In short, I had a great time with Roger & co and took away a great deal of useful knowledge and skills, from just a 2 day course.
One skill or craft that I really enjoyed, was the spoon carving.
This ancient art, has not only given us the earliest of cutlery since time immemorial, but is also a therapeutic act of making something from half a log of wood!
Once we had been given a thorough demonstration by J.P, we were let loose to try make our own.
Rob had cut down a 3-4 year old Silver Birch (Betula Pendula) which diameter was roughly 8 or so inches and logs were cut into 7-8 inch lengths.
we then split the logs with our trusty knives and a wooden mallet (or maul) into halves. We then crudely drew on the shape of our spoon with a pencil and with a folding saw, cut incisions into the halved log, just before it meets the line of where the handle has been drawn, this make it easier to carve the handle of the spoon.
(More to come)
Upon returning from my weekend away bushcrafting, I immediately ventured to the garden to water the veg patch.
Whilst watering, it occurred to me, as I hadn't gone to the effort of creating a raised bed, that the plot could do with a little fence to break it off from the lawn.
So the next day I ventured to my local woods in search of some Willow in order to make a small Willow fence.
On my walks in the woods I regularly pass a small section of Willow that has been coppiced to create immense amounts of new shoots. These plants have not been coppiced for a number of years and I took the opportunity to help myself to the plentiful supply.
Once home I striped the Willow wands of their leaves and newest growth and cut them to length. I placed sturdy Birch pegs in the ground at regular intervals and proceeded, with the help of my brother Dan, to weave the Willow between these pegs.
Pictures below
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