Unique Hen do & group ideas - less than an hour from London
If you’re planning an activity for a group - hen do or a big birthday like a 50th… We’ve all done the abroad hen do, the cocktail making hen do… and especially when some of the hens have young families, they’re in need of some balance. They want some “quality down time with friends”.
Our space at Joy Farms, we offer experiences with a difference!
Spend quality time crafting together, away from the stresses of day to day. We offer a number of sociable craft workshops, and the choice typically includes: Spoon carving, Basket weaving, botanical printing and more…
The small classes take place in the beautiful setting of our family farm nestled on the edge of Sheepleas nature reserve and at the foot of The Surrey Hills, an area of outstanding natural beauty. In West Horsley, less than an hour from London.
The workspace is undercover in an open sided farm building (& weather dependant, some crafts like spoon carving can be around the open fire in a small adjacent copse).
For Hen dos with a packed schedule and only a few hours available, we offer 1-2 hr taster activities & longer 3hr activities. Depending on the size of the team & time available, groups choose between 1 to 2 activities.
Location: All of our workshops are held in our craft Hub surrounded by nature under cover - generally April to Oct/Nov. (In Winter, we also have an indoor workshop away from the elements)
Unique Hen do Ideas in Surrey near London including printing, basket weaving, spoon carving tasters.
Example Hen do activities we offer
Botanical and feather printing art workshop
Ink mono printing using foraged leaves and feathers
Level suitability: Beginner & easy for even non crafters or non-arty types
Benefits: Physical & Mental wellbeing, connection to nature, creativity and inspiration.
Requirements: Basic manual dexterity, no drawing required
Outcome: Multiple near photographic quality prints
Group size: 1-16 per group
Time: 1.5-2 hour taster workshop or more immersive 3hr version - including multiple colour prints.
Willow Weaving a Tension Tray workshop
Level suitability: Beginners
Benefits: Learn a new skill, mindful activity weaving
Requirements: Basic manual dexterity
Outcome: A Willow tray to take home.
Group size: 1-8 per group (Groups of 8-16 we recommend choosing 2 activities & swap half way)
Time: 1.5-2 hour taster workshop or more immersive 3hr version available.
Taster Willow weaving
Make a small basket in just a few hours. A great introduction to the craft of willow basket weaving.
Level suitability: Beginner
Benefits: Learn a new skill, mindful activity weaving
Requirements: Basic manual dexterity
Outcome: A small trinket willow to take home.
Group size: 1-8 per group (Groups of 8-16 we recommend choosing 2 activities & swap half way)
Time: 1.5-2 hour taster workshop or more immersive 3hr version available.
Mindful Whittling Woodcarving taster workshop
Level suitability: Beginner
Benefits: mindfulness, connection to nature, introduction to woodcarving
Requirements: Basic manual dexterity
Outcome: Learn knife work and wood grain techniques
Group size: 1-8 per group (Groups of 8-16 we recommend choosing 2 activities & swap half way)
Greeting card making making workshop
Level suitability: Beginner
Benefits: mindfulness, a chance to spark some creativity
Requirements: Basic manual dexterity
Outcome: Create a set of Christmas, Thank you or Birthday cards
Group size: Up to groups of 16
Time: 1.5-2 hour taster workshop or more immersive 3hr version available.
We also run a broad range of other crafts and can run many of these as a 2 hr, half day or full day’s activity. Generally our crafts suit smaller groups of up to 8 people, however we do have a number of other actities we can run for larger groups.
If you’re looking for inspiration on where to eat nearby, we recommend the Duke of Wellington Pub, Epsom Road,