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Following the sell-out success of this course last time, we are pleased to offer a new one-day course: learn how to make a green wood stool. Working with green wood using simple hand tools, by the end of the day you will make a ‘basic’ three-legged stool under the expert tuition of green woodworker Peter Wood.
Green stool making course at Sylva Wood Centre
Course date: 27th October 2018, 9.30am – 4.00pm
Learn about different tree species and understand why different woods are suitable for different tasks, how growth effects its use, and look at wood suitable for cleaving.
Learn how to cleave wood.
Learn basic axe work to rough shape the stool legs.
Use a shaving horse, drawknives and spokeshaves to shape three stool legs.
Shape a simple stool seat using planes, inshaves, travishers and spokeshaves.
There will also be a pole lathe for participants to ‘have a go’ at turning as time allows.
A one-day workshop for woodcarving newcomers and those with some experience who would like to develop their skills.
Vine carving in progress, Simon Clements
The ‘Fruit of the Vine’ has long been a favourite motif for carvers both in stone and in wood. Using stencils students will learn how to mark out and carve a simplified design of vine leaves and grapes in lime wood.
Students will learn:
How to transfer a drawn design to a block of wood
How to mount their work for carving
How to clamp and hold the work piece securely
How to use the appropriate chisel or gouge for each stage of the carving
How to use a carver’s mallet
Students will learn to overcut the surface and background, and how to undercut the finished design.
Cost: £100 per person (all materials and tools provided). Please bring your own packed lunch.
Simon Clements is came to woodcarving after a career which included teaching art, sculpture and pottery, working as a mast spar and oar maker for an Oxfordshire company and restoring heritage carving.
He now works from his workshop at the Sylva Wood Centre, carving sculptural pieces for architects, interior designers, private clients, and for exhibitions. Sculptural work ranges from table-top sculpture to kinetic garden pieces. He is currently half-way through 11 very large commemorative carved poles for the Woodland Trust as part of the Tree Charter.
Steve Kendall has been fascinated by guitars since early childhood and he made his first electric bass guitar at the age of 14. He began learning how to make instruments properly with a lute maker in the ‘80’s. Since 1993 he has repaired, improved, or made guitars and basses for musicians from ‘bedroom-only standard’ to famous professionals. For the last 15 years, he has worked from his stone-built workshop in the Oxfordshire village of East Hanney.
We’ve been delighted with the response over the summer months to the 2017 British Woodlands Survey. So far more than 1,600 woodland owners, agents, foresters, forest school practitioners, and forestry and wood businesses have taken part in the national web-based survey.
Devolution, pests & pathogens, Brexit, emerging markets, climate change, societal attitudes . . . these are just some of the momentous factors influencing our trees and woodlands, those who care for them, and those who rely on their products and services. Have your say about what these and other issues mean to you by taking part in Britain’s only dedicated national survey about our woodlands and forestry. This year we have unprecedented interest from policy makers, national organisations, research commissioners and others. Make sure your voice counts!
It’s not too late to take part. The survey closes to responses on Sunday 1st October at 23:59.
Colin Henwood founded his boatyard, Henwood and Dean Boatbuilders, in 1982 specialising in restoring and building wooden Thames launches. The boatyard received many awards in the UK and abroad, and in 2014 Colin was awarded Maker of the Year by the Heritage Crafts Association. In October 2016 Colin handed the boatyard over to two of his team who are successfully continuing the tradition he began 35 years ago. Not one to retire, Colin has established a workshop at the Sylva Wood Centre where he is currently re-building a 1920 Thames motor canoe.
A one-day course to learn how to work with green wood using a pole lathe and make something to take home at the end of the day. Learn with expert green woodworker and experienced tutor Peter Wood.
For centuries the Bodgers used the methods you’ll learn on this course to produce a variety of items. You will work a freshly sawn log though each stage needed to make a useful household object, such as a garden dibber or baby’s rattle to take home. Each student will have the full use of a pole lathe, shaving horse and set of greenwood working tools.
On the course you will learn:
how to safely use the tools provided
how to carefully select logs for working
how to cleave (split) the logs for working
how to shape the wood using a shaving horse and drawknife
We are pleased to announce an Ignite training course to be held at the Sylva Wood Centre on 7th December: Managing woods for woodfuel.
Ignite Managing Woods for Woodfuel focuses on planting, managing and harvesting woodlands for use as woodfuel. What timber is suited to what type of woodfuel (logs or chips), assessing woodlands, measuring timber, harvesting, extraction, conversion and the economic modelling of timber harvesting and woodfuel conversion are covered in this one day course. A Lantra Awards certificate of attendance is issued on completion of the course.
The course date and venue is:
Wednesday 7th December
Sylva Wood Centre, Long Wittenham, Oxford, OX14 4QT
Courses cost £180.00 (including VAT) per person and include Lantra Awards certification fees, handbooks and catering on the day. A 10% discount is offered to members of Woodsure, the Wood Heat Association and the Confor Woodfuel Suppliers Group. Please contact the office for more details.
Ignite is an innovative training programme of practical seminars and interactive workshops with a focus on woodfuel. Ignite is designed for those wanting to know more about woodfuel and to equip new and existing woodfuel businesses with the skills and knowledge required to meet the increasing demand for high quality products from this growing alternative market. Compliance with the sustainability requirements for fuel supplied to systems receiving RHI payments are a key feature of all our Ignite courses.
To book, please contact Erica Spencer at RDI Associates by:
We are pleased to announce an Ignite training courses to be held at the Sylva Wood Centre on 12th October: Managing woods for woodfuel.
MANAGING WOODS FOR WOODFUELis a one day practical training course focusing on the use of small woodlands for the production of woodfuel products. Topics covered include:
Management systems – management regimes that can be applied to different woodland types
Crop assessment – techniques for measuring standing timber, timber quality and potential markets
Harvesting and extraction – small scale operation techniques, machinery and equipment in use in the UK today
Conversion of the timber into woodfuel, ensuring compliance with the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and Biomass Suppliers List (BSL) reporting requirements.
The day includes a practical site visit to demonstrate in-forest timber measurement in a local woodland.
The course date and venue is:
Wednesday 12th October – Sylva Wood Centre, Long Wittenham, Oxford, OX14 4QT
All Ignite courses are Lantra Awards accredited and trainees receive a certificate of attendance.
Ignite is an innovative training programme of practical seminars and interactive workshops with a focus on woodfuel. Ignite is designed for those wanting to know more about woodfuel and to equip new and existing woodfuel businesses with the skills and knowledge required to meet the increasing demand for high quality products from this growing alternative market. Compliance with the sustainability requirements for fuel supplied to systems receiving RHI payments are a key feature of all our Ignite courses.
To book, please contact Erica Spencer at RDI Associates by:
Forest Research are developing a model to predict growth in individual trees in mixed species and/or mixed age stands. The work aims to create tools to use in the management of Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF).
As part of this process the model needs to be constrained by setting the upper limit for the predicted maximum growth of individual trees. For this we need to collect data from a sample of open grown trees i.e. trees that have grown free from competition and have therefore reached their full potential in terms of diameter and crown development. If you think you know of an open-grown tree or trees, then you may be able to help us with our research.
What locations and species do we want to sample?
We are looking to select trees from across the whole of Great Britain, to represent different geographical and age ranges. We are particularly keen to get data on the following list:
Douglas fir
Scots pine
oak (pedunculate/sessile/hybrid)
Sitka spruce (above 40cm dbh)
Western hemlock
Additional species to be assessed, if present at the same (or close) location as the five listed above, are: beech, birch, Grand fir, Norway spruce and sycamore.
How do we define ‘Open-Grown Trees’?
Trees that have grown free from inter-tree competition throughout their entire life. They can be selected based on the following criteria:
Ideally a crown free of competition by shading on all sides, throughout its life. In practice, trees with up to a maximum of 25% shading and those subjected to competition for a limited period of time at young age could also be accepted (any deviation from the ideal case should be recorded)
Branches extending as low as possible. For some species it could be to the ground (or nearly so), for others allowance should be made for the natural receding of lower branches (e.g. Scots pine or oak)
No forking for the entire length of the tree (this is below the spring of crown in broadleaves)
No evidence of pruning, shearing, browsing, decay, storm or insect damage
What measurements will be taken?
We would like to make an assessment of each suitable open ground tree identified. This will include measurement of diameter at breast height, total height, height of the live crown and crown width. We will ensure that any necessary permissions are granted prior to us undertaking any assessment.
If you would like to know more about our research on the modelling of mixed-age and mixed species stands please visit www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/infd-8bxetz
We are pleased to announce two Ignite training courses to be held at the Sylva Wood Centre this autumn.
Ignite is an innovative training programme of practical seminars and interactive workshops with a focus on woodfuel. Ignite is designed for those wanting to know more about woodfuel and to equip new and existing woodfuel businesses with the skills and knowledge required to meet the increasing demand for high quality products from this growing alternative market. Compliance with the sustainability requirements for fuel supplied to systems receiving RHI payments are a key feature of all our Ignite courses.
Ignite Firewood Production and Supply is aimed at both existing and fledgling firewood businesses. The course covers firewood as a renewable fuel, sources of timber for firewood, equipment to handle, produce and deliver firewood, units and conversion factors, markets and economics of the supply chain including calculating sales prices from wet and dry weight to loose and stacked volumes. A Lantra Awards certificate of attendance is issued on completion of the course.
Ignite Managing Woods for Woodfuel focuses on planting, managing and harvesting woodlands for use as woodfuel. What timber is suited to what type of woodfuel (logs or chips), assessing woodlands, measuring timber, harvesting, extraction, conversion and the economic modelling of timber harvesting and woodfuel conversion are covered in this one day course. A Lantra Awards certificate of attendance is issued on completion of the course.
Course
Dates
Location
Firewood Production and Supply
Thursday
22nd September 2016
Sylva Wood Centre, Long Wittenham, Oxford, OX14 4QT
Managing Woods for Woodfuel
Wednesday
12th October 2016
Sylva Wood Centre, Long Wittenham, Oxford, OX14 4QT
Courses cost £180.00 (including VAT) per person and include Lantra Awards certification fees, handbooks and catering on the day. A 10% discount is offered to members of Woodsure, the Wood Heat Association and the Confor Woodfuel Suppliers Group. Please contact the office for more details.
To book, please contact Erica Spencer at RDI Associates by:
