Enjoy this ancient and absorbing craft, coached by an experienced artisan tutor, and take the fruits of your labour home with you.
10am-4pm
Local Organic Food available for Lunch - bring cash on the day.
THE VENUE
This two day course is set at our off-grid woodland craft centre, Kensley Sheds, right in the heart of the beautiful Forest of Dean, situated on the famous Sculpture Trail, close to the Stained Glass Window and Wildlife Trust reserve ‘Woorgreen Lake’
Kensley Sheds is the home of our Social Forestry Project ‘New Leaf’. Here, local adults who are struggling with social issues come learn & practice new skills. We follow regenerative woodland management practices, to extract and process wood from disused Forestry England coppiced woodland. Here the wood is turned it into functional items, firewood and charcoal, giving people access to new careers and a sense of real community.
Our long term goal is to acquire land to hold in a community land trust, run as a workers co-op, supporting local heritage craft skills by running apprenticeship schemes and creating a demonstration of true local economy and functional community eco living. Read more about SEED project here….
Kensley sheds has running water, a flushing disabled access toilet, onsite parking and is heated by wood-burner. You will be able to peruse our extensive library of eco / craft / alternative living books throughout the day.
The Course
We will make traditional three-legged 'milking stools.' Open to those with some experience of woodworking / turning / enthusiastic novices!
A "milking stool" is a traditional 3 legged stool, which makes a useful and attractive piece of furniture in any present day household. On this course you can choose to make a round or heart shaped stool with turned legs, or drawknife shaved legs, you choose! If you have other ideas, please run them by the tutor first, to ensure that the project is feasible.
On the first day learners will cleave fresh green ash wood, and shape it with axes and drawknives to prepare the billets for stool legs; these may then be turned on pole lathes to traditional or original patterns, with consideration to functional and attractive design. The legs will then be dried ready for assembly on the last day of the course.
On the second day seasoned hardwood boards will be cut to shape using a turning saw, and shaped and finished using a range of hand tools; then the components will be assembled, using traditional Windsor chair making techniques.
We will provide:
Relaxed and fun instruction
All tools and materials.
A covered area incase of rain
A fire to keep warm
Refreshments
Local organic lunch on a 'pay as you feel' basis.
What to bring:
Suitable clothing
Cash for lunch