Green Wood Workshop Courses Update – 2021
A year without courses has allowed us to take stock and reassess how we run our Green Wood Workshop Courses, after 29 years. As we enter our 30th year, we have a new and much improved workshop facility. This provides a large, undercover workspace – meaning we can work outdoors with full protection from the rain and sun. Some courses will still be out in the elements – hurdles, hedgelaying and apple pruning for example can’t be done under the roof!
We have lots of bench space and a large range of quality hand tools. A new indoor space houses the pole lathes, with large, double doors and windows for excellent ventilation.
Whilst still near the centre of Bore Place for loos and parking (and now ice creams!), the new workshop is tucked away in a quiet corner of the site.
New Courses
The course titles remain the same, but the maximum numbers are now reduced to enable more tutor time per person. Though this has necessitated a price increase, we still believe our courses offer excellent value for money. Tutors will also be “making” during the courses, and I think this is a really useful extra for the course participants, as it gives them an opportunity to observe professional working practices and processes, tool use and thought processes.
We have also added three new courses:
– 1 Day Basketry Course,
– 1 Day Green Wood Workshop
– Stool Making
Workshop Days – NEW
On the last Thursday of the month (unless otherwise stated), I will open the workshop to a maximum of three people (first come, first booked!) to pursue their own project. I will be working as usual, but will be available for in-depth tuition, or gentle guidance (as required). Workshop facilities and resources will be available as usual.
Examples of projects may include chair making, hurdle making, stools and other green wood projects, baskets or willow garden structures. Workshop days will be open to those who have already attended a course and wish to practice skills learnt.
New Tutor
Steve De St Croix has joined the original team of Mike Whiddett (apples), John Shepherd (charcoal) and John Waller (everything else!). Steve will be leading spoon making, stool making and the one day green wood workshop. Having attended a number of courses over several years, Steve is a very competent spoon maker and makes green wood chairs and hurdles. A gardener and plantsman, he has a broad knowledge and has applied many green wood and coppice techniques and traditions to current garden designs.
Please see our Green Wood Workshop Course program for more details.