Nature Queers | Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire

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Our weekly 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 community, and learn a range of practical outdoor skills in a playful and supportive environment. 

Following the success of our pilot programme last year, we’re delighted to announce our 2025 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.

Upcoming Session Dates & Themes

*Please note that this will be a weekly event throughout the year, with further dates to be announced soon

 

Wednesday 30th April- FIRE

Thursday 8th May- FORAGING

Thursday 15th May – NATURE ART

Thursday 22nd May – WHITTLING

Thursday 29th May – HERBALISM

 

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What to expect at Nature Queers

Each session will focus on a practical skill

Including:

  • Bushcraft and fire skills
  • Nature crafting, such as weaving and cordage making
  • Whittling and green wood working
  • Wild food foraging
  • Survival skills such as shelter building and water filtration
  • Herbalism and plant lore
  • Creating art using nature as inspiration

Nature-connection and community-building practices will be interwoven

Including:

  • Group circle/ sharing time
  • Sit-spots and opportunities to relax/ reflect in nature
  • Games and activities that encourage fun and playfulness
  • Community building and mutual support

Nature Queers Guides

Live Wild’s Leonie Morris (she/her) – Leonie is co-founder and director of Live Wild and works with people of all ages to help them rediscover the ‘wild nature’ both inside and outside of us. She is a qualified Bushcraft Instructor & Wild Food Teacher, with many years experience teaching a range of programmes including regular seasonal foraging courses across the north of England and our long-term Forager’s Journey programme. She is also a proud member of the Association of Foragers. Leonie facilitates our Questing With Fire rite of passage programme, and various nature-connection programmes for children. She is happiest when sharing foraging wisdom in a holistic context: using all of the senses, gathering respectfully and playfully with homemade baskets,  building a fire to cook up finds – she is a strong believer that all food tastes best cooked together over a fire!

Live Wild’s Rachael Taylor (she/her) –Rachael has more than 20 years experience as a youth worker, creative facilitator, and outdoor skills leader. She has worked with diverse groups of children and adults to deliver creative and inspiring sessions, and was co-facilitator of Live Wild’s hugely popular LGBTQ+ sessions in 2024, funded by Culture Dale. Rachael is project leader for Live Wild’s Monthly Nature Mentoring programme, as well as Nature Queers. Outside of her work, she loves wild camping, swimming, canoe expeditions, foraging, bushcraft and learning what it is to be human. “My work and hobbies have shown me the power of nature to enliven and recalibrate us, young or old, and to give us increased confidence and creativity, as well as bring us closer to our grounded selves. I feel that creating a closeness with nature is key to our mental and physical health.”

Guest facilitator, Ash Brachi (she/her) – Ash is a Medical Herbalist who runs a consulting clinic and apothecary shop at Hebden Herbs. Ash is also a keen outdoorsperson and forager who knows our local wild medicines inside out. She delivered a fascinating session on medicinal mushrooms for one of Live Wild’s LGBTQ+ sessions in 2024, and we’re pleased to have her back to lead a session exploring the plant medicines growing in Hardcastle Crags on Thursday 29th May. 

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Access and Arrival Information 

  • Meet at the bookshelter by the main Midgehole carpark at Hardcastle Crags
  • Parking in the National Trust carpark is £8 per day. Alternatively, you can park along the read towards Hebden Bridge and walk to the meeting point. The walk from Hebden Bridge train station is approximately 30 minutes. 
  • The days will involve some walking and uneven paths/ steps. Paths may be muddy/ slippy in wet weather. If you are concerned about access or have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch: info@livewild.org.uk

Terms & Conditions

By booking onto a Live Wild Nature Queers Course you accept the Terms and Conditions outlined here

Please note:

  • Courses are suitable for people aged 18+. 
  • Due to the sensitive nature of the site and the presence of food and fire, dogs are not permitted on courses