This weekend, my partner and I were kindly invited to take part in a terrarium-making workshop at The Outside In, a beautiful plant shop tucked away on Holgate Road, just off Blossom Street in York.
Our session at The Outside In was led by Alice Maynard, who was really welcoming and made us feel right at home. From start to finish, it was an absolute delight! Alice began by sharing the backstory of her shop — how long she’s been running it, what inspired her to start the business, and the care that goes into carefully curating every plant and decorative piece that adorns the shelves. This immediately set a warm, personal tone that made the experience feel more than just a class; it felt as though we were being invited into Alice’s creative world.
Everything we needed to get started was included: the terrarium itself, a variety of picturesque plants, several types of substrate, and plenty of decorative elements to make each of our creations unique. Alice guided us through the whole process step by step, explaining the purpose of each layer of the terrarium, and the best methods we could use to keep our miniature ecosystems thriving.
What really stood out, though, was how attentive and helpful Alice was throughout the workshop. If we had a particular plant in mind, or wanted a certain decorative touch to bring our ideas together, she was more than willing to help, checking if she had just the right thing tucked away. Her friendly, encouraging approach made us feel supported and confident in creating something truly personal.
By the end of our session at The Outside In, we had both crafted our very own little glass gardens, tiny green worlds that we couldn’t stop admiring.
All in all, we found the terrarium workshop to be hands-on, relaxing, and deeply satisfying; more than just a workshop, it was a refreshing reminder of how the act of nurturing plants can be a nurturing experience for humans, too! So, if you’re looking for something creative, calming, and just plain fun to do in the heart of York, my partner and I honestly couldn’t recommend The Outside In and Alice Maynard’s workshops enough – it was such a fantastic experience from start to finish!
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