June 6 @ 10:00 am - 4:30 pm
£55.00
Join us for a day of hands-on woodland craft, where you’ll learn how to transform raw green wood into beautiful and functional items using traditional hand tools and techniques. This one-day course invites you to slow down, connect with natural materials, and experience the satisfaction of working with wood the old-fashioned way.
Under the guidance of an experienced tutor, you’ll learn how to safely handle and work with a range of traditional tools including the shave horse, drawknife, and carving knives. Using simple, time-honoured methods, you’ll create your own hand-carved items — crafted straight from the tree itself.
This course is perfect for beginners, offering a supportive and creative environment to explore the art of green woodworking. Set in our peaceful woodland workshop, you’ll learn not only the techniques but also the stories and traditions behind the tools and crafts of our ancestors.
Your course is all set against the backdrop of mixed woodlands, wetlands and open meadows of Park In The Past, with 120 acres of wild space to explore.
As a bonus, you’ll also have the chance to try your hand at axe throwing—adding a bit of fun and challenge to your woodland adventure.
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Learn safe and effective knife grips for whittling and carving.
- Craft a range of useful and decorative items including spatulas, gypsy flowers, tent pegs & twig spoons.
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Work with a shave horse and drawknife to shape your wood.
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Cleave wood from a log and understand grain, strength, and character.
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Craft your own wooden spatula to take home and treasure.
- Test your aim and skill with a fun and safe axe throwing session in the woods.
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Discover the rhythms and rituals of traditional green woodworking.
- Use a carving axe for effective rough shaping & preparing wood for finer work.
Your Tutor: James Kendall
James is the Head Bushcraft Instructor at Woodland Classroom, having worked in outdoor education & conservation for over 10 years. James’ approach to teaching steers students toward fostering a deeper connection with nature through understanding the landscape around us; “There’s something truly special about working with green wood straight from the tree. These skills not only connect us to our woodland heritage but also to the rhythm of the seasons and the joy of crafting with our hands. This is slow, mindful work—and the rewards are both practical and deeply satisfying.”
In 2017 James received the Bushcraft Competency Certificate awarded through the Institute for Outdoor Learning after 2 years of teaching experience and practical study. He is also a member of the IOL Bushcraft Professional Practise Group. The group aims to promote best practice in the growing industry of bushcraft activity providers.
Skills you will learn
Over the course of the programme you will learn a range of skills, including…
YOUR DAY IN THE WOODS
Your day begins at our woodland basecamp, nestled beneath the canopy of native trees, where the crackle of the campfire and birdsong set the scene for a day of creativity and connection. Over a warming brew, your tutor will introduce you to the world of green woodworking, sharing the stories and traditions behind the tools and techniques you’ll be using.
From here, we step into the woods to carefully select a suitable tree for our projects. You’ll learn how to assess and choose the right species, size, and form, before being guided through safe and respectful tree felling techniques using traditional hand tools. This is an opportunity to experience the full journey from tree to craft, gaining valuable skills in safe woodland management and sustainable harvesting.
Once back at camp, your focus will turn to safe and effective tool use. You’ll be introduced to the carving axe, shave horse, drawknife, and carving knives—essential tools for transforming raw wood into useful items. You’ll learn a range of knife grips and axe techniques designed to give you confidence and control in your carving.
Throughout the morning, you will put these new skills into practice by cleaving wood and rough shaping your projects, including crafting your own tent peg and twig spoon. You’ll also enjoy creating decorative gypsy flowers from hazel—a traditional woodland craft that takes a steady hand to create something naturally beautiful.
At lunchtime the campfire kettle will be on as we take time to relax, chat, and soak up the sights, sounds, and smells of the woodland workshop. Alongside this, you’ll also get the chance to test your aim and skill in a fun and safe axe throwing session, bringing an extra element of challenge and enjoyment to your day in the woods.
In the afternoon, your attention turns to refining your skills — cleaving, shaping, smoothing – to create your own wooden spatula. As you work, you’ll discover how these timeless crafts connect us to a slower, more mindful way of living, and leave with not only your own handmade items but also the knowledge and inspiration to continue carving at home.
Throughout the day, your tutor will also share insights into the stories, folklore, and ecological understanding that accompany these crafts, helping you see the woodland through the eyes of a craftsperson.
It’s going to be a day of making, learning, and connection you’ll carry with you long after you leave the woods.
Book now
This course costs £55 per person and is aimed at learners aged 16 years and over. Younger children can attend the course, and have done in the past, if you feel that they would enjoy it and understand that it is aimed at adults. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Get in touch if you have any questions. Please note that any participants under 18 will not be able to participate in the axe throwing activity. You can read our Event Terms & Conditions here.
