West Dean College

Just completed a short course on 'Metalwork for the garden' with tutor Andrew Smith. I was a little apprehensive at first, not having taken a course before at West Dean, but was soon put at ease on meeting our tutor and fellow students. Andrew was a very good teacher, clear and helpful with good humour! He taught us at a good pace, which suited those of us with previous metalwork experience and seemed to also suit those with no previous metalwork experience equally well. The course started on Friday evening when we all met up in the bar in the main house at about 7pm and that was followed by an evening meal. We then did about an hour's hands-on tuition in the forge which is around a ten minute walk from the house, via the beautiful walled garden. Day two start was prompt at 9am and we spent the morning and afternoon up to 3pm tea time learning and practicing some basic techniques before we individually discussed with Andrew what project we had in mind to make. So from then until finish at about 6:30pm we were let loose to start our own projects with Andrew going round advising and helping where needed. Then on day three we had from 9am through to 3pm (less lunch and tea breaks) to complete our projects, which doesn't sound very long but we all did manage to achieve what we had set out to do, which was very pleasing. I didn't stay over so I can't comment on the accommodation but lunch, mid morning and afternoon tea breaks were included. Lunches and evening meal on day one were adequate but pretty basic with not a lot of choice, nothing to write home about but perfectly OK. So all in all it was a great fun three days, met some lovely people, learnt some new skills and came home with something useful for the garden! I would highly recommend this course for anyone, with or without previous metalworking experience. I would advise anyone travelling some distance there for a course to add a day or two onto their break as it is such a beautiful area, set in the South Downs National Park. The gardens at West Dean are well worth a visit in their own right and there are circular walks that can be had up onto the surrounding hills. Nearby Chichester is always worth a visit with its wonderful cathedral, theatre and Pallant art gallery and right next door to West Dean is the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum which has reconstructed old buildings from all over Sussex and Hampshire, always worth a visit. And if you're a Repair Shop fan you might even be lucky enough to catch them filming there!

Everywhere has pros and cons, right ? Pros: Beautiful setting, grand house, some impressive art works, beautiful gardens, friendly reception staff, large, quiet room. Cons: a little overpriced I think although costs must be high in that house and gardens; cold in the bedroom in the main house although staff quickly rectified this when I mentioned this; and finally, although the organisation markets itself as sustainable, its staff seem to have no idea what vegan food is. I was offered cheesy pasta and fried eggs at two different meals as the vegan option. On another occasion, I was told there'd be a 5-10 minute wait for the vegan meal and on another occasion it was so bland it was depressing. As the meat and dairy industry is responsible for more greenhouse gases than all forms of transport combined, i really don't think you can call yourself 'sustainable' with such a poor grasp of a) what vegan food is and b) the ability to produce it at anything close to the standard of the other food.

We were blown away by this amazing place! It is a working college & it is important to remember that. The rooms are very comfortable & have everything you need as long as you’re not someone who has to have 5 star luxury and room service. Fabulous gardens. The staff are so lovely too. Plenty of room to sit with a book by the Christmas tree or enjoy the bar which has a good range of drinks at good prices. Great breakfast the next morning. We ate dinner at The Partridge Inn just a few minutes’ drive away and that was great too. We will be back!