Foraging and Making for Well-being

A group of adults sitting outdoors weaving plants with additional plants strewn across the floor

Inspired Relaxing Slowing down Interwoven Plants Grounding Good Haptic Accessible Simple and complex Peaceful Relief Cathartic Gloopy Nice Plants Joy Connections Satisfying Big picture Calming Strong Focused Learnt something Came stressed and feel so much better now (words from participants)

A group sitting around a large white piece of paper with their plant woven creations on it

Basket making with daffodils, pair of hands weaving a circle with plants

As part of a 5-week artist’s residency at Penryn campus (University of Exeter) I facilitated weekly foraging walks and making sessions, using plants that we sustainably gathered on site. Staff, students and the general public attended over the weeks, with around 130 participants coming overall.

Rachel Lambert introducing a range of natural materials to weave with, standing outdoors with a group of adults

A table of natural green and brown fibres woven together in circular shapes. All made from local plants.

Benefits of working with nature

From the first session till the last, participants engaged in these hourly sessions as if they mattered. As if being outdoors, touching plants, making, walking and harvesting with care mattered.

Conversations and our pace slowed down, which felt especially important in the cognitive, highly-driven world of academia. In an environment which is predominantly indoors and in-front of screens, these sessions felt vital to people’s well-being. Direct feedback from participants following the sessions confirmed this, as well witnessing people’s demeanour positively change and a welcoming atmosphere being created together.

Women laughing and sitting in a room of drying plants creating with the materials around them

Two women making from plants with a 9-ply plait technique

Foraging and Making with Plants

For me, there’s something about having my hands on plants, connecting to natural materials, and working with living elements that is pleasing and healing. That helps re-calibrate my nervous system and bring a sense of harmony inside me. It is as if my hands know how to weave myself back together, to a whole person, as part of nature. I see this effect on others too, how the brain settles with walking and making with our hands, as if it is what we’re meant to do, naturally.

Group of women in Penryn weaving as they walk

Connecting to Nature, Connecting to Self

My understanding is, that as humans, our disconnect from nature is our greatest threat to our ecological sustainability. I like to include our own sustainability within this. As our bodies are part of nature, living in a symbiotic relationship with our surroundings and this planet. We care for nature around us, we care for ourselves and vice versa. The closer we come to nature, the closer we come to ourselves, our own nature and human-ness. It can feel like a relief, an arriving back in the physical body in a meaningful and rewarding way. It can be health and well-being in action.

Group of adults and children weaving with green daffodil stems in a walled garden

Two women talking and laughing while holding their creations from local plants

Building Community, Naturally

The simple action of collecting in nature and making with the materials we gathered, fostered a sense of inclusivity and community. Together, we appreciated plants that might otherwise be known as; ‘weeds’, ‘invasive’ or just garden plants there for their prettiness. The interactive foraging walks and making sessions highlighted the multiple benefits of these plants. This set up a non-judgemental space where every person and plant were welcome. From beginners to seasoned makers, across university departments, and beyond labels of staff, student, gender, age or background. Actually, the diversity was embraced; plants and people working together, bringing our own skills and experiences to foster wellness.

Rachel Lambert tutoring adults on weaving with plants

Want to host a foraging and making session?

I am available for in-house or public facing workshops and events, appreciating the plants and people and creating an environment that people can relax, create and connect. Contact me to discuss.