Crafting Summercamp - Indigenous Woodland Restoration

Crafting Summercamp: Indigenous Woodland Restoration 🌿

📅 Aug 1st – 5th | 💸 €45
📍 Camping, transport & meals included

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Join Us for a Summer of Purpose and Connection

This August, we invite you to step into the heart of the forest for our second Summercamp, graciously hosted by Francisca La Porte and her husband on their beautiful estate. Together, they care for a traditional Essen Hakhout—an ancient ash woodland, a traditional method of forestry that is truly sustainable and deeply rooted in the history of the Utrecht delta. For thousands of years, this method has shaped the landscape, supporting both people and nature. 

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Discover the Art of Restorative Woodland Care

Essen Hakhout is more than just a forest. It’s a living testament to how humans can be positive to nature. The unique way of harvesting—cutting branches while leaving the tree stumps alive—actually makes the ecosystem healthier. This careful, hands-on approach, traditionally done every seven years, creates a rich habitat where mosses, fungi, and insects flourish.

Sadly, this labor-intensive practice can’t be done with machines and has all but disappeared. But together, we can help bring it back.

What Awaits You

• 2 days of woodland restoration: Learn and practice traditional and indigenous-inspired methods that help local ecosystems thrive.
• 2 days of creative crafting: Use harvested ash wood to explore new ways of making tools, structures, and art—reimagining what’s possible with this flexible, resilient material.

What You’ll Learn

• The fascinating ecology and biodiversity of the ash forest
• The history and importance of sustainable land management
• How humans can play a positive, regenerative role in nature

Practical Details

• Bring your own tent and outdoor gear (closed shoes, long pants, etc.)
• All tools provided
• All meals (3 per day), transport, and camping included
• Ticket price: €45

Who Should Join?

If you’re eager to get your hands dirty, connect with nature, and help shape a healthier future for our forests, this camp is for you. Whether you’re a craftsperson, activist, land steward, or simply curious—come co-create, learn, and restore with us.

Spots are limited—sign up now and be part of the forest’s future!

Let’s make this summer unforgettable. See you in the woods! 🌿