Wild Craft Workshop: Nettle Cordage Bangles & Oak Gall Ink

There's something quietly remarkable about the things growing right under our feet. The stinging nettle that catches your ankle on a country walk, and the small, round galls that appear on oak trees after a wasp's visit, are two of the most overlooked materials in the British hedgerow, and two of the oldest in human hands. People have been twisting nettle into cordage and brewing oak galls into ink for thousands of years, long before synthetic rope or bottled ink existed.

This two-hour, hands-on workshop brings both crafts together in one relaxed session, no experience necessary.

What you'll do

We'll start by setting a batch of oak gall ink brewing, crushed galls, water, and a little iron, left to develop its deep black-purple colour while we get our hands on the nettle. You'll learn to strip fibre from the stem, then practise the reverse-wrap twist that turns that fibre into genuine, usable cordage ,  the same basic technique used in traditional crafts the world over. Once you've built up enough length, you'll coil and bind your own cordage into a simple wearable bangle, finished and ready to take home.

By the end of the session, your ink will have darkened and matured too, ready to strain and bottle. You'll leave with a bangle made entirely by your own hands from a single plant, and a small jar of ink,  plus the kind of "I made that from a nettle?!" story that's hard not to share.

Who it's for

Anyone curious about traditional crafts, foraging, or working with natural materials, no prior skills needed. It's hands-on and a little messy in places (the ink stains, in the nicest possible way), so old clothes or an apron are a good idea. We'll teach every technique from scratch, and there's plenty of one-to-one help throughout.