This is a three-day course to make a green wood footstool (or, perhaps, child's chair).

Starting with a log, this project gives guests the opportunity to learn a good variety of skills - cleaving, using a pole lathe, drawknife and spokeshave, boring holes in freshly cut ash and weaving a seat using different techniques and materials.

The jointing technique we use requires no glue, screws or nails - the shrinkage of the timber locks the joints, tightly enough to take a man's weight! By the end of the two days you can expect to leave with a completed stool.

We always try to offer the opportunity for individual expression and this project is designed to allow for as much variation as practically possible within the time allocated.

The materials we provide for the stool are locally sourced from sustainable supplies.

Essential Information:

The course is for adults only, and costs £325.00 + VAT (£373.75) per person, including materials and delicious lunches, tea and coffee, biscuits and cake. Tools are also supplied for your use during the course within this price.

The days run from 9.00 (tea and coffee) for a 9.30 start and finish at approximately 5.00pm. As well as stopping for lunch, we break for tea, coffee, biscuits and cake during the morning and afternoon. We promise not to work you too hard! It's a really good, simultaneously relaxing and productive time.

We aim to down tools at approximately 5.00 p.m. on each day. If you are arranging to be collected then any time after 5.15 is good.

However, at the end of day three we like to sit down for a glass of something ... so rather than miss out, it's best to plan for 5.30 onwards on the final day. Of course, whoever is collecting you is welcome to come down to the woods, any time after 5.00.

Sturdy footwear should be worn and although we can all comfortably work under shelter should it rain, it is worth bringing suitable clothing for the short walk across the meadow to the woodland workshop, and this path can get muddy. Full directions are supplied on booking.

If you have any questions or need further details, please feel free to contact me, Guy Mallinson, direct: guy@mallinson.co.uk.