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I thought the day and the tips given by Dave was excellent. I have made at least 11 sticks so far and I'm a bit of a stick nerd. Thanks for an informative day, very relaxed style. Would recommend it to anyone. Bill Knapp
A thoroughly enjoyable day. I've been wanting to start stick making for some time and feel I have all
the know-how now to get going. Great instructors and a nice bunch of folk participating. Very pleased with my first stick as well. Highly recommended.
I rarely write reviews, but this course was really great (attended in Feb 2020). The combination of spending a day in the woods bringing some trees back under coppice management, plus creating a stool from the wood that would be produced, gave a real breadth to the topic. Dave and the volunteers were all really supportive and lovely. I was an absolute beginner and feared some sexism, but there was none of that. They just patiently explained how to use a saw etc as though it's entirely normal to have never handled any tools. I really recommend this.
Wonderful day. Really enjoyed this course. Rachel was an excellent teacher. Came away with a sculpture that did look like a hare. Would highly recommend this course and especially this teacher. Thanks Rachel.
Spent a fun day learning how to do willow sculpture. My hare actually resembles one and I am not the most artistic of people! Tutor very warm and helpful. I bought some more willow at the end and am currently making a friend for Hartley the hare! Well worth it. Thanks.
Amazing day, really patient tutor who took us step by step through making and let us work at our own pace and more importantly mine actually looks like a hare, even the husband was impressed, Will get doing more with Rachel in future.
A really enjoyable day. Great instructor, nice pace, learnt new skills. Would recommend to others to give it a go. Met some nice people.
Very inspiring day and thanks to all the team who delivered the course.
Very enjoyable day on the Willow Hare course. I'd not done any willow work before but actually came out with something recognisable as a Hare! The course was very well taught by Rachel who kept a good balance of chat, demonstration and instruction so that we could all work at our own pace. A very enjoyable day. I'd recommend this course.
I arrived 10 minutes late but was immediately greeted with a smile and offer of tea or coffee. I found the course very enjoyable and informative. Dave and the team we’re very friendly and as you would expect knowledgeable about tools, sharpening and how to use them. Dave and his team explained all the various ways to sharpen tools and the equipment needed. Most of the other people like me on the course had watched various ways to sharpen tools on YouTube, but felt we needed to be shown one way, and the right way. Dave’s method which he’s used for years was shown and it appeared we all felt comfortable with his method. I would recommend this course to anyone who would not only like to learn how to sharpen their tools, but also maintain them to a high standard of sharpness. Excellent course, excellent venue, very friendly. I will be going again.
Jason was very informative & willing to pass on his knowledge. He was very encouraging to everyone pitching his teaching to their ability being supportive to everyone.
Informative, relaxed, friendly, helpful. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot
Excellent course. Plenty of help and advice given. Good venue and ample tools and instruction in their use. Nice atmosphere as it was a small group. Time passed quickly.
I really enjoyed the day and came home with a lovely basket. There were examples of finished baskets, but we were free to choose the design we wanted - everyone's was different! Help was at hand all day with good demonstrations, but also one to one when needed. The course was held inside and the cafe was open as it was a Saturday.
A fantastic day - well it did start with cakes! We made a range of soaps, some from scratch then were able to create a variety of products of our individual choice (my son loves the blues busting beard wax and the energising beard oil, I’m finding the joint cream very good). Rachel is a great instructor, she gave us lots of information and recipes, guided us when we needed it and let us get on when we felt confident to do so. By the end of the day we all had a huge range of products and felt we’d learned a lot, I’m definitely going to start making my own herb infused oils and trying more of Rachel’s recipes.
What a great day! Brilliant well structured, hands on course. The morning was soap making, starting easy and building up to making soap that feels like you're doing a science experiment. The afternoon involved a variety of products tailored to each of us and what we fancied making. Rachel was a great tutor with lots of knowledge about the materials that we were using and the products we made. We didn't only go away with lots of goodies but also got plenty of very useful hand outs so we can carry on making at home. The location is great, welcoming and warm.
Rachel gave us lots of useful information about willow in general, as well as teaching us how to make different structures. Although it was the weekend of Storm Ciara, the course went ahead inside the beautiful Hector’s House, complete with cosy wood burning stove, and we planted and learnt how to weave a decorative willow tree in large pots, as well as making woven plant supports.
Rachel taught us different weaves and techniques, and she and her assistant gave us plenty of help. We found a gap in the rain to go out and learn about planting a hedge. As well as having a very enjoyable day out with like-minded people, I felt I had learnt enough to have the skills and confidence to follow up with my own projects at home.
The course was very much a practical hands on introduction to hand felling small trees in a lovely deciduous woodland. The day started with an overview of the tools we would use, preceded by valuable health and safety advice. The four course participants were soon at work in the woods learning the practical application of techniques for felling small trees using bow saw and axe, not forgetting 'snedding' with billhook. The day included welcome beverages, packed lunch or food from the excellent kiosk.
The tutors were obviously very able at their crafts and shared their knowledge with good humour and enthusiasm. I was particularly grateful for the time we spent on learning sharpening techniques for the tools we were using, having missed the specific course Dave runs on this subject.
I would definitely recommend the course as an introduction to the subject and it would likely repay annual attendance for brushing up of woodland skills.
I look forward to attending future courses.
Fantastic course that I would highly recommend. The venue was wonderful and Rachel the course tutor was absolutely lovely, very knowledgable and happy to guide us through making lots of different products, which we took home at the end of the day. The booklet we received was great too so now I can make the products at home as well. Thoroughly enjoyable and lovely to meet so many nice people on the day, can’t wait to do another course!!
Amazing course I was kept busy all day. Lots to smell, try and make. Well paced and plenty to do and take home. Rachel treated us all as individuals and tailored the afternoon of the course to our tastes/ desires. Lots of tea, buns and a warm fire too what more can a girl want? Can’t wait for her next course.
This was a great hands-on, full day of making. It was well structured, with Rachel guiding us through soap making in the morning, then giving us freedom to have a go at the other bits like salves and bath bombs later in the day. It was a lovely friendly atmosphere and I went away with an incredible collection of bath time goodies!