Woodland Connections is a collaboration between Shining Cliff Centre CIC and Bonnie McNabb from All About the Calm. We offer regular woodland sessions for children and adults, and special events throughout the year, like our Family Halloween Fun and our holiday children’s events. We also offer bespoke sessions to groups either based in Shining Cliff woods or we can come out to your site.
All our sessions are aimed at supporting our wellbeing, through the 5 Steps to Wellbeing (Be Active, Keep Learning, Take Notice, Connect, Give)
We use a ‘Pay It Forward’ ticket system to help us to sustainably continue to offer low-cost woodland wellbeing sessions to all ages. When you book via Eventbrite, the ticket options will include a ‘pay it forward’ ticket and the extra money you pay goes directly to our funding pot. This money is used to keep ticket prices low by funding the admin and session leader costs.
We are super excited to have secured funding from the National Lottery to support us to run our woodland sessions for all ages; thank you #NationalLottery players!
- Shinrin-Yoku Forest Bathing
- Fettle, Kettle & Cake Volunteer group
- Bespoke Wellbeing in the Woods sessions
- Grith Pioneer Woodland Volunteer days
Upcoming Workshops at Shining Cliff hostel
Photography in Nature Workshop – Monday 22nd September 2025
Shining Cliff Hostel, Derbyshire. 09:30am – 3:30pm
Discover how to capture the autumnal beauty of the ancient Shining Cliff Woods with photographer Roger Morgan. This one-day nature photography workshop is perfect for beginners and improvers who want to learn how to use their camera beyond auto mode. The day includes woodland photography practice, studio-style techniques with natural objects, and expert guidance on lighting, composition, and using a tripod.
Optional overnight stay at the hostel available.
Owls & Bats
We had an amazing experience in May with ecologist Beverley Rhodes who showed us her rescue owls and then led a bat walk. It was a phenomenal evening so we are hosting another walk on Friday 12th September at the Beech Hut Gathering Circle from 6pm until 9pm. The session is fully booked.
Natural Paint Making & Tree Sketching Workshop
Shining Cliff Hostel, Derbyshire. 11th September, 10:30am – 3:30pm.
Diana Green is an artist whose work focusses on trees and their landscapes, primarily using her ow handmade paints and inks created using rocks, soils and natural materials gathered from her walks.
Join Diana to create your own natural paints and inks, and in the afternoon be guided through the process of sketching a tree and practice using your own natural paints.
Sarah Naidoo-Banks is hosting a series of workshops based at Shining Cliff hostel this year; these are aimed at business owners, self employed and early/mid career professionals.
Sarah is an accredited coach and an accredited Business Psychologist who wants to help support individuals to be grounded and calm so we can do our best work.
Woodland Sessions for Wellbeing at Shining Cliff Woods, Derbyshire
Shinrin-Yoku Forest Bathing in Derbyshire
Throughout the year Kate & Bonnie lead guided Forest Bathing walks in Shining Cliff woodland and also at Shaw Wood near Oakerthorpe.
Enjoy the calming effect of spending time in nature. Reduce stress and anxiety with guided mindful moments, take time to slow down, reconnect with yourself and with nature. Engage your senses and feel the busy day melt away.
‘Fettle, Kettle & Cake’ Volunteer Woodland Conservation sessions.
These free fortnightly Tuesday sessions provide a space for you to have some time-out in the woodland, having a go at a variety of woodland management tasks or helping to maintain the hostel grounds, meeting new people and enjoying a cuppa with some cake!
Tasks can include woodland maintenance, such as coppicing, path repairs, maintaining ditches, rhododendron pulling, sign maintenance & litter picking. Tasks may also involve helping to care for the grounds of Shining Cliff hostel.
Bespoke Woodland sessions for Wellbeing.
Woodland Connections offers bespoke sessions for hostel groups, people hiring the Beech Hut or any group wanting to simply come and enjoy the woodland for the day and have a bespoke session tailored to your needs.
If you have an idea in mind, for your company, friends, family or community group then please get in touch to discuss what we can offer you.
Activities offered can include forest bathing, guided woodland walks, practical conservation tasks, learning or building on skills such as using tools for simple woodland crafts, learning to build and cook on an outdoor fire, treasure hunts, birthday parties, team building games and activities, providing support to become confident at spending time in a woodland setting. We are open to ideas and suggestions and can tailor a session to meet your group’s needs.
We also offer a magical range of children’s birthday parties, please get in touch to request our party information pack.
Grith Pioneer Woodland Volunteer days
Shining Cliff hostel is owned by the Grith Pioneers, a charity with the aim of protecting, improving and conserving the physical and natural environment of the land owned for the benefit of the public.
The charity is made up of members, they hold a regular AGM and welcome volunteers to their regular work days in the woods, carrying out tasks to help them maintain this beautiful woodland.
For more information on getting involved, becoming a member and helping out with the woodland management contact grithpioneers@gmail.com
