Slow down, reconnect with the breath of the land and feel the texture of wood beneath your hands as you carve forms shaped by nature, carrying its warmth and spirit.
Encounters between life and the natural world often arise through subtle and beautiful alignments of time and circumstance. This autumn, Dr Claire Elouard, who has spent many years exploring the energy and wisdom of nature, returns once again to Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden. At the same time, Alvdalen, wood artist couple – Justin Chan and Vivian Law, known for their delicate woodcarving practice, is serving as our Artist-in-Residence for 2026-2027. This special one-day workshop brings these practitioners together in a unique collaboration, bridging inner awareness and traditional handcraft.
When a tree falls through wind, weather or the passage of time, its life does not truly end. Instead, it becomes nourishment for the earth or begins a quiet new chapter in the hands of a maker.
This journey is an exploration of nature that moves from within to without and then gently returns inward again. Combining Dr Claire's grounding awareness and intuitive tree connection with Alvdalen's hands-on approach to working in harmony with wood grain, participants are invited to enter the forest with open senses, intuition and skilled hands. Together, we will listen to the silent language of trees and transform fleeting moments of inspiration from the woodland into a handcrafted wooden leaf dish.
Throughout the day, participants will be immersed in an atmosphere of focus and calm. From connecting with the living presence of trees rooted between earth and sky, to feeling the character and texture of wood in the palm of the hand, this experience offers an opportunity to rediscover balance, grounding and a deeper relationship with nature.
Workshop Activities & Experiences
Morning | Connecting with Trees: Inner Grounding and connecting through our heart (Facilitator: Dr Claire Elouard)
- Relax amidst the embrace of the forest and awaken the subtle senses often overlooked in daily life.
- Explore your inner energy and cultivate a resonant connection with the surrounding environment and plant life.
- Learn grounding and centering practices through guided breathing and awareness exercises that help settle emotions and quiet the mind.
- Listen to your body and intuition, discovering how trees can gently support inner balance and restoration.
- Experience silent communion in the forest, fostering a deep and intimate connection with nature beyond words.
Afternoon | Living with Wood: Hand-Carving a Wooden Leaf Dish (Facilitator: Alvdalen)
- Continue the connection with tree life by transforming wood into a handcrafted object:
- Carry the awareness cultivated in the morning into the creative process of working with wood.
- Learn about different woods and carving tools, including safe carving techniques.
- Learn to "read" the natural patterns, textures and unique character of each piece of wood.
- Create your own unique wooden leaf dish.
No prior experience in woodworking, meditation, or mindfulness practices is required. This workshop welcomes anyone who wishes to slow down the pace of life, deepen their connection with trees and nature or explore the art of traditional handcraft through wood.
Programme content may be adjusted based on the professional recommendations of Dr Claire Elouard and Alvdalen, weather conditions, or other operational considerations.
If you wish to learn more about Claire’s workshop, click the relevant link below,
Teacher
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Claire Elouard
Claire is of French nationality; she spent her early childhood in Senegal, Africa, and later studied in France. She has a master’s degree in biology and a PhD in vegetal ecology from universities in France. She conducted her field research for her PhD in Indonesia, and afterward spent eight years researching forest pathology and ecology in Malaysia and south India. Subsequently, she directed an environmental project in the Mumbai area of India, from 2001 to 2015. Since then she has been developing her workshops on ‘Energy of Nature’.
Claire has been deeply connected with nature since childhood. She later developed her perception of nature’s energy and deepened it by learning about the Hindu philosophy on the five elements and their corresponding chakras. She has been teaching people to communicate with nature and perceive its energy since 2004 in India, France, Belgium, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan.
2026-2027 Artist-in-Residence
Alvdalen｜Justin Chan, Vivian Law
Alvdalen Atelier was co-founded by the wood carving artist couple, Justin Chan and Vivian Law. They believe every piece of wood carries its own unique living memory. Drawing on their interest in nature, animals and different cultures, they combine traditional carving techniques with their own creative approach to produce inclusive and warm wood sculptures.
They focus on bringing artistic sculpture together with everyday living aesthetics. For this year’s artist-in-residence programme, they are working with fallen trees in the garden, transforming them through careful carving. Their aim is to encourage greater respect for both objects and the natural environment, helping people rediscover a gentler, more thoughtful way of living through the warm quality of wood.
Date
30 October 2026 (Friday)
Time
9:30am to 5:00pm
Venue
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden
Language
English
Target Audience
Aged 18 years and above
Capacity
Maximum 20 participants
Fee
Early bird price: HK$1,200 per person
Regular price: HK$1,500 per person
Including the venue rental fee, guided and facilitated sessions and activities, and a vegetarian lunch.
Notes
- Please note that this is an experiential workshop. Participants are required to participate fully in all exercises to ensure progression.
- To ensure the quality of the workshop for all participants, KFBG and facilitator reserve the right to select participants for this workshop, if we feel necessary. For unsuccessful applications a full refund will be arranged by bank transfer or cheque within one month.
- Payment is not refundable after acceptance, unless the workshop is cancelled by KFBG due to inclement weather, under-enrolment or any other reason.
Application
Early bird discount: Click HERE to apply on or before 10 October 2026.
Regular price: Click HERE to apply on or before 23 October 2026.
Enquiry
Contact Ms Holly Ho at 2483 7111 / Ms Alice Lam at 2483 7276 during office hours or email holly.ho@kfbg.org.
Related Links
- Kadoorie Earth Programme (KEP) is an initiative co-created by KFBG and its network of collaborators and volunteers. By integrating the various strands of KFBG’s nature conservation, sustainable living and holistic education programmes, it provides life-transforming learning experiences that reconnect people with themselves, each other and the rest of nature and enable them to cultivate resilience in the face of global challenges.
- Nature Art Programmes: Immerse yourself in silent contemplation of nature. Deepen your awareness of beauty and connect with nature through art. KFBG organises a variety of art workshops including Zentangle drawing, sketching and wood art, and exhibitions to guide participants, with or without artistic background, to create nature art.
- Nature Education Programmes: Become animal detectives and explore the mysteries of wild animals. Use different senses to discover the beauty of plants. Learn about the significance of forest, trees and even soils through field visits, experiments and woodwork, to reconnect with nature.
- Group Guided Tours: Led by trained environmental interpreters, the content includes experiential and hands-on activities. We encourage a passion for nature, conservation and ecology by nurturing an appreciation of the natural world.
- Corporate Programmes: Our Holistic Education Department staff can design either half-day or full-day nature education and art programmes for corporate staff or their family members based on specific needs. Leveraging the unique natural landscape and cultural ambiance of Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, our activities may include guided tours, farm-to-table experiences, nature-based workshops, talks and art activities, aiming to promote understanding and practice of sustainable living for organisations.