Suitable for: beginners, improvers.
Considerations: Long periods seated.
Refreshments: Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available throughout the day. We also have a fantastic on-site cafe, Embers, run by local chef Shropshire Lad.
The course:
Come and learn how to craft a beautiful bird cup - a variation of the Kuksa (Scandinavian drinking vessel).
Taught by a master craftsman, you will be shown how to use push knives, gouges and spoon knives and be able to take your finished cup home to paint. A time honoured and deeply traditional introduction to woodworking, this course will set you up with a solid foundation of skills, and the confidence to continue independently. There will also be plenty of time to share the joys and challenges of the process with your fellow learners.
Your tutor:
Pete Lloyd
Blacksmithing and Tool Making, Wood Craft
Malung Folk Craft School, Sweden
BA in Fine Art Bristol
Specialisation: Land-based Sculpture and Craft
Pete began his 18 year career with a 2 year Chair Making and Greenwood Working Apprenticeship at Clisset Wood. This was followed by a cycle tour of Sweden and Norway where he visited a wide array of traditional craft people, before returning home to study wood craft and blacksmithing. Pete has also spent 2 years working with Nic Westermann, learning how to make his own tools.
"I love the quiet wisdom of trees and the story each piece of wood holds. Crafting with greenwood connects me to the woodland, to tradition, and to a slower, more thoughtful way of living. Teaching allows me to share this connection—guiding others to shape wood with their hands, find creative expression through craft, and build lasting relationships with trees, tools, and their own creativity.
When I’m not working with greenwood, I can often be found wandering the woods, observing the changing seasons and the small, forgotten details of nature. My favourite tree is the hawthorn, with its strong, resilient branches and healing properties. The hawthorn reminds me that both craft and healing require patience, care, and a deep connection to nature’s rhythms. I strive to share this wisdom with my students, encouraging them to approach their craft with intention and respect for the natural world."
