Traditional woodland crafts and green woodworking courses, craft kits and handcrafted gifts

You may also be interested in: Animal husbandry and small holding skills | Art: driftwood and beach combing | Bushcraft and forest school | Coppicing and woodland management | Garden design and maintenance | Gardening | Gardening: pruning and orchard management | Heritage crafts | Outdoors and rural skills | Timber framing | Traditional building skills and conservation | Wildlife and nature conservation | Willow weaving

Traditional woodland craft courses (we also include green woodworking and greenwood crafts in this section) are increasing in the UK. Traditional woodland craft can also be known as ‘woodmanship’ and means working with trees, forests and tools in a way that communities going back thousands of years would recognise. These wood-loving ancestors of ours may have been the first true conservationists, working their resources in a way that was renewable and sustainable, not only preserving trees, but enhancing the richness of the surrounding wildlife. Traditional craft and green wood workshops in this section will generally involve woodwork without the use of nails and screws - and with a focus on hand tools. Think rustic!

view as

Spoon carving workshop with Fazey Woodcraft

Spoon carving workshop with Fazey Woodcraft

In-person course

Dorset - Next course on 28th May 2021

Welcome to Fazey Woodcraft... In this workshop you will learn all the skills and techniques needed to craft your own wooden spoons by hand, using just an axe & knife. Jack Fazey has been working with wood for over 10 years, carving spoons for about 8 years, and teaching for even longer. In his safe, competent hands you will be guided through the safe use of the axe, sloyd knife and crook knife, as well as shown how to select wood for carving, keep your tools sharp and ultimately how...

Welcome to Fazey Woodcraft... In this workshop you will learn all the skills and techniques needed to craft your own wooden spoons by hand, using just an axe & knife....

Chair making course at Sallerton Wood

Chair making course at Sallerton Wood

In-person course

Devon - Next course on 21st June 2021

COVID-19 ~ We are planning to run a full programme of courses during 2021 starting in May. Full precautions will be taken in our spacious outdoor workshop area. These six-day green wood 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...

COVID-19 ~ We are planning to run a full programme of courses during 2021 starting in May. Full precautions will be taken in our spacious outdoor workshop area. These six-day...

Log to stool with Gedwood

Log to stool with Gedwood

In-person course

Moray - Next course on 1st May 2021

Set in the stunning rolling hills of Speyside at the very heart of malt whisky country in the scottish highlands. No previous skills required for this fun and creative workshop, in making a rustic stool from a log to take back with you and proudly display in your home. You will be shown how to cleave, trim and shave the stool legs on the shave horse. Form tenons on the stool legs with a tenon cutter and draw knife. Then shape the slab for the seat of the stool, drill...

Set in the stunning rolling hills of Speyside at the very heart of malt whisky country in the scottish highlands. No previous skills required for this fun and creative workshop,...

Green wood chair making 5 day course in Sussex woodland

Green wood chair making 5 day course in Sussex woodland

In-person course

East Sussex - Next course on 19th April 2021

Spend 5 days in a beautiful Sussex woodland learning pole lathe turning and other green woodwork techniques and make yourself a chair to cherish for life. The courses are suitable for complete beginners or more experienced wood workers and all tools and materials are provided. The timber used is all locally grown hardwoods. A wholesome lunch is provided . Students may camp overnight. The facilities are basic. The tutor is Danny Harling. He is a carpenter and furniture maker and has been making chairs for 30 years and teaching his...

Spend 5 days in a beautiful Sussex woodland learning pole lathe turning and other green woodwork techniques and make yourself a chair to cherish for life. The courses are suitable...

Bark Container Workshop

Bark Container Workshop

In-person course

Dorset - Next course on 31st July 2021

Bark containers are one of, if not the oldest way to contain foodstuffs, liquids & other goods. In this workshop we will be using methods and materials that span back thousands of years into pre-history to create a beautiful, strong & sustainable container from Birch Bark This style of container is possibly my favourite. No glue, no nails, no modern materials. An ingenuous method of making which involves clever finger tab joints and friction. An immensely satisfying experience. A history of the use of bark, roots & wood, plus examples...

Bark containers are one of, if not the oldest way to contain foodstuffs, liquids & other goods. In this workshop we will be using methods and materials that span back...

Beginner’s bowl carving

Beginner’s bowl carving

In-person course

Norfolk - Next course on 29th May 2021

Have you dabbled with greenwood spoon carving and are keen to take your skills to the next level? Then this might be the course for you! New for 2021, we are offering a limited number of residential weekend courses in greenwood bowl carving for up to three people. We will teach you how to make a simple Kuksa bowl similar to those that are made by the Sámi nomads in Finland. We will take you from basic wood preparation, carving the bowl with an axe, gouge work and finishing to...

Have you dabbled with greenwood spoon carving and are keen to take your skills to the next level? Then this might be the course for you! New for 2021, we...

Introduction to green wood furniture making - two days

Introduction to green wood furniture making - two days

In-person course

Devon - Next course on 23rd April 2021

A two day course learning the skills and techniques of green woodworking, with an emphasis on contemporary design and detailing. Maximum of 6 students. You will make either a low stool or a side table using a variety of edge tools. Starting with a fresh cut log you will learn how to cleave the wood with a froe and wedges, then shape it on the shaving horse with drawknife and spokeshave. Joints used will be through-wedged-tenons. Use of contrasting timbers, and sculpted free-form table tops or seats are all available...

A two day course learning the skills and techniques of green woodworking, with an emphasis on contemporary design and detailing. Maximum of 6 students. You will make either a low...

Alien spoon carving

Alien spoon carving

In-person course

Edinburgh - Next course on 15th May 2021

I am open to new bookings and rescheduling previously booked courses now. Courses will be following the current virus guidelines as much as possible and groups will be even smaller - often 1-2-1 and groups from the same household, people that have booked together, etc. Alien spoons? Well, only because it is a memorable name and some of the knife grasps feel a bit alien to start with. You will soon get to grips with them and the focus of this workshop is learning to use safe and efficient carving...

I am open to new bookings and rescheduling previously booked courses now. Courses will be following the current virus guidelines as much as possible and groups will be even smaller...

Green wood chair making - 6 day woodworking course in Devon

Green wood chair making - 6 day woodworking course in Devon

In-person course

Devon - Next course on 26th April 2021

Starting with an unseasoned log you will learn how to create a beautiful and unique chair which will last for generations. This is one of the most satisfying green wood projects and the course is suitable for complete beginners and experienced woodworkers alike. The "post and rung" construction uses the natural properties of green wood to produce incredibly strong, glue-free joints. During the course you will learn to split wood accurately, and shape it using draw knife and spoke shaves. Using the unique qualities of unseasoned wood and following a...

Starting with an unseasoned log you will learn how to create a beautiful and unique chair which will last for generations. This is one of the most satisfying green wood...

Spoon carving for beginners - morning

Spoon carving for beginners - morning

In-person course

London - Next course on 5th June 2021

This regular class in spoon carving introduces you to the art of carving with an axe, a knife and a crook knife. By carving a spoon, you can focus on becoming familiar with the tools of the craft without the pressure of knowing what to carve. As you gain confidence with the tools, you begin to build a relationship with your small scale carving and understand the subtle and addictive qualities of this new hobby. We will use green wood, freshly cut with a high moisture content. This is a...

This regular class in spoon carving introduces you to the art of carving with an axe, a knife and a crook knife. By carving a spoon, you can focus on...

Showing {{ coursesLoaded }} of {{ coursesTotal }}

Loading