Cleft Gate Making Course // Cwrs Gwneud Iet Hollt

Description

A comprehensive four day course set in the beautiful Pengelli Forest to learn how to make cleft wood gates. The course aims to teach you all you need to know, the theory and practice, of cleft gate making so you're able to make your own gates of any size and anywhere! Please note this is not a workshop in which everyone makes their own gate to take home. The course focuses on in-depth learning of the process while collaboratively making a gate together. Your tutors, Tracey Styles and David Hunter, have decades of experience and both of them separately run their own greenwood businesses. They will take you through the whole process The course covers: DAY 1: A day of mostly theory and background info you need to prepare for the practical days: > Gate styles. > Gate construction: element names and function. > Characteristics of greenwood. > Attributes of different greenwoods. > Identifying, sourcing and selecting suitable material. > Safe material handling. > Key tools and their safe use (timber tongs, bow saw, two-handed saw, saw horse, cleaving brake, froe, hatchet, beetle, draw knife, shave horse). > Key skills – sawing, cleaving, axing, using a draw knife. > Tool sharpening. > Gate material cutting list. DAY 2: Planning, preparing and an introduction to practical skills: > Measuring and cutting. > Cleaving. > Component preparation. > Using a shave horse and a drawknife. DAY 3: Developing practical skills and making the components for the gate: > Component making. > Clapper head. > Hinge head. > Ledges. > Brace. > Palings. > Mortices and tenons. > Detailing. DAY 4: How to assemble the date, assembly and troubleshooting: > Gate assembly. > Setting out. > Trial fit. > Final assembly including brace fitting. > Backslapping. Please note the course is 4 consecutive days: Friday 27th March - Monday 30th March 2026. Ticket sales for this course will stop on 20th March due to the need to source materials in advance. ARE THERE ANY REQUIREMENTS? > This is beginner to intermediate course and suitable for both people with no or some experience in green woodworking. > You will need to be physically able to use traditional hand tools - this is physical but not strenuous. Please contact us via the 'message the tutor' button if you have any questions of concerns. > Please bring a packed lunch and a bottle of drinking water. > Please wear weather appropriate outdoor clothing you don't mind getting a bit dirty/damaged and some sturdy boots (steel toe caps if you have them). ABOUT THE VENUE & PENGELLI FOREST: We have a beautiful timber framed workshop and covered outdoor work area nestled in Pengelli Forest. The woodland plots we coppice are just a 10 minute walk from the workshop. Pengelli Forest is situated a few miles from the coast in Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and is a very special place. It is a 163 acre richly diverse ancient woodland, one of the largest of its type remaining in Wales. Some of the forest is thought to have been wooded since the end of the last Ice Age – 10,000 years ago! It is one of Wales’ National Nature Reserves and an important habitat for many species. It also has a long and deep history stretching centuries as a working woodland from a valuable resource for local people to timber for World War II. **Mae'r prosiect hwn wedi'i ariannu gan Gynllun Tirwedd Coedwig Genedlaethol Cymru 2025/2027 Llywodraeth Cymru, a weinyddir gan CGCG. This project is funded by Welsh Government's National Forest for Wales Landscape Scheme 2025/2027, administered by WCVA.**

What's included in the price?

> All tools needed. > All materials needed. > Hot drinks.

Cancellation policy

Medium - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 4 weeks before the course starts

Maker

Sophie // Beccy at Cwm Arian

with Craft Courses since 2025

Message the tutor

Cwm Arian Renewable Energy, a Community Benefit Society based in West Wales, works to inspire and support local communities to create a sustainable, resilaint change. With a strong commitment to renewable energy and grassroots action, CARE is dedicated to fostering positive environmental and social change. Amongst our projects is a community wind turbine, community garden, research into sustainable land based practices and sustainable art & craft centre, based in Hermon.