Wild North Discovery

Nature and craft based activities in the North Pennine Dales and North West Highlands of Scotland
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Try your hand at the ancient craft of the pole lathe - a weekend introduction

Working with natural materials in a peaceful, rural setting is incredibly therapeutic and very fulfilling; a whole gear change and a world away from busy modern life. We’ll be using the trees that grow naturally around us in ways that our ancestors once did. You’ll find out how to work with wood still green and fresh from the tree; you’ll split it, shape it on a shave horse and then turn it on a traditional pole lathe. This is how chairs, stools, bowls, rolling pins and a host of other household objects used to be made.

Saturday
  • Properties of greenwood and different tree species
  • Cleaving greenwood
  • The shave horse and use of the draw knife
  • Introduction to the pole lathe and basic turning
  • The roughing out gouge and the flat chisel
  • Make a “priest” or a rolling pin
Sunday
  • An introduction to the spindle gouge and skew chisel
  • Make a baby’s rattle
Duration: 2 days

Cost: £200 for two people (£100 each); £40 per additional group member.
Individual one-to-one booking available at £200. Accommodation not included; see booking information.

 Further information: Minimum group size two; maximum 10. Participants should be 16 or over. Although not too strenuous an activity you will need to be able to stand at the lathe for several hours pushing the treadle with your foot. Bring a packed lunch each day.
 
All activity leaders are CRB checked

Location: North Pennines - Weardale