Nature Queers (LGBTQ+) – Regular Sessions from January to August 2026

Live Wild’s regular Nature Queers events take place at National Trust’s Hardcastle Crags, a beautiful wooded valley just outside Hebden Bridge. Join us to connect to nature, self, and LGBTQ+ community, and learn a range of practical outdoor skills in a playful and supportive environment.

We’re delighted to announce our 2026 Nature Queers events at the National Trust’s gorgeous Hardcastle Crags. This beautiful wooded valley just outside Hebden Bridge is one of the region’s most beautiful and biodiverse outdoor places. We welcome all LGBTQ+ folks to join us in connecting with nature, self and community, while learning a range of practical outdoor skills in a playful and supportive environment.

Nature Queers is about creating spaces to meet and develop a nature-loving LGBTQ+ community. During the sessions, Leonie, Rachael, and occasional guest facilitators including Ash Brachi of Hebden Herbs will share skills such as bushcraft, foraging, fire skills, natural crafting, whittling, survival skills, shelter building, and herbalism.

Each session will also include nature connection practices that encourage a sense of belonging, safety, and peace in the outdoors.

Both experienced outdoors-people, and people new to the outdoors, are equally welcome to join us as we create a relaxed and welcoming space where we can learn in nature, and in queer community.

DATES AND THEMES

Saturday 31st January – Fire Skills Workshop
Build confidence with your fire lighting skills and learn to make fires suitable for a variety of situations, whether it’s for warmth, cooking, sleeping by, or socialising around.
You’ll learn to start a fire from scratch using natural materials gathered in the woods around you. We’ll cover how to identify and select suitable materials, how to safely and effectively create your fire, a variety of fire starting methods, and different fire structures.

Thursday 12th February – Whittling
Join us to learn the fundamentals of whittling wood, including the use of knives and hand tools, and a rage of safe and effective whittling techniques. You’ll learn how to make your own set of camping cutlery, feather sticks for fire lighting, and ornamental wooden mushrooms. Come along to learn a new skill, and take beautiful and useful whittled objects home with you.

Thursday 19th February- Medicinal Mushrooms with guest facilitator, herbalist Ash Brachi
Join us to seek out and learn about some of our most potent native medicinal mushrooms, how to identify and prepare them, and what they can be used for.
Ash of Hebden Herbs will take us on a wander to find fungal medicines growing in the late-winter woods, and share how herbalists work them, along with a variety of other key UK species. This will be followed by a practical medicine-making session together around the fire. Take home your own medicinal mushroom preparation!

Saturday 28th February – Crafting Willow Plates and ‘Sploons’
This session will introduce you to traditional crafting techniques. working with willow and wood to create items that are both beautiful and useful.
Weave your own willow platter using foraged willow whips, and whittle a handy spoon/spatula cross, perfect for camping and picnics.

Thursday 19th March – Spring Equinox Celebration
Join us for a seasonal celebration to gather around the hearth fire and mark the return of spring. The session will include fire, time for reflection and intention setting, co-created ritual to mark the Celtic festival of Imbolc, and celebrating the return of new shoots and growth.

Saturday 28th March – Play Session
Join us for a magical journey of nature games, quests and connection.
This special event is designed for having lots of fun playing in the woods and making new queer friends.

Saturday 11th April – End of the World Survival Training
If you don’t survive the end of the world you get your money back!
Join us to learn a range of basic survival skills that are great for confidence and resilience when camping and hiking… and super handy for the end of the world!
We’ll cover how to stay warm and dry with fire and shelter, safely gather water, and look after yourself and each other in the wild.

Thursday 30th April – Beltane Celebration
Join us for a seasonal celebration to gather around the hearth fire and mark the Celtic fire festival of Beltane. The session will include a celebratory fire, time for reflection and intention setting, co-created ritual, and celebrating the beginning of summer.

Saturday 9th May – Crafting Bark Containers
Humans have made containers from tree bark since ancient times. Join us to learn this ancestral skill, and make your own container from bark that can be used for gathering, carrying, and storing.

Thursday 21st May – Forage and Healing Balm Making
Learn about edible and medicinal herbs and plants that can found as this abundant time of year. We’ll share identification skills, and ways to harvest and prepare plants for both food and medicine. You’ll also mark your own healing balm to take home with you.

Saturday 13th June – Forage
Seasonal foraging for the edible fungi, berries, and leaves that can be found as this abundant time of year. Learn Identification skills, how to harvest and prepare wild plants and mushrooms, and enjoy a cook up of wild tasters over the campfire.

Thursday 18th June – Summer Solstice Celebration
Join us to celebrate the high point of summer and the longest day. The session will include a celebratory fire, time for reflection and intention setting, co-created ritual, and marking the ancient Celtic festival of Solstice as a community.

Saturday 4th July – Theme To Be Announced

Thursday 9th July – Water Theme

Thursday 23rd July – Play Session
Join us for a magical journey of nature games, quests and connection.
This special event is designed for having lots of fun playing in the woods and making new queer friends.