Truffle

Hunting Workshop

16-18 November 2025

Step into the ancient woodlands of West Sussex for an unforgettable truffle hunting experience.

Rooted in rewilding and the rhythms of the seasons, this workshop invites you to connect with nature, deepen your knowledge of these rare culinary treasures, and celebrate the wild through food, community, and a magical farm stay at Westerlands.

Your host, Chris Holdham

Chris combines wisdom, care, and infectious enthusiasm to create an experience that is both safe and deeply enriching. With his hands-on approach and ecological mindfulness, you’ll gain a rare insight into the delicate ecosystems where truffles thrive.

You’ll learn how to identify the subtle signs of truffles in their natural habitat, understand their role in the woodland ecosystem, and appreciate the skill and intuition it takes to uncover these elusive treasures. Chris weaves together scientific expertise, local insight, and a forager’s intuition to guide you on a journey into one of nature’s most fascinating secrets.

Prices

Workshop price

£375 per person which includes:

Day 1 - Sunday 16 November

14.00 Horsebox Café welcome refreshment
16.30 WildSpa Sauna & Plunge
19.00 Supper with your host

Day 2 - Monday 17 November

10.00 Horsebox Café Workshop talk
11.00 Truffle hunting walk with a picnic lunch
16.00 Wild foraged gourmet dinner over open fire

Day 3 - Tuesday 18 November

10.00 Equine connection session
11.00 Horsebox Café farewell refreshment

Accommodation price

A two night stay in your own bedroom at Lower Barn House shared with other guests attending the workshop. This spacious property offers a stunning combination of timeless style in a uniquely peaceful setting.

Alternatively, you can choose to stay in your own private property nearby.

Check-in is at 3pm and check-out is at 11am.

-Water is from our borehole on the South Downs and is pure, sweet and safe to drink
-All bedding, linen, bath towels, tea towels, and microfibre cloths are provided
-We also provide basic pantry items - fresh coffee, tea, hot chocolate, sugar, salt, pepper, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, foil and greaseproof paper as well as fire supplies (a bundle of logs (enough for 2 fires), eco wooden wool fire starters and matches)
-We provide complementary hand soap, body wash, shampoo and conditioner made by Faith in Nature and household cleaning products made by Ecover

Our accommodation is self-catering so we only provide the meals included in our workshop.

Choose your room

  • Room 1

    Price: £220 (1 or 2 guests)
    Upstairs double bed. En-suite bathroom

  • Room 2

    Price: £200 (1 or 2 guests)
    Upstairs super king bed (or twin singles). Upstairs shared bathroom.

  • Room 3

    Price: £180 (1 or 2 guests)
    Upstairs double bed. Upstairs shared bathroom.

  • Room 4

    Price: £180 (1 or 2 guests
    Downstairs double bed. Downstairs shared bathroom.

  • Room 5

    Price: £120 (1 or 2 guests)
    Downstairs double sofa-bed in private snug. Downstairs shared bathroom.

  • Room 6

    Price: £100 (1 guest)
    Upstairs single bed. Upstairs shared bathroom.

Book your room >

What to expect

Day 1

Arrival

2pm Meet at the Horsebox Café
Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee after your journey, meet your host Chris and the other workshop attendees.

3pm Check-in to your room
Get settled in to your accommodation, unpack and relax for an hour.

Day 1

Afternoon

4.30pm Wellness Experience

Join the other attendees for a WildSpa Sauna & Plunge or relax and unwind in your residence or explore the farm.

Relaxing in a warm sauna followed by a refreshing cold plunge can supercharge the benefits of both therapies. This energy boosting contrast is further amplified when surrounded by nature in a peaceful and private setting.

Day 1

Evening

7pm Supper
Join Chris for supper at Lower Barn House

On the evening before your truffle hunting adventure, guests will be treated to a warming, home-cooked supper prepared by our private chef. Designed to nourish and comfort, the meal celebrates the flavours of late autumn with seasonal ingredients and hearty, satisfying dishes—perfect for fueling the next day’s woodland exploration. All dietary requirements are fully accommodated, so everyone can enjoy a delicious and relaxing meal together. Share stories, settle in by the fire, and savour a sense of community as you prepare for the excitement of truffle hunting the following day.

Day 2

Morning

10am Rewilding talk

Meet at the Horsebox Café for coffee and a talk from Chris about foraging and rewilding. Enjoy a specially prepared morsel of wild food to whet your appetite for more…

In West Sussex, rewilding is as much about rekindling our relationship with the land as it is about restoring natural habitats. These edible treasures connect us to the rhythms of the land, echoing the traditions of those who have foraged here for millennia. By engaging with the wild foods of the season, we step into a deeper dialogue with West Sussex’s timeless topography, where ecology, history, and nourishment are woven together.

Day 2

Morning

11am Truffle hunting walk

We will drive to a nearby location, carefully selected for its truffle abundance, and embark on a 3–4 hour walk guided by Chris, and led by expert truffle dogs with their knowledgeable handlers.

Along the way, the team will share expert knowledge, tips, and techniques to help you become a successful truffle hunter. You’ll explore the fascinating ecology of these underground fungi—uncovering their secrets beneath the forest floor—and learn how to handle and store your truffles to preserve their distinctive aroma and flavour at their very best.

The walk will be along country tracks and off paths, you'll need to be fit enough to walk the routes.

Day 2

What to bring

Picnic lunch
Each residential guest is provided with their own pre-prepared farm-style picnic lunch, thoughtfully packed and ready to carry along on the foraging walk. Inside, you’ll find a delicious selection of seasonal farm favourites—freshly baked bread, home-made quiche, garden vegetables, and a sweet treat—all tucked into a convenient bundle. Please advise us of any dietary requirements. Bring your own refillable bottle.

Clothing
Wear appropriate clothing for the weather conditions and seasons. Wear comfy walking shoes. If the conditions are expected to be muddy bring wellington boots!

Basket
Bring a basket, container or cloth bag to store any foraged food you would like to take home. We discourage the use of plastic bags to store foraged food in.

Also a note pad and pen to write down information and a camera to take pictures or videos.

Day 2

Evening

4-6pm Wild foraged dinner over open fire

Guests will watch a wild foraged food cooking demonstration by West Sussex gourmet hunt and gather chef Lee from @food_fire_knives where the day’s harvest is included in a beautiful, flavour-packed feast for all to enjoy, paired with refreshing drinks.

Wild foods captivate for many reasons—their intense flavours, gourmet quality, sustainable origins, or rich nutritional and medicinal value. With demand soaring among top chefs, these seasonal delights offer endless variety, from autumn’s mushrooms, nuts, and seeds to edible flowers, and greens.

Morning

10am Wellness Experience

join the other attendees for some quality connection time with our horses at the Trekking Centre.

Horses are deeply social creatures, and their sensitivity makes them wonderfully responsive to human interaction. Spending time with one of our horses offers a peaceful, rewarding experience—an intimate moment of shared connection. In their calm and non-judgmental presence, you’ll find a space ideal for reflection, comfort, and enhancing your well-being.

Day 3

Day 3

Farewell

11am Horsebox Café

Check-out of your residence before 11am and head to the Horsebox Café for farewell refreshments.

Don’t feel you have to rush off! There’s plenty on offer at Westerlands if you want to enjoy more wellbeing experiences. Book well in advance to reserve the time you want.

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