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.
2027 Dates coming soon!
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.
2027 Dates coming soon
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 19th & 20th April 2027.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.
2027 Dates coming soon…
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. THIS COURSE HAS STARTED.
Belper Home Ed courses
Due to several enquiries from Home Ed families, I’ve developed a 4 week course and a monthly morning session for Home Ed children at my workshop.
Monthly Project Mornings on the first Thursday of the month, with a single green woodworking project each month. Each session is designed to be achievable, satisfying, and full of useful skills. Parent and young person (8 to 18 yrs old) work together or separately to complete their project in one morning.£15 per person per session. There is no commitment to attend all sessions.To see the projects for the next 6 months, follow this link.
- November Booking Link
- December Booking Link
- February 2027 Booking Link
- March 2027 Booking Link
- April 2027 Booking Link
4‑Week Stool or Side Table Course. Fridays, 9.30–12.30pm Starting 2nd October. A parent and young person can make a small stool or simple side table together — or one each if you’re both keen. This is a lovely project for exploring a wide range of traditional green woodworking techniques. You’ll use fresh green wood for the legs, dry them, and then fit them into a seasoned hardwood seat. The seat can be square, hexagonal, or gently curved, and you can choose between 3 or 4 legs depending on the look you want.
Legs can be turned on the pole lathe, shaped with a drawknife, or even made from hazel with the bark left on for a rustic finish. It’s a project that teaches tool control, joint‑making, shaping, and design — and you end up with a beautiful, useful piece of furniture at the end.
If you’d like to ask any questions, or chat through which session might suit your family best, get in touch. I’m very happy to help. aliclarkmaker@outlook.com
