This is a two day course run by green woodworker and craft tool maker Ben Orford, in which he will teach you the satisfying craft of spoon carving.

This course is suitable for complete novices and people with some experience who wish to hone their carving and whittling skills.

Over the two days, you will learn the merits of various different types of green wood and their individual suitability for carving. You will learn how to utilise an axe to rough out the shape of a spoon from a split piece of green timber, before mastering various safe knife grasps to produce individual spoons, whether large 'stirrers' or small 'eaters'.

At the end of the course you should feel confident to carve further spoon projects at home.

Essential Information:

The course is for adults only, and costs £300 per person, including materials and delicious lunches, tea and coffee, biscuits and cake. Tools are also supplied for your use during the course within this price.

The days run from 9.00 (tea and coffee) for a 9.30 start and finish at approximately 5.00pm. As well as stopping for lunch, we break for tea, coffee, biscuits and cake during the morning and afternoon. Lunches are prepared by the 'Nettlepickers', and are freshly prepared in the woods each day, from fresh locally foraged and picked ingredients. We promise not to work you too hard! It's a really good, simultaneously relaxing and productive time.

We aim to down tools at approximately 5.00 p.m. on both days. If you are arranging to be collected then any time after 5.15 is good. However, at the end of day two we like to sit down for a glass of something ... so rather than miss out, it's best to plan for 5.30 onwards on the second day. Of course, whoever is collecting you is welcome to come down to the woods, any time after 5.00.

Sturdy footwear should be worn and although we can all comfortably work under shelter should it rain, it is worth bringing suitable clothing for the short walk across the meadow to the woodland workshop, and this path can get muddy. Full directions are supplied on booking.