YORKSHIRE DALES: Golden Hues - introduction to dyeing wool with natural plant dyes.

Step into the colourful world of plant dyes and discover how nature can transform wool into beautiful shades of gold, amber and soft botanical tones.

In this three-hour, hands-on workshop, local spinner and natural dye enthusiast Anna Greenwood will guide you through the foundations of dyeing wool using plants.

Set in the Wildish Garden, we’ll spend the afternoon exploring traditional techniques and the surprising chemistry behind natural colour.

Working with onion skins and rhubarb leaves, you’ll help prepare dye baths and learn how mordants—natural binding agents—affect the stability, depth and vibrancy of plant dyes. Along the way, you’ll see how simple household ingredients can subtly shift and transform colours.

Through practical dyeing activities, you’ll create your own natural dye colour card, building a palette of wool samples that capture the different tones produced during the workshop.

By the end of the afternoon, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of natural dyeing…