Devon

These six-day greenwood chair making courses cover all the green woodworking skills and processes needed in order to construct your own chair from a green Ash log. The techniques include cleaving out and shaping the components, drying some of the components overnight in the wood-fired kiln, steam-bending some of the components to give them the correct form, cutting and drilling mortises and tenons, frame assembly, and finally weaving the seating material.

There is a range of chair designs to choose from, to suit all abilities, and a range of seating materials. Some previous green woodworking experience is helpful, although not essential, for this course. Spending a week working in the woods, being so close to nature, using wood from the woods and hand tools to produce a beautifully unique piece of furniture is a deeply fulfilling experience. On top of that, the sense of achievement gained from having made your own chair that will last for generations is something very special.

The course tutor is Andy Morton, an experienced worker in green wood and in timber-framing. There is a limit of 6 students per course to allow for good personal tuition throughout the course.

All tools and materials required for your course are provided. Each participant will be allocated their own set of tools at the beginning of the course to use for the duration. Sallerton wood is extremely well stocked with straight grown Ash, perfect for green woodwork projects.

Sallerton Wood is 10 acres of beautiful mixed deciduous woodland with a stream running through it. It is situated south-east of Launceston, close to the River Tamar on the Devon/Cornwall border. All courses take place within the heart of the woodland itself. There is a large, well-equipped workshop shelter, and a timber-framed utility shelter for cooking and tea-making. The utility shelter is equipped with a large dining table, pans, utensils, and a wood-fired clay oven and rocket stoves for use during courses.

Wild camping is offered within Sallerton Wood. Facilities provided are a site within the woodland to pitch a small tent, a compost toilet, piped spring water for washing and cooking, and drinking water supplied separately. There is a small washroom containing a wash basin and shower, both with hot and cold water. For those who do not wish to camp, or require more than the wild camping facilities offered, there are many local accommodation options, and some suggestions are available on request or via our website.

These two-day courses teach a wide range of green woodworking techniques whilst making your own traditional greenwood shaving horse using hardwood timber sourced within the woodland. The topics covered include the properties of green wood, cleaving techniques and the use of traditional hand tools and equipment such as draw-knives and pole lathes. A shave horse is a fundamental piece of kit needed by all green woodworkers, and it will be yours to keep at the end of the course, and the course fee is less than the cost of buying one!

The course tutor is Andy Morton, an experienced worker in green wood and in timber-framing. There is a limit of 6 students per course to allow for good personal tuition throughout the course.

All tools and materials required for your course are provided. Each participant will be allocated their own set of tools at the beginning of the course to use for the duration. Sallerton wood is extremely well stocked with straight grown Ash, perfect for green woodwork projects.

Sallerton Wood is 10 acres of beautiful mixed deciduous woodland with a stream running through it. It is situated south-east of Launceston, close to the River Tamar on the Devon/Cornwall border. All courses take place within the heart of the woodland itself. There is a large, well-equipped workshop shelter, and a timber-framed utility shelter for cooking and tea-making. The utility shelter is equipped with a large dining table, pans, utensils, and a wood-fired clay oven and rocket stoves for use during courses.

Wild camping is offered within Sallerton Wood. Facilities provided are a site within the woodland to pitch a small tent, a compost toilet, piped spring water for washing and cooking, and drinking water supplied separately. There is a small washroom containing a wash basin and shower, both with hot and cold water. For those who do not wish to camp, or require more than the wild camping facilities offered, there are many local accommodation options, and some suggestions are available on request or via our website.