The recent downpour transformed our usual Nurture in Nature trail, and something unexpected caught my eye that day.
Flecks of okra yellow turned the usual grey water into golden pools. Curiosity got the best of me, so I knelt down and sunk my hand deep into the water. Nestled within the stream bed was wild clay.
Wild clay is all around us and can be found in different varieties and colours, typically near rivers. It is deposited here as it is eroded and transported by the movement of water. You can also find clay in our gardens, but it is often contaminated with debris, rocks, and grit.
Before clay became industrialised, people harvested wild clay from their local areas and refined it. Nearly everything, including their homes, was made from local clay deposits—roofs, walls, paint, tiles, plates, and cups.
Processing wild clay involves several steps, making it too slow for most commercial potters to keep up with demand. For those who choose to use wild clay, it's essential to find clay with as few impurities as possible to reduce processing time.
As I placed my hand into the stream bed, I felt the smooth texture of the clay. I could immediately tell it wasn’t gritty or sandy like some clay deposits I’d encountered before. This was something purer, untainted by the debris often found in urban or disturbed areas. I ran my fingers through it, gently squeezing to feel its consistency. It was clean and rich—a true gift from the land.
The following weekend, my partner and I set off, equipped with spades, buckets, and our dog, who enjoyed helping us dig in the water. We filled our buckets with around 10 kilos of clay and walked along the 5km woodland trail back.
We have continued to process the clay at home over the past few days, following a series of steps that include soaking it, sieving it, and then drying it out. There’s something magical about using materials sourced from our local landscape, connecting us to the earth in a tangible and tactile way.
As we continue processing the wild clay, we’re excited to announce that we will be hosting wild clay workshops in the spring, where you can learn to craft your own pottery. We’ll keep you updated on our current clay processing progress through our social media channels, so be sure to follow along for the latest news and workshop details!
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