Reviews for David Knight Woodland Crafts

I've now been a spoon carver for just over 2 years. It all started when I went on one of David's courses. I had no idea what would be involved. I started with log of field maple and by the end of the day I walked away with a very presentable spoon. David is for starters a really nice, approachable guy. He's a great teacher, makes sure that you know what you're doing, and supports you throughout the day. The atmosphere was fun and relaxed and there is a great sense of achievement in turning a log into a spoon! David runs our local group which meets monthly in a local wood where we all sit around a log fire, carving spoons, chatting, drinking tea and sharing experiences. So in 2 years I've become part of the spoon carving community! I'm sure you'll enjoy the course!

An excellent and very enjoyable introductory day course in green woodworking, from the welcoming wood-fired kettle right through to comprehensive follow-up email and opportunities for further progress. The whole day was very well-structured and equipped, with superbly clear demonstrations and explanations from David and Mike, which enabled us to make spoon design choices, get plenty of practice with axe and knives, and produce an item of use and individual beauty.

The day was one of care and attention, in a very safety-conscious environment and wonderfully peaceful surroundings, with David enabling us all to get properly to grips with the revelation that the axe is our friend! Thoroughly recommended, as well as a spoon I ended the day with a great sense of accomplishment, and a deeper appreciation of the artistry involved in the craft.

I did one of David's courses last January, and it was absolutely great!
I was an absolute beginner, and I am not even particularly good at crafts, but David explained everything from the very start (a log of green wood) to the end (oiling the spoon, sharpening tools etc).
Each student carved their very own spoon, and there were a number of different tools to try out. David demonstrated many different techniques to use the sharp tools safely (for you and others around), while still leaving you room to figure out things on your own.
David is an excellent teacher, absolutely passionate about wood carving, I had an amazing day! After just this one class I am carving spoons on my own, and this part is particularly important to me as I very much expected that after the class I would never dare to carve anything at all ; the exact opposite happened. David even helped me afterwards with advice on tools to get, sharpening techniques and more.
I absolutely wholeheartedly recommend this class, and I am definitely considering taking another one myself.

Having no experience of working with wood, let alone carving using sharp tools and knives I was rather hesitant about this course; but the thought of creating, through my own efforts, a useful and beautiful wooden object spurred me on to apply for a place on David's spoon-carving course in 2018.
How wrong I was to be so uncertain, from the word GO It was a most enjoyable day. There were about eight in the group and we met outdoors in very pleasant surroundings, we were all new to spoon-carving and very impressed with the examples that David had laid out before us. David himself is an inspirational teacher, it was clear from the start that not only is he a superb craftsman, but that he is also driven to share his knowledge and talents with others.
The first part of the day, much to my pleasure, dealt with safety, then armed with the knowledge of how to keep ourselves and others safe we were taken step by step through the process of carving a spoon.

I tasted an experience that day that has lasted and will last me a lifetime and that experience, quite simply, is the pleasure of working with wood by hand. The feel, the texture, the smell of freshly cut wood and the work involved to produce something so personal and individual and functional as a spoon was and still is quite wonderful.

Since that course I have joined the Oxfordshire Bodgers which is organised by David and continued to develop my skills and interest in green woodworking.

All in all, I can thoroughly recommend this course it is useful, practical and above all creative as well as being me back to nature. David, as I have said, is an inspirational teacher and mentor. Through his passion, knowledge and enthusiasm I have learned new skills and developed a new and enjoyable interest.