A page for links that I find useful and interesting. It is something of an eclectic mix of sites and subjects loosely related to the crafts and subjects I am posting on and revolving around greenwood crafts.
Individuals sites and blogs
This section largely comprises individual sites whose work I know and admire
Steve Tomlin’s – Scytherspace
Scything or mowing by hand is catching on again in the UK having been all but completely forgotten. For many years Simon Fairlie has been almost single handedly leading the revival through his scythestore, the West country scythe festival and promotion of the benefits of scything. Now Steve Tomlin, one of the UK’s foremost proponents of scything is running a site for all things scything at – http://scytherspace.wordpress.com/
The Treewright – As seen on the 4th Plinth – Robin Fawcett
Always an inspiration to me on the subject of greenwood working, whether in the shape or nature of trees or in the making of a whimmy-diddle, you can follow the link from his website to his blog – http://treewright.co.uk/
Sean Hellman – Woodwright Designs
Sean, the man with an eye for wood in all its forms and the photos to match – I can vouch for the quality of his cards – and follow the link on his website for his blog – http://seanhellman.com/
Or go straight here to his blog site – http://seanhellman.blogspot.com/
The Speckled Wood blog, the goings on at Swan Barn Farm
Although Swan Barn Farm is the office for the local National Trust group which manages land holdings from Blackdown to Marley (near Haslemere) the Speckled Wood blog is much more of a personal reflection of developments at Swan Barn and around. Dave , Matt and Spike are the local wardens and together they are covering a great range of crafts and activities
- it’s always worth a look on the blog at http://swanbarnfarm.wordpress.com/
Richard Law’s Flying Shavings blogsite
The shavings do fly on Richard’s site. I have to subscribe because otherwise I can’t keep up with the amaxing rate at which Richard seems to be working with a great mix of woodland, woodwork, turning with some landrovers thrown in and an insight into woodland working Oooop North. http://flyingshavings.wordpress.com/
Maarten ‘Max’ Meerman’s Nanotray blogsite for all wooden things nano-sized
I’ve known Max for more years than I care to remember - and yes Max I still have the photos! He’s always been a talented model maker and now living in Vancouver he’s pushing the model making smaller and smaller along with other woodworking projects. Who knows what he’ll come up with next, but you can find out at http://www.nanotray.com/
Colin Wells Greenwoodworker website
Colin is a polelathe turner/greenwood worker and the always energetic organiser of the greenwood contingent at the Amberley Working Museum (West Sussex) - http://greenwoodworker.co.uk/index.htm
Robin Wood
Craftsman of the year 2010 – admire his work on his blog or his website – http://greenwood-carving.blogspot.com/
Paul Atkin’s web-blog-site
A excellent woodturner who specialises in bowls and drinking vessels, Paul offers courses and tuition as well as being a source of the rare tools for turning bowls on a polelathe – http://paulatkin.co.uk/
Stephen Alberry ‘Fyning Unplugged’
A West Sussex Chairmaker, Stephen specialises in using local wook that would otherwise go to waste and you can see how the natural shape and texture of the wood enhances his chairs.Stephen can be seen working at his polelathe in his front garden and is a regular landmark on the A272 in Rogate – http://fyning.weebly.com/index.html
Didling Charcoal
Chris and Lucy have what might be the neatest charcoal burning site in the world, plus a good domain name in charcoalburners.co.uk. At the moment they are finishing the build of a Ben Law style house on site, no mean feat – http://www.charcoalburners.co.uk/
Organisations
The Lynchmere Society
A local conservation group which owns and maintains about 350acres of Woodland, restored heathland and traditional hay meadows and pasture within Lynchmere parish (between Haslemere and Liphook). Despite the huge amount of work on it’s own land the society and its members/volunteers are always active within the parish on all sorts of community and conservation based projects - join us – http://www.thelynchmeresociety.org/index.php
for this season’s volunteer working party dates on the commons (an opportunity to get some exercise, help maintain the commons, learn about conservation – and often to have a good bonfire, work with traditional handtools and learn about country crafts – feel free to turn up for as long or as short as you would like! —http://www.thelynchmeresociety.org/Volunteers.php
The Scythe shop
Simon Fairlie has been working to revive traditional hand mowing by scythe and hay-making for many years and at last his efforts are bearing fruit – his site is both a shop for quality scythes and accessories and a great resource to help get you started with the tool. All too many people that I meet have tried a scythe and discarded it, unaware that it’s their technique and lack of ability to use the tool that makes it hard work!
Visit the Scythe shop at - http://www.thescytheshop.co.uk/
The Association of Polelathe Turners & Greenwood Workers (APT&GW)
aka the ‘bodgers’ website. Plenty of info on greenwood working and a section for plans to build your own shave horse and lathe amonst other things. Also the opportunity to join up online via paypal -
- http://www.bodgers.org.uk/index.php
The bodgers Ask n’ Answer forum
As well as being a resource for all matters of greenwood crafts and work the site also hosts a great, friendly bulletin board or forum which is building into a valuable resource – here you can rub shoulders with other beginners, feel free to ask any question or just browse to find an answer or strike up a discussion with some of the worlds foremost experts in the field at ….http://www.bodgers.org.uk/bb/phpBB2/
The All new Sussex and Surrey Coppice Group (SSCG) blog style website - http://coppicegroup.wordpress.com/
The Fernhurst Furnace Preservation Society – http://www.fernhurstfurnace.co.uk/
The old Sussex and Surrey Coppice Group site – http://www.coppicegroup.org.uk/
The Hampshire Coppice Craftsmen’s Group – http://www.hampshirecoppice.org.uk/
The Heritage Crafts Association – http://www.heritagecrafts.org.uk/
Weald & Downland Open Air Museum – http://www.wealddown.co.uk/
