Introduction to Spoon Carving – 1 day
This 1-day class will teach you the skills to create your very own spoon from scratch, using traditional hand tools and techniques, with a focus on understanding how wood behaves as a material.
Starting from a freshly cut log, you will cleave a spoon blank, design your spoon, hew the rough shape with a hand axe, hollow out the bowl with a crook knife, and finish the form and handle with carving knives.
You will learn how the growth of a tree dictates the form and texture of wood which in turn dictates how you can carve and shape it. Understanding how wood behaves is a skill that can be transfered to many other crafts and trades.
We will cover how to use sharp tools safely and effectively, learning correct grips and techniques for various tools. Will we also learn the basics of tool maintenance and how to care for your wooden spoon into the future!
Please remember that the tools you will use are extremely sharp and the carving can be quite physically demanding on the hands. To avoid mishaps, it is very important to practice caution and proper handling techniques at all times.
The class runs from 10:00 – 16:30, with a break for lunch.
Hazel Basket Weaving – 2 days
On this 2-day course, you will learn how to build a small foraging basket or tray (sometimes known as a whisket) from start to finish, using fresh green hazel rods.
On Day 1, you will learn how to select and harvest the rods from young coppiced hazel stands, being mindful of the natural regeneration of the tree, so it can continue to be used for generations to come.
You will then prepare the rods into thin weavers and sturdy ribs, using just a small carving knife and some elbow grease. You will learn to identify the different layers of the hazel rod and how they behave, so that every part can be used in the final basket.
One small basket can require over 50 metres of weavers which, along with the ribs and handle, can all be harvested from one or two hazel rods if you’re careful enough!
On Day 2, you will build the basket, first learning how to bind the ribs to the rim, then begin making the body of the basket, adding further ribs as you go. Finally you will attach the handle and make any finishing touches.
With proper care, your hazel basket will last for many years as a beautiful and practical item!
Please bear in mind that the preparation of materials for hazel weaving can be quite physically demanding, particularly on the back and knees, but don’t let this dissuade you! Ready-made materials will be available for you to use for the less-intensive weaving.
The class runs from 10:00 – 16:30 on both days, with a break for lunch.
Nest Box Building – ½ day
Come and build a bird box or bug hotel at Steeky Meadow!
Make your very own wooden bird box for blue tits, sparrows or robins, or a bug hotel using materials foraged from the site.
This class is ideal for beginners with little or no experience, where you can learn the basics of woodworking and DIY, and leave with a nest box to place in your own garden!
You will also learn why nest boxes are important and how they can be designed and positioned to best suit different species of birds and insects.
The class runs from 13:30 – 16:30
Coming Soon!
Coppice Basket Building – ½ day
Learn how to weave a sturdy and beautiful ‘basket’ to protect newly coppiced trees at Steeky Meadow.
Coppice baskets are constructed in a similar fashion to hurdles, with large stakes driven in a circle around the coppice stool and thinner material woven between.
In this class, you’ll learn how to process the coppiced material, plan out your coppice basket and construct it. You’ll also learn how to safely use traditional hand tools such as hatchets, billhooks and saws.
In areas with livestock and deer populations, new growth on coppiced trees is particularly vulnerable to browsing which can severely hinder growth or eventually kill the tree. One method to manage this that we employ at Steeky Meadow is to build ‘baskets’ around our freshly coppiced hazel, using material from the tree itself.
The class runs from 13:00 – 16:30.
