Covid 19 - To ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience places on this course are limited to three. All participants will be provided with their own set of sanitised tools. We will also provide hand sanitiser & wipes. Making use of our indoor and outdoor space, including our new outdoor shelter, we have ample space to ensure appropriate social distancing. Participants may choose to wear a face covering, but they will not be mandatory due to the physical nature of the course, and other measures in place.

What will the course cover

Spend a day in the woods learning how to make a fabulous rustic bench.

• use a range of hand tools safely and how to set up a safe work station (please be aware that working with any edge tools presents an element of risk)
• split a log recently harvested from our own woodland into billets (to become the legs)
• rough out with an axe
• use a shave horse (ancient woodland devise) to refine the shape of each leg .
• create the mortise and tenon needed to bring your bench top and legs together
• use oak wedges to secure the legs in place.
• level your bench

Plus a little advice on how to treat and look after your bench when you get home.

My workshop is situated in Ghyll wood on the fabulous Wyresdale Park estate. We can make use of both indoor and outdoor space depending on the weather, and a wood-burner will keep us warm on colder days.

What you need to know

Suitable for beginners or those with a little more experience. Minimum age 18 years with no upper age limit, however please ask if you wish to discuss a younger person taking part.

A basic level of fitness is suitable, as you will use both sitting and standing work-stations during the day, but please do be aware this is very much a full day. Please wear clothing that is suitable for the expected weather conditions and that you don't mind getting a little messy, and good fitting, sturdy footwear with a grippy sole. Snacks and refreshments will be provided on the day, but you may wish to bring your own mug for brews. Please bring your own lunch - the Apple Store Cafe is just a few metres away and makes excellent food, it can get quite busy, but you can order your lunch to bring back to the workshop if you wish (you will not have time for a sit in lunch at the cafe). Please note that toilets are situated up by the cafe.