Bristol Tree Craft
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What a great way to bring people together, really enjoyed the course. Ben is an awesome instructor & super friendly. Would definitely recommend it!
GaborReally enjoyable course with a very friendly and welcoming environment
Sandilya AvadhanamImagine a day filled with laughter, camaraderie, and the satisfying accomplishment of transforming a simple log into a beautiful spoon. That's exactly what I experienced with Bristol Tree Craft! Hugh and Ben, our expert instructors, led our group on a journey into the world of green woodworking. The atmosphere crackled with a sense of shared purpose as we learned the traditional techniques. Each step, from wielding hand tools to shaping the raw wood, felt empowering. But the experience wasn't just about the craft itself. Lunchtime brought us together, fostering a sense of community as we shared stories and fueled up for the afternoon's creations. By the end of the day, we weren't just leaving with handcrafted spoons, but with a newfound appreciation for the connection between nature, creativity, and human connection. It was a truly enriching experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a day filled with fun, learning, and a dash of accomplishment.
Martyn BerrymanIncredible spoon carving day. Hugh and Ben talked us through everything so clearly, and made everyone feel so welcome. I'd tried spoon carving before using online tutorials, but always got stuck, and I learnt so much more through both Ben & Hugh sharing their knowledge at every step of the way. Hot tea and coffee always avaliable to keep everyone warm, highly recommend. I will be returning for the improvers session.
Natasha JarvisHighly recommend the full day spoon making workshop- we learnt so much and came away with amazing spoons! Absolutely loved it!
Veronique FouldsWe had such a great time at our class, brilliant tutors and such a warm & friendly atmosphere! Couldn’t recommend more!
Isabel McLellanAn enjoyable - if full-on day led by Hugh. Starting with a split log and ending up with a carved bowl. Every stage clearly explained and demonstrated. Sharp tools and other equipment made available as required and a friendly, collaborative environment maintained throughout. The setting is pretty rustic, but the large frame tent (Presumably ex military?) was an ample size for the small group of us to all work in and provided reasonable shelter against the strong wind and rain of the day. In practice it was a struggle to complete all stages before the light went, so many people, me included will probably be finishing up their bowls at some future date in home workshops or similar - however, one can hardly blame the limited daylight hours on the organisers, December has short days, deal with it! Plus I understand that plans are in place to instal solar power shortly so that lighting will improve. Overall a great and enjoyable experience, both well thought out and delivered.
Christine EdwardsA fun and informative course with great people :)
Lucy LatterWe had the most fantastic day with Bristol Tree Craft learning all about spoon carving. The team, Ben and Hugh, were exceptionally good teachers, patient and thoughtful, responding quickly to the different needs of all the attendees. The space was great, much warmer and sheltered from the elements than we were expecting. The equipment was top-notch and there was plenty of time in the day to achieve what we wanted. We have definitely both developed a new passion for spoon carving, and we hope to come back to carve a bowl in the new year. Worth every penny.
Joanna BowdenAn outstanding day. Well run ++++ and the instructor was a super trainer/ couch and absolute expert who could impart his skills in a relaxed and supportive environment. I can’t remember when I had such an enjoyable day. Thank you to the team!
Nick CoetzeeAbsolutely loved it, so nice to spend a day crafting a spoon. Very therapeutic and a really well run workshop. Thanks so much
TONY STEADMANExcellent day, very attentive instructors, on the day good crowd lots of banter. Thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Brian WoosterA brilliant session making spatulas for our 5th wedding anniversary. Friendly and knowledgable hosts with great enthusiasm for their craft
Joseph BaileyA really full and interesting day. Ben and Hugh made everyone welcome and provided excellent instruction in the art of bowl carving. Not quite a finished article at the end of the day but definitely bowl-like and completable at home. Lovely lunch broke up the day and got back home tired but happy with the day.
Geoffrey NeckThis was such a lovely treat with a great and patient teacher and an actual useable, beautiful spoon at the end of it!
Jennifer ShortFantastic day - great fun, organisers were lovely - supportive and friendly. Shared lunch was a great idea. I will definitely be back .
suzanneThis was a really brilliant workshop. Hugh and Ben were very welcoming and extremely knowledgable, talking us through every aspect of the process and clearly demonstrating each practical skill required. There can’t be many more enjoyable ways to spend a day and I can’t wait for my next course with Bristol Tree Craft.
Paul O’CallaghanWhat a fantastic day! Thank you Ben and Hugh for being such good teachers and making everyone feel so relaxed. I came away with a bowl I was really pleased with thanks to you both! Will spread the word. Kind Regards Alan
Alan StredwickHave just completed the Spoon Carving course. This follows the Spatular Course last October. Both courses were really enjoyable with clear and considerate instruction from Ben and Hugh. I can highly recommend the Bristol Tree Craft courses.
Alan CridfordI loved the day and treasure my spoon. Ben the teacher was great - very friendly and great at explaining and demonstrating the processes and very helpful when we got stuck. Time management was good. The salad lunch was lovely - just right for eating outdoors in the most beautiful setting. Loved visiting the baby goats too. A great day which I didn’t want to end. I’ll practise at home and book another course soon.
JulieFantastic day, the guy's were great, really enjoyable and interesting course, well worth the money
ROB CunninghamHad a great day doing something I've always wanted to do, left with a self carved spoon and lots of inspiration!
Rob MatthewsAn excellent day. Ben and Hugh were great teachers, very patient, clear, and had lots of plasters! Would highlight recommend, it’s a great project they run.
David AttwoodI had a great time, the morning is making a spoon "blank" with an axe, and the afternoon is finishing the spoon off with knives. Both instructors were very good, knowledgeable, and gave clear instructions, with a good emphasis on safety. They were also a lot of fun. Would recommend and I hope to take another one of their courses to learn more from them.
Greg PhillipsReally good fun day with a lovely crew. It was very satisfying getting the hang of the tools and coming out with something genuinely useful to take home. Can't recommend it enough.
Jay RobinsonGreat course: the tuition is good, with lots of guidance if you need it, and they make the whole experience fun and rewarding. A great way to spend an afternoon!
Andrew RoseWhat a fantastic day! We loved learning a new skill and our wooden spoons will definitely get used. Ben and Hugh were engaging and patient teachers. Thank you for a great day.
Jane WebbThanks so much Ben and Hugh for excellent tutelage and a great day carving my spoon. I am very happy with my end product and will use my spoon with pride in the kitchen. You were both fantastic teachers and held the space very well, and the lunch was delicious!
IsisWow! What a fabulous day! It was very focussed but relaxed. A lovely mindful day with something to take home at the end! The instruction from Ben and Hugh was brilliant. They were incredibly patient, hugely knowledgeable and always positive and encouraging. As a result, we all achieved and produced fantastic wooden bowls in a day! I have learnt so much from these guys and am now inspired to do more green wood work! Plus, we had a delicious lunch - result! Bravo guys - it was outstanding!
Phil OkedenAhhh what a fantastic day! Ben and Hugh put on a fantastic workshop. Tuition- Communication before workshop was supportive and informative. Workshop was clear and well paced with plenty of 1:1 whenever needed. Tutors very knowledgeable and friendly. Refreshments- endless tea and biscuits and a super tasty, quality home cooked veggie lunch served alongside a vase of flowers picked from the farm. Well recommended!
Cat JamesonWe had a brilliant day carving spoons under the watchful eye of Hugh and Ben. We learned to use several hand tools safely and used a range of techniques to turn a wedge of tree into a recognisable spoon. Lovely lunch and endless tea to keep us going, and plenty of chatter in our small friendly group. Highly recommended. And you get a spoon ♥️
Mark StanleyYesterday I attended the spoon carving course and it was just brilliant, I loved every moment of it. Ben and Hugh are great teachers and it was a pleasure to spend the day learning from and chatting with them both. There were five of us on the course and we each got plenty of one on one when we needed it. The home made lunch was lovely, and it was extra special eating it with bowls and spoons they had carved themselves. It was very inspiring! I'm so happy with the spoon I made, I quite fancy carving a spatula next. I would wholeheartedly recommend their courses to everyone.
Laura PenningBen and Hugh run an excellent workshop. They are friendly, patient and very good teachers. Everyone at the workshop was able to use the tools very quickly and produced a beautiful spoon I highly recommend this for anyone curious about getting into green woodworking.
Phil DoddI really enjoyed this course so much I have taken it twice. I had no prior experience with wood working. The teachers structured the course so that new skills with axe and knives were introduced gradually through the day as we needed them to make our spoons. Highly recommended.
RachelI had such a lovely day on the spoon making course. Hugh and Ben were brilliant teachers, working at a relaxed pace and giving clear instructions. I was so pleased with my spoon and can’t wait to do more wood carving. It’s so engrossing!
FlorenceFantastic day, I learnt loads and feel like I've had a break from the city even though it was only 10 mins away from home! Hugh and Ben were excellent facilitators, keeping things moving without rushing anyone. I feel so proud of my spoon, I almost don't want to use it! Feels so satisfying to have started with a log and come home with something so beautiful(ish!). Would highly recommend it.
Emma SmithI thought it was an excellent class, Ben was really helpful and I enjoyed hte session a lot. He was relaxed but kept an eye on everyones progress and kept the session moving - 5 stars
Simon OatleySpoon-tastic! Had a brilliant day whittling my very own spoon… it now has pride of place in my cutlery drawer. The teaching was superb and the lunch was a lovely treat, what a fab day!
EmmaReally fab teachers - very knowledgable and hugely charismatic. Couldn't recommend more!!!!
CI couldn’t recommend these courses more. Hugh and Ben were friendly and well informed from start to finish. I had a barrel of fun and came away with a new confidence and excitement to continue my wood whittling journey.
Sam TottenhamI couldn’t recommend these courses more. Hugh and Ben were friendly and well informed from start to finish. I had a barrel of fun and came away with a new confidence and excitement to continue my wood whittling journey.
Sam TottenhamHad a mega fun time spoon-carving last weekend! What a hidden gem of a venue - Bridge Farm feels more like rural Somerset than the centre of Bristol. My partner gave the course to me for a birthday gift, and I couldn't recommend it enough. Ben and Hugh were very thorough in their teaching, and broke the process up into really manageable chunks. They also plied us with coffee and kept the fire blazing, so we were nice and warm even though it was a cold day. Delicious soup too!
Jimmy AldridgeWhat a fab day!!! Ben & Hugh led the workshop so brilliantly and explained everything really well. Having never used a carving knife or axe before I came away having learned loads. Can't wait to christen my new spoon. Such a wonderful way to spend a Saturday...
Rebecca RichardsI thought I was a pretty competent green woodworker but Hugh and Ben thought me some essential techniques - I had to unlearn some bad/dangerous habits! Very grateful for their patience, they were very helpful and it was really fun to learn in a group of people with mixed experience. They managed to give everyone one on one help. Very satisfying to finish a spoon in one go. Oh and a hearty lunch was much appreciated too in a lovely setting.
SpencerThis workshop was amazing. Ben and Hugh are excellent teachers, just lovely, funny and very patient. I was struggling a bit and they really took the time to help me now I have a beautiful spoon I made myself! Highly recommend.
ClariceWhat a great way to bring people together, really enjoyed the course. Ben is an awesome instructor & super friendly. Would definitely recommend it!
GaborWhat a great way to bring people together, really enjoyed the course. Ben is an awesome instructor & super friendly. Would definitely recommend it!
GaborWhat a great way to bring people together, really enjoyed the course. Ben is an awesome instructor & super friendly. Would definitely recommend it!
GaborReally enjoyable course with a very friendly and welcoming environment
Sandilya Avadhanam