Founded by local resident Emmie Hallett, Wild Learning is offering short courses, workshops, activities and learning events that are designed to inspire.

Ms Hallett said the idea behind Wild Learning is to “inject income into community spaces while filling them with interesting things for people to do”.

Venues at present are Cessnock-based, however venues in in Branxton, Kurri Kurri and and  Wollombi are also being sourced and classes will extend into those locations in due course.

Wild Learning has partnered with the Australian Deaf Society to offer a seven-week course in Auslan (Australian sign language) as its first program.

It will start on July 25 at Koe-Nara Cottage (in the grounds of Cessnock Public School).

Cake decorating and relaxation and wellness, crochet circles and soft jewellery making are among the courses on offer in the first term.

Details of more courses – including cheese making, creative writing, art, nutrition, digital photography, and stand-up comedy – will be released shortly.

“The ideas that are coming forward are fabulous, people in Cessnock are hungry to find interesting things to do,” Ms Hallett said.

Wild Learning is still on the lookout for instructors, and welcomes expressions of interest from people across the Hunter Region.

If you have would like to get involved, contact Emmie Hallett by emailing info@ wildlearning.com.au.