The Deer Path

When: 8th - 11th of October

Where: New Coghurst Farm, Hastings

This immersive experience is an invitation to remember an older way of being in relationship with the living world. In a culture that often places us apart from nature, this experience offers a path back into participation—into the rhythms, responsibilities, and realities of belonging to the natural world.

At the centre of the journey is the Deer itself. Held within 110 acres of re-wilded land in East Sussex, we will track their movements across the landscape, and honour their life through song and ceremony, respectful butchery, craft, and an introduction to traditional leather tanning; participants engage with an ancient human story - one rooted not in consumption, but in reciprocity, gratitude, and care. The Deer becomes both teacher and guide, inviting a deeper understanding of life, death, and the interconnectedness that binds all living things.

Through equine-assisted learning, participants are welcomed into the dynamics of a real herd, exploring what it means to move beyond the individual self and into relationship, awareness, and presence. Time spent with a living semi - wild herd becomes a mirror, revealing patterns of connection, trust, and authentic communication that are often forgotten in modern life.

This is not simply a course in wilderness skills; it is an exploration of what it means to be human within a living ecosystem, a chance to rediscover forgotten knowledge carried in the body, deepen our sense of belonging, and rekindle a relationship with the wild that is both practical and profound. Taught by an experienced Hunter and traditional Tanner who both have engaged with the subject for years and hold a sacred relationship with the Deer of the British Isles.

What you’ll learn:

Becoming animal:

• Tracking and trailing Deer like our ancestors

• Animal ecology, behaviour and how to become part of a living wild herd

Redefining our relationship:

• Song, Myth and Ceremony around Deer and taking life

• Honourable Nose to tail Deer butchery

Integration and meaning making:

• Crafting with bone, antler, hoof and sinew

• Introduction to skin work and tanning

Practical information:

There is camping, toilets etc on site available

Teaching will occur outdoors in the Forest therefore it is essential to be prepared for the Autumn weather.