Events

See our upcoming events

Winter Wreath Making
Dec
12

Winter Wreath Making

Join us for a creative morning making a winter wreath to decorate your home.

The session will include collecting foliage from the trees in the Orchard House grounds to make your wreath (although there will be pre picked foliage available), followed by a warming mulled apple juice, tea, or coffee.

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Art & Craft Inspired by Nature
Nov
28

Art & Craft Inspired by Nature

Come and join us for a relaxed morning of art and craft inspired by the natural world. Maybe try your hand at leaf printing, create something using air dry clay, or make your own greetings cards and bookmark. Orchard House is nestled in the woods with nature all around which we can use to ignite our imagination! No experience necessary, and all materials will be provided.

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Fungi Foray
Oct
31

Fungi Foray

Come Join us for a walk in the woods and spot the resident fungi. There are lots to see – how many will you identify? Refreshments provided.

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Creative Writing Day
Oct
10

Creative Writing Day

Come and join us for a day of creative writing. No experience necessary! It doesn’t matter if you haven’t written anything since school or feel you wouldn’t know where to start. Just follow the exercises and prompts and see what you produce. You don’t have to share any of your work but if you feel able, that’s wonderful.

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Introduction to Online Security
Sept
10

Introduction to Online Security

Do you worry about being a victim of an online scam? Don’t know which websites to trust? Do you avoid using the internet due to fears of not being able to keep your personal information safe? Come and take part in our free introductory session and talk to people who can help you stay safe online. You might find it helpful to bring your technology if you have any specific questions about websites you use, although you don’t have to bring anything. Refreshments are provided. Contact us to reserve a place.

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Understanding Emotions
Jul
16

Understanding Emotions

Fig Branch is running a one day group session facilitated by BABCP accredited CBT therapists. You will learn about unhelpful negative emotions, how to turn down the heat of intense feelings and how to distinguish between different emotions.

This event is free, donations are welcome. You do not need any prior knowledge of psychology or mental health - this event is open to all. Lunch and refreshments provided.

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Butterfly and Dragonfly ID and Walk
Jul
11

Butterfly and Dragonfly ID and Walk

Join us on a gentle walk to the ponds and in our peaceful garden to look for the beautiful species of butterflies and dragonflies that we have locally and learn some identification skills too. Followed by a refreshments on our garden view patio.

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Building Healthy Self-Esteem
Jun
28

Building Healthy Self-Esteem

What is self-esteem?

How can we cultivate healthy self-esteem?

A FREE one day event facilitated by CBT therapists. This day will include group discussions, some activities and no prior

knowledge of psychology is required.

If you are interested in building your self-esteem or just learning more about the topic, come and join us!

Contact us to reserve a place!

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Meditation and Relaxation in Nature
Jun
27

Meditation and Relaxation in Nature

Enjoy a tranquil morning of relaxation outdoors in nature under our cloth sail in the beautiful garden here at Orchard House. Listen to the sounds of birds and the rustle of the wind in the trees as you let go and enjoy the present moment.

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Come Sailing!
Jun
18

Come Sailing!

A fun morning involving a demonstration of a range of model boats on our very own lake here at Orchard House. You can bring a model boat if you have one and take it for a spin. This event is free and lunch and refreshments are provided. This is an opportunity to meet some local people, have a chat, and enjoy the grounds of Fig Branch. Please register your interest by getting in touch - hello@figbranch.co.uk

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Spring Wander
May
30

Spring Wander

Join us on a nature walk through our grounds looking out for spring wildlife, with some tree and bird identification, followed by light refreshments back at the house.

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Understanding Emotions
May
23

Understanding Emotions

Fig Branch is running a one day group session facilitated by BABCP accredited CBT therapists. You will learn about unhelpful negative emotions, how to turn down the heat of intense feelings and how to distinguish between different emotions.

This event is free, donations are welcome. You do not need any prior knowledge of psychology or mental health - this event is open to all. Lunch and refreshments provided.

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Mini Beasts Hotel
Apr
25

Mini Beasts Hotel

Come along and help us make a giant minibeast hotel in our woodland area, to provide homes for ladybirds, woodlice, bees, bugs, and many more little critters!  There will also be an opportunity to make individual minibeast homes for your gardens.

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Bulb Planting
Mar
28

Bulb Planting

Come and join us for a fun session of bulb planting and gentle gardening. Make your own planter to take home and/or help us plant some outdoor planters for Fig Branch. There will be indoor and outdoor planting, so suitable for all.

Afterwards we will enjoy a warming drink and refreshments by our inviting wood burning stove.

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Coffee Morning
Mar
11

Coffee Morning

Come and join us for a drop in coffee morning. Meet the staff team and check out Fig Branch and what else we have to offer. You may see people you already know from the local area, or you may meet some new faces! some of local community for a causal chat. Completely free, refreshments provided. Plenty of parking.

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Embracing Retirement Group
Mar
5

Embracing Retirement Group

Fig Branch is facilitating a four week course for those who are approaching retirement, in retirement or have taken early retirement. The group is closed, meaning the same members of the group attend each week. It is facilitated by qualified mental health professionals and the material discussed is confidential. It takes place within Orchard House, primarily in the warm and cosy living room by the wood burner.

There are group activities and discussions, advice from mental health professionals and talks by visiting voluntary organisations in the local area. An opportunity to meet others and share experiences as well as get new ideas for enjoyable activities for a rewarding retirement. Hot and cold drinks provided, as well as a lunch on each day.

Plenty of free parking and limited disability access - contact us regarding any particular requirements and we shall endeavour to accommodate as best we can.

It is Tuesday 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th of March 2024

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Bird Box Making
Feb
29

Bird Box Making

Come and join us for a morning of fun and activity by making a bird box for your garden, or for the birds at Fig Branch. Our garden birds need all the help they can get these days and a bird box can be a great substitute for a tree hole.

Birds such as blue tits, coal tits, robins, nuthatches, and spotted flycatchers all like a secure nest box to raise their family. Who knows which birds may take up residence in your garden!

Completely free and refreshments provided.

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Coffee Morning
Feb
12

Coffee Morning

Come and join us for a drop in coffee morning. Meet the staff team and check out Fig Branch and what else we have to offer. You may see people you already know from the local area, or you may meet some new faces! some of local community for a causal chat. Completely free, refreshments provided. Plenty of parking.

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Winter Nature Walk
Jan
25

Winter Nature Walk

Come and join us for a gentle wander through the garden and woods surrounding Orchard House. Enjoy the birds, ponds, and trees on our doorstep. If lucky, we may have a close encounter with a deer which forage in our woods. There will be an opportunity for nature identification using our ID guides, resources, and the knowledge of the walk leader. Afterwards we will enjoy a warming hot apple juice or tea/coffee and biscuits by the inviting wood burning stove.

Please wear waterproofs and sturdy shoes. Due to the unsteady ground, the walk is not suitable for people with mobility issues but do come along if you’d like to sit by the fire for a chat and a refreshment!

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Coffee Morning
Jan
15

Coffee Morning

Come and join us for a drop in coffee morning. Meet the staff team and check out Fig Branch and what else we have to offer. You may see people you already know from the local area, or you may meet some new faces! some of local community for a causal chat. Completely free, refreshments provided. Plenty of parking.

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Winter Wreath Making
Dec
14

Winter Wreath Making

Join us for a creative morning making a winter wreath to decorate your home. The session will include collecting foliage from the trees in the Orchard House grounds to make your wreath (although there will be pre picked foliage available),followed by a warming mulled apple juice, tea, or coffee.

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Bird Feeder Making
Nov
30

Bird Feeder Making

Join us in making homemade bird feeders to hang in your garden to give the birds a helping hand during the colder days this winter. The session will include a gentle wander through the grounds of Orchard House to see what birds can be seen at this time of year, followed by a warming mulled apple juice, tea, or coffee.

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Fungi Foray
Oct
19

Fungi Foray

A walk around the grounds to take a look at the wild fungi. See what you can find!

All welcome. Free to attend and donations are welcome.

The ground is uneven so bring suitable shoes! Hope to see you there!

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Butterfly and dragonfly identification
Jul
27

Butterfly and dragonfly identification

Come and join us for a walk around the grounds and see what you can spot. There will be plenty of wonderful butterflies and dragonflies to notice around the various ponds. The ground is unstable so bring suitable shoes. This event is free and donations are welcome.

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Creative Writing Day
Jul
25

Creative Writing Day

A day of short creative writing exercises. You will be led through activities from 5 to 20 minutes long, with emphasis on the imagination. Don’t worry if you haven’t written since you were at school, just take the plunge and see what comes out of the pen!

There will be opportunities to read out loud what you have written although no pressure to do so!

Free to attend - donations welcome - Lunch and refreshments provided.

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Relaxation/Meditation morning
Jul
20

Relaxation/Meditation morning

Come and join us for guided relaxation and meditation in the lovely peaceful setting of Orchard House, Melton Park. The session will take place in our yurt where the sound of the birds and the rustling of the trees is ever present. Taking time out of our all too often busy or stressful lives, to relax and ‘do nothing’, has been proven to be beneficial to both our mental and physical wellbeing.  No experience necessary. Booking essential as places are limited!

This group is free to attend, donations are welcome. Refreshments provided.

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Nature and Craft Morning
May
11

Nature and Craft Morning

Join us for a crafty morning, inspired by the nature around Orchard House and the burgeoning of Spring. There will be opportunities to try a variety of craft activities such as bark rubbing, nature collage creation, and card making, using art materials and items collected from the natural world. Part of the session will involve collecting natural materials from outside to use in a creative way.

No art or craft experience necessary. Refreshments provided. Bring outdoor shoes. There will be natural materials provided if you don’t want to go outdoors

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