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Botanical Casting Workshop
Key details
When:
Date:
Time:
13th Sep
10:00 - 14:30
Where:
The Meadow Room, behind Blackthorpe Barn
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
Pricing:
Price
Per Person £70
Each person attending requires a ticket
Book using the link under "Book Your Place"
Sales end on 10th September
Learn to make a beautiful botanical casting to take home
Come to Rougham Estate later this summer and spend a relaxing few hours with Becky who will guide you through the fascinating process of making a cast of plants or flowers.
The fascinating art of bas-relief enables a plant’s very fine details to be celebrated and its structures and forms explored. A clay base is laid and the plants are pressed into the clay and then removed. A frame is then pressed into the clay around the design and plaster is poured over to set into all the tiny details. This process captures the plant frozen in time like a fossil and lasts long after the flower has faded.
Becky Rix-Meo trained as a water-colourist , completing a four year HND in scientific illustration and later a level 4 botanical illustration qualification. After life and children taking up her time, she finally got herself a studio and dedicates her time to her art now.
You can find out more about Becky and see her beautiful artworks here: hopecottagebotanicalarts.co.uk
What Will I do?
- Learn how to select the best plants and flowers for casting
- Carefully make the impressions in clay
- Cast the impressions in plaster and paint these to create a ‘time capsule’ of nature
- Enjoy a relaxing and creative day exploring textures and forms of plants
Who is this workshop suitable for?
- People aged 16 and over
- People who don’t see themselves as particularly “arty”
- Beginners; no experience necessary
Book Your Place
This workshop is run by Becky Rix-Meo.
➡️ Bookings need to be made directly with Becky, through this Eventbrite page.
Spaces are limited to a total of 8 particpants.
Important information
Gallery
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How it Works
01
Come to Blackthorpe Barn and park in one of the free car parks
02
Make your way to the Meadow Room, behind Roots Café
03
Enjoy learning about what plants and flowers work best for making a cast and how to make a pleasing composition.
04
During the workshop there is a break for lunch
Either bring your own packed lunch with you or pre-book a lunch at Roots Café in the morning, before the workshop begins, to eat at lunchtime.
05
Enjoy finishing making the cast of your plant and go home feeling proud at what you have achieved
06
Browse around the Garden Room Shop or have a coffee at Roots Café
What to Bring
- Wear comfortable clothing and comfortable shoes; you will be on your feet a lot of the time
- If you have a special flower/plant you’d like to try to cast, please bring this with you
- Your reading glasses, if you need them
- A packed lunch, if you wish
What is provided
- All materials including plants, clay and plaster
- Aprons are provided
- Tea, coffee and biscuits
Please Note
This workshop is run by Rebecca Rix-Meo; bookings are made through her Eventbrite booking page. Your contract is with Becky and not with Rougham Estate.
Cancellations for refunds can be made up to 10 days in advance of the event – please contact Becky through Eventbrite in this case.
Rougham Estate is not responsible for the booking process nor for the running of this workshop.
Where to find us
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham,
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
There is plenty of free parking available.
Accessible parking is available near the entrance to the Café/Shop area.
Please Note: The car park closes when the Roots Café closes and the entrance gates are locked after this time.
Blackthorpe Barn is situated just south of Junction 45 of the A14, three miles east of Bury St Edmunds, in the village of Rougham.
Look out for the entrance gates to a long tree-lined avenue at the White House junction, with the Barn on the right of the avenue.
Blackthorpe Barn’s black and white signs direct visitors from local roads.
The Meadow Room can be found behind the old thatched Barn and behind Roots Café.
What3Words for the Meadow Room: hands.dunk.drums
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Applications are now open for Rougham Estate Arts and Crafts 2026, held in Blackthorpe Barn near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
We are looking for art and craft of the highest standard, especially contemporary design. You must design and make all the work yourself and be available to be at your stall all weekend.
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From textiles to glasswork, ceramics, woodwork, jewellery, metalwork, art, sculpture and more, submit an application to join the talented craftspeople this coming Christmas.
Please share this post with makers who would be interested in joining us. All the information can be found from our website.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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Over the coming months, you may notice one or two hedges looking quite different. This is because they are being coppiced, a traditional practice where a hedge is cut back close to the ground.
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Three years on, the hedge will be fuller, stronger and healthier than before as you can see in these pictures.
So if you notice our hedges seemingly disappear for a short time, they will be back bigger and better than before!
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We are looking for a Cafe Supervisor to join our team at Roots Cafe.
Roots Café is all about great coffee, delicious homemade food, and genuine hospitality so this is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate.
You will be working closely with the Cafe Manager to help lead the cafe team.
More information can be found from roughamestate.com/welcome - link in profile.
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It’ll give you the energy and warmth needed to beat the January blues.
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** UPDATE - EXTRA DATE ADDED: 21st Feb - tickets available from 8pm on 15th January
On Friday 20th February 2026, we’re hosting a Reset Retreat, a one-day retreat designed to help you slow down, reset and reconnect. Set in the Suffolk countryside, the day runs from 9.45am to 3pm and brings together gentle movement, time outdoors and deep relaxation.
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Tag us @RoughamEstate
