomodation and Camping
On site:
There is a large and beautiful field with young trees and a river, where you are welcome to pitch your tent. There is also an orchard near the car park if you do not wish to walk so far. The cost is £20 per night per person.
There is also hard standing for campervans beside the field and near the workshop. £20 per night per person.
You can also rent a mini yurt which will be put up for your arrival. You will need all of your own bedding. The yurts fit a double mattress or two single mattresses which you will need to bring. These are £65.
Camping prices include outside flushing toilet, cold tap, and access to the barn 24 hours with kettle, tea and coffee and electricity points for charging phones and a small fridge, and an electric hob for cooking.
Please note no ground fires are allowed in the camping field and orchard.
Off site:
There are many B&B options in the local area, including in Ford, Wiveliscombe, and further afield. There are also options for camping and glamping locally.
Wiveliscombe has The White Hart, with bed and breakfast options.
Local Food
Wiveliscombe boasts a number of local food and drink shops from Phoenix Kitchen, Wiveliscombe Whole Foods, an excellent local butcher, and two pubs serving a range of good pub food with booking advisable in the evenings.
Terms and Conditions:
Full refunds are available up to 4 weeks before the course starts.
50% refund 2 weeks to 4 weeks before the course starts.
No refund available less than two weeks before the course starts.