The Ashdown Hub

26/03/2026

16/03/2026

Celebrating the beauty of spring with arts that nurture the soul.
Let vibrant spring flowers inspire your well-being and creativity today.

10/03/2026

On Friday we celebrated the arrival of new life this spring with a delightful gathering featuring adorable baby animals. It was a joyful occasion to welcome these tiny creatures into the world and embrace the beauty of spring.

03/03/2026

Today in the library, we celebrated the March Hare! 📚🐇 Such a whimsical and delightful moment to honour this charming character.

28/02/2026

Friday in the art room, we enjoyed working with stained-glass windows and marvelled at the beautiful colours they create when sunlight shines through. Here are a few action photos to share the fun moments!

17/02/2026

Last Friday's art session centred on hearts, as we explored themes of friendship and meaningful connections through creative expression.

10/02/2026

In the library, our theme was about birds and the many beautiful ways love can be expressed.

31/01/2026

Last Fridays at Tobias, our theme was Candlemas and Imbolc. We explored the meaning behind both festivals and shared ideas for simple, meaningful ways to celebrate. From lighting candles and noticing the first flowers of the year – like the delicate snowdrop – to gathering around a warm fire and reflecting on the returning light of the sun, it felt like a gentle pause in the middle of winter. Some of us also learned about making a traditional St. Bridget’s cross, a beautiful reminder of hope and new beginnings.

26/01/2026

Cozy place with warm lighting and inviting atmosphere. Photos from last Friday's session at Tobias.

18/01/2026

Study of the Deer – Arts for Well-being 🦌

Last Friday at Tobias, we spent the afternoon studying deer through art – sketching, painting and playing with different materials. It was a gentle, calming session, and the group created some beautiful, thoughtful pieces (you can see a few in these photos).

Did you know an albino deer was recently spotted in West Sussex, not far from our Tobias site? Albino deer are very rare – their white coat comes from a lack of pigment, which makes each sighting feel quite magical.

Our arts for well-being groups are fully funded and free to join. If you'd like to be part of future sessions, we'd love to welcome you.

If you're able to support our charity and help us keep these groups free, you can donate here (link in Bio): https://localgiving.org/charity/the-ashdown-hubOpens a new window

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10/01/2026

Fridays at Tobias

Today’s art session was all about drawing landscapes, and it turned into a really calm, grounding activity. We invited everyone to pick a scene that meant something to them – maybe a view from a window, a place they remember, or even a completely imagined landscape.

We started simple: just looking at where the horizon sits on the page, how trees or buildings appear in the distance, and how light and shadows change the feel of the picture. From there, people slowly built up their drawings – sketching the big shapes first, then adding things like trees, paths, clouds, fields, or water. Some went for wide, peaceful views; others created more dramatic scenes with strong contrasts and bold lines. There was no rush and no pressure to make anything “perfect” – it was more about enjoying the process than worrying about the result.

If you want to join us, send us a message. We have spots available. This group is entirely free of charge.

05/01/2026

Today we opened our very first session of 2026 at The Ashdown Hub with a magical theme: Winter Animals ❄️🦊

Together we drew, painted, and shared stories about our favourite winter animals. We imagined the creatures who might be quietly moving at this time of year – maybe a shy deer, a clever fox, or an owl watching from the trees.

It was a gentle, creative, and heartwarming way to start the new year, connecting with nature, art, and each other. 🖌️✨

What winter animal would you hope to spot in Ashdown Forest?

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