Courses and Workshops
Learn the art of green woodworking at my Belper workshop.The small workshop is a solar powered indoor and outdoor space residing under a mature tree in my garden with a view across Belper, and lots of nature.See below for a variety of workshops I’m running in 2026.
Peg Rail making
This larger clothes peg rail is a good introduction to green woodworking: getting familiar with different woods, and understanding how to work with the grain. We’ll use various hand tools to shape the flat rail, then make simple or carved pegs, using a shaving horse to grip work. Use a hand powered brace and bit to drill peg holes. Learn safe & simple knife techniques to carve or bevel the pegs. There are 3 to 5 places in this workshop so I’m able to give you individual attention. No previous experience needed.
Sunday 26th July 2026, 10am to 3pm. £90 Includes a light lunch. Use the buy now button to see more details & to book. Buy now
Button making
This is a great introduction to green woodworking: getting familiar with different fine-grained woods, discovering the therapeutic charm of green woodworking, and understanding how the grain works. Use a shaving horse to grip work and use various hand tools to complete your buttons. These could be made as a gift for a knitting or sewing enthusiast. They can be decorated or oiled to protect from water.
Sat 22nd August 2026, 10am-1pm. £40 includes all materials and refreshments. For more details or to book, use the Buy Now button. Buy now
Small stool with turned legs
Over 2 days, make a small stool with legs from green wood turned on the pole lathe. Legs will be made of either sycamore or ash, and the seat will be a seasoned piece of hardwood.This is a good way to get extended time on the pole lathe to develop your turning skills.You’ll learn to shape the seat with hand tools, and drill angled mortises for the leg tenons. We’ll use wedges to make strong joints with an attractive finish.
There are 3 places on this workshop, so I’m able to give you individual attention. No previous experience needed.
Sat & Sun 15th & 16th August 2026. Starts 9am-5.00pm Saturday, 9am-5pm Sunday. £190 Includes a light lunch. For more details or to book use the buy now button. Buy now
Sat & Sun 10th & 11th October 2026.Starts 9am-5.00pm Saturday, 9am-5pm Sunday. £190 Includes a light lunch. For more details or to book use the buy now button. Buy now
Rustic stool making
Make a beautiful 3 or 4 legged stool in 2 short days, with bark on or off the legs, and a strong wedged mortice and tenon joint to attach legs to seat. Made with hand tools such as drawknife, spokeshave, brace and bit, rounder plane, and the clever shaving horse which allows you to grip your piece and easily turn it as you work on it. No previous experience needed.
Sat & Sun 5th & 6th September 2026, Starts 10am-4pm Saturday, 10am-4pm Sunday. £160 Includes a light lunch. For more details or to book, use the buy now button. Buy now
Sat & Sun 12th & 13th September 2026, Starts 10am-4pm Saturday, 10am-4pm Sunday. £160 Includes a light lunch. For more details or to book, use the buy now button.Buy now
Make a coffee table
Over 6 half days over 6 weeks, make an elegant, strong coffee table with stretchers. As we come back to the project each week you can learn at a relaxed tempo. You will learn how to prepare blanks to turn legs and stretchers on a pole lathe, make round mortise and tenon joints, shape your table top with hand tools, fit all the parts together and finish joints with wedges. If you’d prefer to make a stool with stretchers using the same processes, that can be accommodated. Take home a beautiful small coffee table or stool!
There are 3 places on this workshop, so I’m able to give you individual attention. Some experience may be useful but not necessary.
Weds 9th Sept to 14th Oct 2026 inclusive. 9am to 12.30pm each Wednesday.£170 includes refreshments. For more details or to book use the buy now button. Buy now
Belper Home Ed courses
Due to several enquiries from Home Ed families, I’m developing a short course or courses for Home Ed children at my workshop. The format would most likely be a weekly morning or afternoon session, with a single green woodworking project per person to complete over the whole course, or a small project which is completed each week. This is designed to be an affordable option for Home Edders.
This course could start in September 2026 (or October) if there is enough interest. Please use this form to register your interest.
