Forest gardening · Facilitation · Craft · Bristol & the South West
I'm Rosa, an agroecological grower, facilitator and craftsperson. I design forest gardens and community growing spaces, teach practical land skills, and use making as a way of connecting people to place.
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About
I trained as a maker (BA Design & Craft, University of Brighton) and have spent the last decade working with people and land: community gardens, food education, and gardening-for-wellbeing projects across Bristol.
For five years I worked for Avon Wildlife Trust at Grow Wilder, growing food and habitat, leading volunteers, and coordinating the Grow Leader course, training the next wave of community growing leaders.
What ties it all together is a love of process, and a belief that when people make, grow and learn in a landscape, they come to care for it, and act to protect it.
What I do
Design and consultancy for edible, wildlife-rich landscapes.
Warm, grounded learning experiences outdoors.
Place-based craft as a doorway into nature connection.
Selected projects
New sculptural lighting woven in willow and bark around a pierced, slip-decorated ceramic core. Unlit, a quiet woven form; lit, it throws the weave across the whole wall.
New sculptural lighting woven in willow and bark around a pierced, slip-decorated ceramic core.
Five years growing food and habitat, leading volunteer teams and community programmes at Bristol's wildlife-friendly growing site.Photo: Rosa Beesley
Coordinated and taught a multi-week training programme equipping people to lead community growing projects of their own.Photo: Charlie Tallis
Developing edible, layered plantings that build soil health and food security in a changing climate.Photo: Rosa Beesley
How can design encourage environmental engagement? Handmade metal animal nails, made to hammer into wood or bark, link through augmented reality to informative animations: interactive signposting for an engaging woodland trail.
How can design encourage environmental engagement? Handmade metal animal nails, made to hammer into wood or bark, link through augmented reality to informative animations: interactive signposting for an engaging woodland trail.
Since the 1970s, 25 million European elms have been lost to Dutch elm disease. This series celebrates our native trees: clay press-formed inside hollow elm logs, washed with oxides, then smoke-fired or glazed with an elm-ash glaze.
Since the 1970s, 25 million European elms have been lost to Dutch elm disease. This series celebrates our native trees: clay press-formed inside hollow elm logs, washed with oxides, then smoke-fired or glazed with an elm-ash glaze.
A door-to-door offering of vegetable seedlings opened a conversation about why people don't grow their own. The incubating nursery, made in steam-bent ash, brings nurturing plants into daily life, and makes local produce something to appreciate.
A door-to-door offering of vegetable seedlings opened a conversation about why people don't grow their own. The incubating nursery, made in steam-bent ash, brings nurturing plants into daily life, and makes local produce something to appreciate.
Seeds and nutrients embedded in handmade paper, formed into pots that plant straight into the ground. The paper biodegrades while the seeds and nutrients support plant growth.
Seeds and nutrients embedded in handmade paper, formed into pots that plant straight into the ground. The paper biodegrades while the seeds and nutrients support plant growth.
Documentation of the can furnace in production and in use, with first casting experiments using cuttlebone and the lost-foam process.
Documentation of the can furnace in production and in use, with first casting experiments using cuttlebone and the lost-foam process.
Inspired by shrines that accumulate prayer strings: each sitter ties a string to the stool, and over time the hard wooden seat becomes a cushioned one. Lathe-turned, laminated and wedge-jointed.
Inspired by shrines that accumulate prayer strings: each sitter ties a string to the stool, and over time the hard wooden seat becomes a cushioned one. Lathe-turned, laminated and wedge-jointed.
A two-person swing combining outdoor spontaneous play with its digital reflection, a collection of photographs posted online. Built using the Domino joining process.
A two-person swing combining outdoor spontaneous play with its digital reflection, a collection of photographs posted online. Built using the Domino joining process.
Reclaimed pallet wood, waste seat belts and banner material become a modular garden for balcony spaces. Made in collaboration with Biji Biji, a Malaysian maker collective.
Reclaimed pallet wood, waste seat belts and banner material become a modular garden for balcony spaces. Made in collaboration with Biji Biji, a Malaysian maker collective.
Kind words
"This course has blown my expectations out of the water. I didn't know this kind of learning was possible. It's life-changing for me. Thank you."
"Just right, so inviting, so gently inspiring, tuned in. Appreciated getting to know the space and the group through the activities we did. Would love more with Rosa."
"Love Rosa's calm and connecting style. Such a great session."
"Loved the pace of the session and the introductory grounding."
Contact
I'd love to hear about it. Whether you're a community group dreaming up a forest garden, an organisation looking for training, or a school wanting hands-in-the-soil learning, get in touch for a friendly conversation.
Email Rosa