Make a child's chair or foot stool from a log

This two-day course (17th May and 7th June 2026) will introduce you to working green wood (wood direct from the tree that has not been processed or dried) with hand tools. This two-day course will introduce you to working green wood (wood direct from the tree that has not been processed or dried) with hand tools. You can choose to make either a foot stool or small child’s chair with a woven seat to take home. The wood will be sourced from our own woodland where the course is being held and the weaving completed using environmentally friendly Danish cord.

No previous experience is necessary. The course also provides the opportunity to spend a relaxing couple of days in a beautiful and peaceful woodland setting. Plenty of tea and coffee, homemade cake, fruit and biscuits will be on offer throughout both days and is included in the price, although we ask participants to bring their own lunch.

Day 1 - will focus on splitting logs and making the component parts of the stool or chair using shave horses and drawknives. These are traditional tools used in chairmaking and other crafts.

Day 2 - will be taken up assembling the stool or chair parts and weaving the seat.

Both days have the potential to be quite full-on and if necessary, finish times may over-run a bit to make sure things get finished. If participants don’t manage to complete all components by the end of day 1, there will be spares available so that everyone has everything ready to start the assembly phase at the beginning of day 2. You do not need to be a bodybuilder, but a reasonable level of physical fitness is required, particularly in the hands and wrists, so if you have any doubts about this please call us for a chat before booking - 07794 013876. We have a very small number of participants taking part so there will be plenty of help on hand!

The course venue

The course will take place outside in our own, beautiful Bottoms’ Corner Wood, a working hazel woodland that’s part of the Wassledine farm in Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire.

The wood is close to the village of Gravenhurst, near Shefford. It’s a location that’s hidden away and we will send directions a couple of weeks before the course starts.

Although it’s a beautiful setting, please be aware that the facilities are quite basic. There is off road parking along a surfaced but bumpy track. We have an outside, composting toilet with camping style hand wash.

Access

There’s a walk of about 300m over grass rides (including a slope), from the car park, through the woodland to the venue. We can provide a lift from the car park for you if you need it. If you would like to come by public transport, please let us know in advance; we will assist if we can.

Cost – £225 per person. Please note - this charge covers both days - 1st and 8th June.

Please bring outdoor gear – hats, coat, sun hat, sunblock. Lunch each day. We will provide all materials and tools as well as a selection of teas, coffee , soft drinks, cakes, fruit and biscuits throughout.

Course tutor

The course will be led by marvelous MK-based craftsman Tim Spencer. Tim has been making things from wood since childhood, but about 10 years ago he became obsessed with carving spoons and, following a course with green woodworking legend, Mike Abbott, graduated to making chairs and stools (although spoons still feature from time to time). Tim says his epiphany was when, after years of making things from straight, flat wood, he experienced the satisfaction of making useful items straight from the log; he now enjoys involving other people in green woodworking and seeing them get the same satisfaction from it as he does.