This is a two day course to make and take away your own Sweet Chestnut small garden gate.

Ideally, guests arrive with a specific location and therefore dimensions for their own made-to-measure gate and there is opportunity to be creative with the design (as long as the structural requirements are met!).

The pictures show quite a large garden gate and this is at the upper end of what is possible size-wise during the course. Of course, anything smaller can easily be achieved in the time available.

The course is presented by Guy Furner and Guy Mallinson, using locally sourced Sweet Chestnut from Guy Furner's own land. This wood is chosen for its durability and your gate should last for many years to come.

The course starts with selecting suitable pieces of timber for the components and explanations and demonstrations of how to safely use the tools. We also discuss construction methods and detail the various options. The processes that you will learn are all traditional hand techniques including safe use of the side axe, drawknife, and auger. We also cover peg-making and assembly.

Essential Information:

The course is for adults only, and costs £285.00 + VAT (£334.88) 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. 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.

If you have any questions or need further details, please feel free to contact me, Guy Mallinson, direct: guy@mallinson.co.uk.