Demonstrations

I demonstrate several traditional areas of woodcraft and during many summer weekends we are at country fairs, special museum events and community festivals with our live demonstrations of Bowl Carving, Besom Broom Making, Pole Lathe Turning and Charcoal Burning. Our Public liability insurance extends to £5m and Maurice has a CRB Disclosure.  We have generic risk assessments for our demonstrations and will complete a site specific RA if there are special circumstances

Bowl Carving at Beamish Museum's Georgian Fair

Besom Broom Making: Extremely popular at country events or carnivals. Can be a simple demonstration or as a workshop where children assist in the making of their own broom made from birch. When we do this at the South Tyneside Countryside Festival at Souter Lighthouse queues are out the marquee and we are usually still there making brooms when everyone else is packing up!

                     Besom Broom Making at Stephenson Railway Museum

Pole lathe Turning: Also very popular, again can be a simple demonstration of turned pieces such as rolling pins, chair legs etc. or as a come-and-try-it workshop with several pole lathes and shave horses. Much enjoyed by children of all ages. For the workshop we prefer to come as a small team of demonstrators so we can ensure proper safety cover.

Pole Lathe Turning at Chopwell Forest Festival

Charcoal Burning: A steel ring kiln silently ‘cooking’ its charge is a magical experience. Ideally over two days, can be combined with other woodland craft activities such as broom making and cleft ash gate making. We always take a kiln to the Chopwell Forest Festival each year.

                         Charcoal Burning at Chopwell Forest Festival