Boiled lengths of split oak can be riven (split) into thinner and thinner pieces until they become very pliable when kept damp. Rectangular frames were then made in groups and the riven oak woven onto the frame to make a panel. This method of riving oak is also used by Owen during the process of making oak swill baskets.

Stick legs, stick rungs and rope or seat belt seating. Very nice! Thick Hazel rods were cut to length for rungs and tennon joints made on the ends with a draw knife, clamped in a shave horse. Mortices were drilled into thicker lengths of hazel for the legs, and the stools assembled. The seats were woven using either sizal or reclaimed seat belts.

Twiggy guided everyone through the making of spatulas, clothes pegs, gypsy flowers and more. Lots of shave horse action for clamping the wood and safe use of a carving knife, axe and drawknife.

Thick Willow rods were stuck in the ground then bent over and tied together to form an up-turned small boat. The rods were woven and a seat added. The, pulled from the ground, the hull was coated with canvas and painted with bitumen to make a water-tight coracle. Once paddles were made they were taken out onto Windermere to test them out.

In this advanced workshop for returning students Ruth and David showed us a rediscovered method of splitting thin ribbons of hazel from a rod and then weaving them into a frame basket.

Lots of chisels and tapping to carefully reveal what was hidden in the wood. Signs with words and symbols were drawn onto the wood and then carved in with chisels.

On Friday students could take part in a range of 2-hour workshops, one in the morning, the other in the afternoon. The choices were besom brooms, rope-making, willow weaving, spoon making, forge work, pit sawing, beam hewing and tool sharpening.

Here are a few more photos of around and about the woods and hall.

The final photo