London Green Wood

Fantastic day with Jo, a fantastic teacher who talked us through the basics of green wood, knife safety, tool handling & after some practice, on to make a wooden cooking spoon out of a wedge of newly axed Sycamore greenwood. Left feeling very inspired, happy & ready for more. Just give it a go!!

I had a great time learning to spoon carve yesterday! The gorgeous setting of Abney Park was the perfect backdrop to our class, and Jo's expert and friendly tuition kept us safe and enabled us to all come away with a usable spoon by the end of the day. It was all over too soon!

A really enjoyable day with gentle attentive tutors, tucked away in a quiet little park in London. It really is a lovely thing to take a log of fresh green wood and chop, carve and whitlle it away into something you can use every day. A very friendly supportive and safe atmosphere is cultivated and I think everyone left very happy with their day's work. I'd imagine sales of axes, woodcarving knives and various guide books are boosted every time the course is run. Recommended.

It was a lovely workshop, Thank you very much X

Amazing. I loved it.

A really lovely day in a peaceful setting. Jo was patient and kind as well as being very instructive and helpful in ensuring we all got support and advice.

Great day, nice people, love the spoon.

Great place, great community, best tutors!! Thank you!!

Everyone is very lovely. I like them to share them own woodwork experience and have lunch together :) I will go back to learn more from them

I can't think of a better way to spend my Friday's :) Thanks so much to Jo, and the lovely crew that use the outdoor workshop, for sharing their skills in such a relaxed manner, it's been really nourishing.

This course was brilliant. It is based around learning basic carving skills, but you make lots of stuff as well as a part of that (spoons, butter knives, scoops, spatulas etc). Jo takes you to a level where you can confidently attempt projects of your own in a safe manner, and deals with axe work, hook knife, straight knife, draw knife, and a few other things (gouges, sharpening, aspects of design). I really feel like I've been taught the basic approaches and techniques of a craft in quite a short time, and can now go forward and practice them. Each Friday was the highlight of my week, and I look forward to returning to the workshop as often as I can in future. The atmosphere at the workshop itself is a really potent antidote to living in a big city, and it feels like you're dipping into a wonderful community of people who are keeping a set of skills alive and in use even in London. Highly recommended to those who wish to deepen their knowledge of green woodworking beyond just making a single item.

I had a brilliant time at the Intro to Green Woodwork workshop. This is done in small groups of six so with lots of individual attention and a really enjoyable group dynamic. The emphasis is very much on learning to use essential tools for green wood work safely, and small projects are done each week to practice these skills. Jo is a brilliant teacher and there is a supportive atmosphere with other woodworkers also working on projects in the outdoor workshop. Lots of tea/coffee and shared snacks. Our 4 week course was interrupted due to Covid-19 restrictions but Jo has kept in touch with us and will arrange for our group to finish the course together when next possible. I can't wait!

Really enjoyable day learning new skills working with an Adze and using an axe to carve a rustic bowl . Plenty of excellent tuition from Jo.

What a blast, it was so nice. Dave was very patient with us and used different teaching techniques depending on the audience, which was very thoughtful. I can only highly recommend the Bowl Carving Workshop with London Green Wood team. Thank you

A really enjoyable day. The pace felt steady and unhurried, and we got to try a good variety of tools and techniques throughout the course. Abney Park is a lovely location for the course and it's easy to forget that you're in the middle of London as you adze, gouge and chop your way towards an enchantingly rustic wooden bowl!

Jo's a great teacher, really knows her stuff and gives you the confidence to try lots of different things out. Really pleased with my new skill and will be making lots more

It was a really fun and helpful class with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. I would highly recommend

The course was excellent. Jo is a great teacher. She takes you through: how to use the tools safely and effectively, what tool to use - and when and how, and she makes it all great fun. Working outdoors with pots of tea on the go just makes it even better. Highly recommended.

We really enjoyed our spoon carving course with Jo. There were a total of 6 in the group which worked very well so we had sufficient guidance and attention.Jo was a calm, clear, cheerful teacher. The day was well planned and timed, for each part of the spoon process. Definitely recommend.

A great one day spoon carving course. The tutor was excellent, with lots of skills and techniques that she taught in a straightforward, easy to understand manner. After seven hours I had very sore hands but a wooden spoon that I was very proud of!

Spoon Carving workshop was great and had a lovely atmosphere. Would definitely recommend to friends and family.

I'd highly recommend this workshop - fun, fulfilling, relaxing and delivered wonderfully by the patient, talented Jo.

I really enjoyed the Spoon Carving Workshop. It took place outside which in itself was a treat and the teaching was great. Jo was enthusiastic and very professional in the way she lead the class. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending the day to a friend. Thank you.

Lovely warm and welcoming atmosphere. Super friendly. Very knowledgeable teachers. Great venue, nice to be outdoors, all the tools you could need. Nice shared lunch.

Really enjoyed my day, even with the cold and rain it was so worth it. Teacher Jo was great she gave you great encouragement and taught great skills. She had an assistant Dave who was very helpful and supportive as well. On booking I really did not think I would achieve a spoon by the end of the session, but I did and I am very proud of it.

Fun and thorough class with knowledgable tutors. Held in a rustic outdoor space with plenty of tea and coffee provided. It's quit physical and was pretty chilly in February, but it was totally worth it. Very satisfying day out :)

it was brilliant I learned loads and had fun

We had a great day and the teaching was good. We had Jo as our main instructor and Julian and Dave assisted. They were skilled and experienced themselves and communicated well and with appropriate authority. The tools were good quality and everything was prepared beforehand for the session. The weather in early March was bearable outside, but I don't think sufficient warning that it was a day outside was given before booking. I think a venue with indoor space, even in a workshop or shed, is needed for winter courses. Thank goodness the weather had improved over the previous week! The afternoon went rather too quickly and we all enjoyed ourselves. Thank you.

It was great fun! Good vibes, good strong milky tea, good teaching, and good company. Would highly recommend it and for sure do it again!

This was a first class course which I would recommend to anyone.

I had one of the best days ever at the spoon carving workshop. It was a really lovely day so it was nice to work outside. I was quite intimidated by the idea of woodwork but Jo made us really comfortable and had a lot of patience with me when I couldn't get the hang of the techniques. There was tea flowing all day which was great. I would love to come back and make another spoon to improve on what I've learned.

A very enjoyable and fun day with a great teacher highly recommended! Sean

Jo was such a fantastic teacher, clear, friendly, expert and patient. Using local wood was lovely and the setting is beautiful. Couldn't ask for more.

Really fun day of woodwork. Jo is great at making sure the course is informative but also fun. Came away with a great spoon and inspiration to do more!

Such an excellent workshop, I can't recommend it enough. You'll come away with a beautiful cooking spoon to feel proud of – and you'll be amazed at how quickly you transform a wedge of wood into a work of art. Jo is a really lovely and helpful instructor, very encouraging and helps you get the best from the course. Really recommend it.

So happy to have achieved so much, Jo is an excellent and patient teacher. Class was relaxed but learnt lots about techniques. Can't wait to try out my new skills at home

Fantastic class! The tuition was brilliant and the setting was beautiful.

I cannot recommend the spoon carving workshop with London Green Wood CIC highly enough! The one-day workshop was perfectly paced and allowed for learning and variation with the various tools and techniques. Jo was a brilliant teacher and leader of the workshop, offering friendly guidance, advice and helpful tips along the way. The location itself is really well set up for the group session and, as it is a working community workshop we were able to meet some local experts, and see some of their wonderful creations. I am very keen to sign up for their bowl carving workshop and have been inspired to get my own tools to continue spoon carving at home!

I learnt to use special tools to turn a segment of a log into a fully useable kitchen spoon - with a corner to clean out the bottom of a pan! A perfect introduction to greenwood carving with left and right-handed tools to suit. Jo ensured we had a tool-talk for each new knife we used, and learnt safe and effective techniques to keep us safe whist carving our masterpieces.

A really lovely day spent with a small group of nice people, all carving wood. The campfire kept us warm, Jo kept us safe and we all came away with new skills and beautiful wooden spoons. Highly recommended.

Really fun day with lots of insights into the best techniques of how to whittle the perfect spoon. Thank you!

A fantastic class. An excellent introduction to spoon carving in a lovely setting.

A nice well spent!! Jo was great, a warm and welcoming person, showing us all this new stuff. Explaining wood, techniques, tools, making sure of our safety and dealing with each and every one to explain or advise on what we were doing. Lovely little team of people too. Highly recommended workshop!

Really enjoyed this course - the teacher was very friendly and patient and I came away with a decent looking spoon and looking forward to doing more

Even with the temperamental weather trying to scupper things. The London Greenwood spoon carving course exceeded my expectations. It was an informative and relaxed day, guided brilliantly by the teacher Jo, and I came away with a renewed sense of confidence at trying to improve my greenwood working and spoon carving. Thank you. I'm already looking forward to my next course there.

Wonderful atmosphere and great teachers!

We had a lovely day - learning a lot about our tools, varieties of wood and how to finish our spoons. It was harder than I thought it would be but Jo and Dave were very patient and helpful and we were all proud of our finished spoons.

Had a brilliant day spoon carving with an excellent teacher. I feel so much more confident about using the tools and learnt all the techniques needed to work effectively and safely. Lots of fun in a great setting. I highly recommend it.

Great experience! Well taught in small group in a lovely setting . Really absorbing

8 of us had a brilliant day in the peacefulness of Abney Park with two lovely tutors. They were clear, attentive, guided us well and differentiated to our different abilities and experience. Health and safety was great, none of us had any cuts. There were good tips on how to stand and sit while working, and we learnt a number of different carving techniques. They provided regular breaks with plenty of good coffee, tea and biscuits. It was a pleasure to work in company and at the end of the day we each came away with a hand carved wooden spoon! A day very well spent.

I had a great day, despite endless rain and a grey, miserable sky. Both teachers ( it was a big group) were kind, supportive and non-judgemental. I went to try out something new, learn new skills and have fun, which is exactly what I did. And I came home with a spoon/spatula of sorts - a lovely way to spend a Saturday.

A really great day outside carving some wood! A little tough going at times, but the teachers were always on hand to help you out and keep you on track. Would love to come back sometime and learn more :)

my partner loved this workshop and now has the spoon carving bug

Great experience, definitely plan to go back. Lovely activity & lovely location.

We all really enjoyed it

We loved it.

Fantastic. Lovely surroundings, and nice to do something calming and learn a new skill!

An inspiring afternoon workshop from which we not only took away our wooden creations but sound knowledge of types of wood and safe whittling tips. Getting to work on the 'shaving horse' with a two handled knife was an added bonus. Great to be outdoors working with our hands - we loved it! Thank you.

It was fantastic! Jo showed us, in stages, what we needed to do and let us get on with it. My son, Harry, loved it because he was able to be really hands on with the tools and you also get to take your piece home with you at the end. I especially loved it and we are now looking forward to our next workshop together with Jo. Highly recommend London Green Wood CIC and Jo for her lovely calm and informative approach.

Both 9 year old Dermot and his grandad loved the session and plan to book another one very soon! 5 stars!

This was a great workshop, we both really enjoyed it. It was really good to go to a workshop for a parent and child to learn a new skill together. I was hoping for a hand carving course though so we could continue at home after the course, so a little more information about the content before would have been very useful. We will probably try and book another one in the summer though, the venue was good as was the instruction.

Amazing Class

Amazing

My 7 year old had a fantastic time in family whittling!

The only downside was the cold, it was 2 degrees and felt a bit too cold to spend that much time outside. But we did have a fire to help.

Another great class from Jo. Was very useful for improving knife skills and getting more familiar with cutting with the grain. Small group which means you get lots of support from the teacher. Great setting in lovely Abney Park Cemetry, with a little fire and hot drinks to keep warm in winter.

This was an amazing day. I did the workshop a week after my Mum died and found a lot of peace in the connection with nature. The tutor was lovely - engaging, patient and talented. I highly recommend it!

Absolutely brilliant! I hope to come back for more.

Fantastic day with a great tutor, I went away so much more confident to use a knife safely and understanding how to work the wood. I'd recommend these classes to anyone, even if it's a one off activity or to learn new skill. Jo was an excellent teacher and host. I'll definitely be back again.

Jo is a fabulous teacher. We all worked at our own pace and Jo explained everything clearly. I went with my partner and two grown up sons. We all enjoyed it and I am really pleased with my spatula- thank you for a lovely day

A really brilliant class. I learned lots and came having made something I was proud of. I’m going to try to come back for another class soon!

Great atmosphere!

Day one of a one-day-a-week course done and it was great. Small group, great teacher - I have already acquired a huge amount of knowledge!

Fantastic, inspiring, workshop with great teaching and friendly students. Learned lots of practical skills and I love having breakfast every morning with my hand carved spoon!

Really great course . Jo is a very good teacher - relaxed, but full of instruction. We all got to learn different techniques, and how to use tools and devices which are specific to green woodwork (and not available in any diy store). I would definitely recommend this course.

Really fun classes, I hadn't ever picked up a spoon knife before and this got me slightly addicted!

Absolutely loved the introduction to Green Woodwork workshop. Really practical and hands-on. Very friendly people and Jo is a great teacher

I found this course very well resourced and organised with a relaxed and encouraging atmosphere. The location is second to none for a course of this type in London -it was wonderful to be working under the trees and the weather was kind Jo is a patient and knowledgable teacher providing clear instructions of safe working techniques and there is plenty of opportunity to practice sharpening and the opportunity to work individually and together . Added bonus is that past students also attend on Thursdays to work on their own projects so plenty of opportunity to pick up tips from more experienced students. I hope to be able to join in Thursday community access sessions from time to time.

A brilliant course for people with little or no knowledge of woodworking. By the fourth and final session, we had acquired enough basic skills to cut down a piece of hazel and for each of us to turn a section of it into our own wooden spoon - immensely satisfying!

The introductory course is brilliant. Though it’s very relaxed you’ll earn how to make a range of different thing and you’ll come away with plenty of finished pieces. As well as a great teacher in Jo, you also get the support of a super helpful community of makers that use the space. I’ll be going back for sure - I’m currently shopping for tools.

Great course in a brilliant spot. Very welcoming and really informative

Great course. Attentive tuition, friendly people, lovely setting for the workshop. I'll be going back for sure!

A truly excellent course. Having attended several one-day Green Woodwork courses I was keen to do the four-day Introduction. Jo is a wonderful teacher: patient, skilled and encouraging. She tailors the course to individuals and paces things really well. The course introduces you to axing, carving and whittling using straight and curved knives, sharpening tools, and getting into good habits by using tools safely. The atmosphere is always good with a variety of lovely people taking part and other skilled makers working alongside and giving helpful tips, all in the natural outdoor space. Completing the course allows you to become a member of the cooperative and use the facilities thereafter at designated times. Highly recommended. Thanks, Jo!

Thoroughly enjoyable and invigorating; the classes were the highlight of my week. The tutors (Dave and Jo) were knowledgeable and welcoming and I was amazed how quickly we progressed. They taught us how to use different tools and techniques confidently, always with safety foremost. Every day I took home items I had made and could use. Highly recommended for those who want to be outdoors, learn craft skills, be amongst similar co-operatively minded folk and are happy to take advice from all manner of friendly spoon makers who drop in to use the tools and equipment.

Another 5 star course. The Introduction to Green Woodwork course was a great way to learn to work with a range of tools and wood. Informative and relaxed and guided brilliantly by Jo and Dave who provided skilful, nudging towards improving techniques. Over the four days I came away with a number of hand-made items and feeling much more confident with my green wood working. Inspiring. I would wish this course for anyone wanting a little respite from the pace of this city of ours. Thank you.

wonderful space in London. welcoming and friendly. Great introduction to green woodworking . thank you

Excellent course. The tutor was very capable and while being relaxed did ensure a 'safe environment' given the nature of the work and the use of (very) sharp tools. She also was very approachable and was very constructive in her comments. I have now joined the 'London Green Wood' membership and intend to do further courses with them.

Expert and thoughtful teaching to a small group in a secluded location - it was great to be outdoors even in the cold and wet (under rain cover). Very enjoyable

I would fully recommend this workshop, for Jo’s very gentle, knowledgable direction, the well organised stages of getting you going and keeping your attention on task (a challenge with three children) and the huge satisfaction of making something truly beautiful. All six of us who attended felt it was a a wonderful way to spend a day.

Great experience - highly recommended

The bowl carving workshop takes place outside in the peaceful surrounds of the cemetery at Stoke Newington. Jo the workshop leader has infinite patience and a great deal of knowledge that she is happy to share. A cup of tea, a chat and a chocolate biscuit whilst taking a break made for a great day.

Wonderful workshop! Skilled teacher giving thorough explications and tips, high quality tools and a step by step approach to reach our goal and carve beautiful bowl! I highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to know how to carve and also how to safely use the different tools. An enjoyable experience!

Another brilliant workshop from London Green Wood. Excellent and patient tuition from Jo, a great atmosphere and very lovely biscuits. Would recommend!

First rate teaching from a first rate teacher. Great day of learning and activity in a superb setting inside Abney Park cemetary in Hackney. Will go back for more.

Jo, the tutor, is amazing - so knowledgeable and patient. The class was just fantastic from start to finish! It was so beautiful to be outside all day and the fire and ever replenishing cups of tea kept us warm when we weren't working hard. I would recommend this to anyone - I had the best day. I couldn't stop smiling and looking at my bowl all evening!

I very much enjoyed the Bowl Carving workshop yesterday. It was wonderful to be working outdoors, in the beautiful surroundings of Abney Park. There were five of us doing the workshop with instructor Jo and volunteer helper Paul and all the work was carried out in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The bowl carving workshop gave us an excellent introduction to the use of different tools for working with green wood. Jo was an excellent instructor: she kept an eye on us all and gave instruction without being intrusive, with little bits of help here and there where necessary to ensure we would have a completed item by the end of the day. I will be coming back to London Green Wood for more!

So wonderful to work with natural materials and feel the accomplishment of the making something on the day. We would have loved a much more informative workshop however. More information about different woods, tools and their purpose, how to achieve different results and what to expect while using the tools we have. We know one can ask but it is not the same as experiencing a workshop that is more structured in terms of knowledge. Plus we are introverts and rely on the teacher to lead the class rather than students to know which questions will bring more appropriate results. We have got a bowl but neither of us knows whether we would know which wood to use next, we don't know how to take care of the wood afterwards and what to do in case of trouble shooting. We have only been assured that nothing bad will happen. We don't know where to get tools from and how to acquire them and we don't know what we could use this experience for next. Another bowl would be great, but it would be nice to know there is a follow up or continuation if we enjoyed the workshop and would wish to learn more. It was lovely to have a very laid back approach but we didn't think that would compromise the overall amount of education. Jo and Dave are really nice people. They both seemed really tired towards the end of the day, so we hope they are all well and happy. We wish them the very best of luck in the future with their workshops. xxx

Great day spent carving a bowl. Hard work paid off thanks to excellent teachers.

Hard to believe I was able to turn a log into a bowl in a few hours with no previous experience. Jo guided the group expertly, adapting the demonstrated techniques according to dexterity, physical capability so everyone had a bowl to be proud of at the end. I'd recommend this course. It was a very therapeutic day outside, regardless of the rain.

We had a great day carving fruit bowls. Our efforts may not be works of art, but we feel very proud of what we achieved. Dave was very patient with us and there was a lovely atmosphere. We came away with a much greater appreciation of the skills and strength required in woodworking.

Had a really good time! Was definitely tired at the end of the day but would 100% recommend.

I had done a wand making class before at the site but I enjoyed doing it at home. It was really relaxing and the teacher was very helpful. I was proud of my the wand I made and I would love to try and make something else. Ossian, 10.

this was brilliant. thanks so much ! great teaching, relaxed, informative with clear instruction. love my new carving skills and of course new spatula. looking forward to more woodworking to come !

I loved this course. I learnt new skills and came away with a really good way of taking a break. I can handle a knife safely and I'm looking forward to carving other things. And my spatula is looking surprisingly good! I'm signing up for the wooden spoon next.

Great class, covered the fundamentals. I finished my spatula the next day and it's lovely. Thanks Jo :)

A great class that covered the basics reaqlly well. I feel comfortable using a knife and very happy with my spatula, which didn't take me long to finish after the class. Will definitely do another course.

Great class that even via Zoom covered everything and allowed questions and pointers. Would certainly recommend and take part in another.

The class was easy to follow online and fun. I received my piece of wood in good time and made a great little spatula, finished in the hour after the class. Thanks for teaching me a fun new skill.