Arundineto complectimini [Latin](Welcome to the jungle)

News, Brought to you by Rich of the ever growing Basketful of Unfinished Spoons:
Last meet was less busy, just 2 Dave’s, Steve, Jamie, Carl, Wendy, and myself. Jamie knocked up a spatula, Ranger Dave showed us his new adze and put it to work on a Walnut Bowl. Dave Wilkins started a spoon, and the rest of us kept on mission to finish current pieces. We are becoming completists!
Shockingly we had zero Duck action. They must be off romancing, maybe a holiday before duckling time. It was certainly the weather for it. A lovely warm 20º day, well appreciated after so many wet and cold days.
This will be our last meet before the Bodgers Ball which takes place at the Weald and Downland Museum, Chichester. 11th-12th May, with pre ball courses on the 9th and 10th. Members can login and buy tickets here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/

Word Of The Week, Brought to you by Odin: YGGDRASIL
Yggdrasil (Old Norse Yggdrasill or Askr Yggdrasils) is the mighty tree whose trunk rises at the geographical centre of the Norse spiritual cosmos. The rest of that cosmos, including the Nine Worlds, is arrayed around it and held together by its branches and roots, which connect the various parts of the cosmos to one another. Because of this, the well-being of the cosmos depends on the well-being of Yggdrasil. When the tree trembles, it signals the arrival of Ragnarok, the destruction of the universe.

Regular Bits n Bobs:
If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse, so if you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is mostly concrete, so treadles may not be able to be pegged down.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue:
The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.
Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free secure parking is available within the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

See site map, and map links at bottom of page.

Hope to see you there, and please contact me  if you have any questions.

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership:
Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.
Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW. It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/joinus

For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Connect with other Green Woodworkers, tool makers, rural crafters.

• Learn new skills in a variety of length courses.

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

che'wI' 'ej cheptaH mIw'a' [Klingon](We Honour the people of the axe)

News, Brought to you by Rich of the Basketful of Unfinished Spoons:
We had a good turn out at our Easter Saturday meet, including 3 of our 16 Dave’s. The sun was gorgeous, and the garden treated us to displays of daffodils, tulips, and birds. The Duck couple, gaining familiarity with us flew in at speed, eager for scattering of duck food.
The general spirit of the day was finishing previously started projects - Bowl Mike finished a couple of Bowls, one being a lovely bird bowl with hints of influence from David Fisher, and absolutely nothing to do with Scottish Lake Monsters this time. Sue and Carl refined in progress spoons. Ranger Dave was working on bowls from the last meet. I rebelled and started a pocket spoon out of the oh so common mystery wood. We may have had a few more rebels but I was too focussed (in between the tea, cake, chats, lunch, jokes, and Dave 2’s comedic output). Wendy made a really cool Easter egg shaped bunny, in a Studio Ghibli like style.

Word Of The Week, Brought to you by Mike of the Bowl: Brash!
Coarse. Crude. Loud. Or.... The left over bits of wood from tree felling that have no merchantable value but may have use for treen, perhaps.
I helped with a woodland management project at Raydon Great Wood in Suffolk, where the BRASH from tree felling was used to form deadwood screens. They were more like wooden Hadrian walls providing flora, fauna and invertebrate habitats.

Regular Bits n Bobs:
If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse, so if you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is mostly concrete, so treadles may not be able to be pegged down.
Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue:
The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free secure parking is available within the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

See site map, and map links at bottom of page.

Hope to see you there, and please contact me  if you have any questions.

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership:
Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.
Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW. It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/joinus
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Connect with other Green Woodworkers, tool makers, rural crafters.

• Learn new skills in a variety of length courses.

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Tervehdys, maaseudun käsityöläiset [Finnish](Greetings, rural artisans)

News - Brought to you by Wendy of the Wool:
There was a definite spring like feel in the air at our last Essex Bodgers meet.

The sun shone, bees were buzzing, the duck couple waddled over for some food and waddled off to the pond at the back of the garden. Coupled with an array of daffodils and budding plants it really seems like nature is waking up after winter. 

We were outside all day this time (although it did get chilly towards the end!) Cold was warded with cups of tea and old school treats – Jaffa Cakes, Pink Wafer Fingers and the undeniable classic Tunnocks Tea Cakes. 

Upon arrival there was some exciting tree surgery going on in the park. Ranger Dave took a trolley and came back with a bounty of Maple. 

One of our members, Steve, brought a beautiful, knife handle he'd made for a sloyd knife. We were all impressed.  Much wood chippery was created. Bowl Mike and Ranger Dave, both worked on bowls this week, and others worked on spoons. Wendy broke her favourite needle felting needle and has now learnt to use a lesser needle when carrying out experimental techniques. 

There was also talk about the recent news coverage of the Giant Sequoias that grow in the UK, with the 2nd largest group of them at Havering Country Park, which is a neighbour to our very own Bedfords Park. We will be planning a future group visit to check them out.

Word Of The Week - Brought to you by Mike of the Bowl: ”Clinch”
Passionate, a deal, joining together. In the context of wood it's an ancient method of joining pieces of wood together securely. You've probably seen an ancient door (church, castle, Wimpy house) with bent over nails on the inner or outer surface set at close and regular centres: I give you clinching. Knock an over long nail through two bits of wood then bend over the pointed end at 90 degrees and flatten into the wood surface. That's ok for a packing case or rough carcassing but for the castle door etc a further refinement is applied. Bend the pointed over a bit then bash so burying offending prick (oh missus) into door. A more secure fixing and less likely to snag your cassock or tights.

Regular Bits n Bobs:
If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse, so if you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is mostly concrete, so treadles may not be able to be pegged down.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue:
The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free secure parking is available within the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

See site map, and map links at bottom of page.

Hope to see you there, and please contact me  if you have any questions.

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership:
Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW. It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/joinus

For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Connect with other Green Woodworkers, tool makers, rural crafters.

• Learn new skills in a variety of length courses.

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Bonjour les gens des bois (hello people of the woods)

News:
The last meet was cold, wet and steamy! A rather large Pheasant joined the Blue Tits, Parakeets, and a squirrel in a scramble for food, and the ducks came along later for an inspection. As for us Bodgers… well, we crammed inside the cabin, it was packed, and from outside the sun and the heat of hard work caused waves of steam to rise off the roof.

Word Of The Week: Frass (Noun)
Fine powdery refuse or fragile perforated wood produced by the activity of boring insects / the excrement of insect larvae.
Origin: mid 19th century: from German Frass, from fressen ‘devour’.

Regular Bits n Bobs:
If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse, so if you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is mostly concrete, so treadles may not be able to be pegged down.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue:
The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free secure parking is available within the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

See site map, and map links at bottom of page.

Hope to see you there, and please contact me  if you have any questions.

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership:
Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW. It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/joinus

For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Connect with other Green Woodworkers, tool makers, rural crafters.

• Learn new skills in a variety of length courses.

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Hallå Hantverkare!

News:
We had a great time at our last meet. Pete brought his friend Jacqueline, who was introduced to the axe, shave horse, and draw knife. She was soon well on her way to making her first spatula!  Jamie carved a nice bum… ok, it was a valentines heart really. We also welcomed Daithí along who spliced and wove rope rings to strengthen the rim of a small bag. It was also great to see Nico, a French spooner friend from London.

29th Feb is the last date I’ll accept entries for round 2 of Spot the Difference. So whoop out the Gazette, mark it up clearly, on the page or on a pic you took, and send it in!

Word Of The Week: Hantverksskicklighet - Swedish for: Craftsmanship

Regular Bits n Bobs:
If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse, so if you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is mostly concrete, so treadles may not be able to be pegged down.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue:
The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free secure parking is available within the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

See site map, and map links at bottom of page.

Hope to see you there, and please contact me  if you have any questions.

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership:
Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.
Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW. It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/joinus

For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Connect with other Green Woodworkers, tool makers, rural crafters.

• Learn new skills in a variety of length courses.

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Howdy Doody Bodgers!

News:
I hope everyone enjoyed the last meet as much as I. We had a new member, Dawn. Who brought along Willow to weave.. and more importantly, a huge homemade cake! Sue brought Cherry Pie, David W brought his usual humorous musings, and some sharpening rods. Wendy worked on a felted Cat head, and the rest of us made a great contribution to the garden’s wood chip mulch pile.

The Bodgers Gazette should be in your hands by now, and I hope you all give round 2 of Spot the Difference a go. The prize is 2 tickets to the Bodgers Ball, so get your eyes freshened up and your pen* at the ready!  *Other scribing methods are accepted, and a list would make my marking job faster.

Word Of The Week:
“Froe” - Origin: Late 16th century: abbreviation of obsolete frower, from froward in the sense ‘turned away’.

Regular Bits n Bobs:
If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse, so if you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is mostly concrete, so treadles may not be able to be pegged down.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue:
The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free secure parking is available within the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

See site map, and map links at bottom of page.

Hope to see you there, and please contact me  if you have any questions.

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership:
Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.
Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW. It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/joinus

For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Connect with other Green Woodworkers, tool makers, rural crafters.

• Learn new skills in a variety of length courses.

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Hi di hi Bodgers!

News:

What a lovely return to the Walled Garden we had at the last meet. It was wonderful to see you all, especially those that we don’t see often. A few were greatly missed too, so we hope to see them at this coming meet. A few generous members brought down some nice fresh wood. We have some Plum, Birch, Cherry and few other bits for you to get your carve on!

The Bodgers Gazette should be arriving soon. We have a short article by our member Kevin, and I hope you all give round 2 of Spot the Difference a go. The prize is 2 tickets to the Bodgers Ball, so get your eyes freshened up and your pen at the ready.

Regular Bits n Bobs:

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse, so if you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is mostly concrete, so treadles cannot be pegged down.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue:

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free secure parking is available within the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

See map at bottom of page.

Hope to see you there, and please contact me at essexaptgw@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership:

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW. It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Connect with other Green Woodworkers, tool makers, rural crafters.

• Learn new skills in a variety of length courses.

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Ahoy ye Bodgers!

Dust off the tools, get the wood out of the freezer (other preservation methods are welcome), loosen up your axe arm, wax the strop, get the thermals at the ready, throw the froe in the boot, scrape the ice, and get yourself down the Walled Garden for our first meet of the year.

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse, so if you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is concrete, so treadles cannot be pegged down.

Our stash of wood has suffered in the summer heat. If you have any wood you want to play with or to bring for others please do.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

See map at bottom of page.

Hope to see you there,

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

Calling all wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, turners, tanners, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters, strummers, Rangers, and of course, Bodgers!

This will be our last meet of the year. I expect it to be a bit chilly, so dress for an arctic mission! We will return from hibernation and be back at the Walled Garden on Saturday 20th January.

In wood supply news: Dave the Ranger has just dropped off some Poplar and Hazel.

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse, so if you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is concrete, so treadles cannot be pegged down.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

See Venue Map Below

Hope to see you there,

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.

For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

Calling all wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, turners, tanners, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters, strummers, Rangers, and of course, Bodgers!

It was sad to have missed the last meet, but I was kept busy at Ben’s workshop, mainly making the legs for our stools. Wendy reported all went well at the Garden, and they were bathed in sunshine.

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse, so if you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is concrete, so treadles cannot be pegged down.

Our stash of wood has suffered in the summer heat. If you have any wood you want to play with or to bring for others please do.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Hope to see you there,

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

Calling all wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, turners, tanners, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters, strummers, Rangers, and of course, Bodgers!

Apologies for the late coming of this meet’s info, both my wife and I have been struck down with covid and I totally forgot everything besides feeling ill.

Once again I won’t be present at this coming meet. I’ll be on a Windsor stool course held by Ben Willis.  The meet will still go ahead with Wendy or Ranger Dave will opening up at the usual time.

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse, so if you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is concrete, so treadles cannot be pegged down.

Our stash of wood has suffered in the summer heat. If you have any wood you want to play with or to bring for others please do.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

See Map Below

Hope to see you there,

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

Calling all wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, turners, tanners, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters, strummers, Rangers, and of course, Bodgers!

Our last meet was wonderful, apart from some unexpected rain, which had us duck inside a poly tunnel. David Wilkins taught Jamie to carve a bearded shelf sitter gnome, Sue cleaned up a rustic bowl, giving her twca cam it’s first bite of wood, Carl worked on a spoon from Sumac, Dave and Steve got busy exploring some willow, Wendy made several tiny felted pumpkins, and I hollowed a carved end grain cup.

I won’t be present on the 28th, I’ll be at a family wedding. The meet will still go ahead with Ranger Dave will opening up at the usual time.

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse, so if you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is concrete, so treadles cannot be pegged down.

Our stash of wood has suffered in the summer heat. If you have any wood you want to play with or to bring for others please do.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Hope to see you there,

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

Calling all wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, turners, tanners, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters, strummers, Rangers, and of course, Bodgers!

A meet of treats! For those who were not at the last meet, you really missed out. Apart from the usual woody fun, the Garden had a Pizza chef in to test and prep the Garden’s Pizza oven for Apple Day. He filled many tums with free Pizza, and it was superb! We also had a live solo folk music performance from Andrew Millham, including a song from his recent book, “Singing like Larks”. A celebration of birds in folk songs.

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse, so if you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is concrete, so treadles cannot be pegged down.

Our stash of wood has suffered in the summer heat. If you have any wood you want to play with or to bring for others please do.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

See Map Below

Hope to see you there,

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

Calling all wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, turners, tanners, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters, strummers, Rangers, and of course, Bodgers!

The last meet was a hot one, reaching 31ºc by midday. We were thankfully shaded by the tall trees surrounding the Walled Garden, so plenty of wood chips were created. Ranger Dave begun work on a pair of Castanets, David Wilkins carved a spoon, I carved a scoop, Carl tweaked a huge server he’d started earlier, and Wendy brought another needle felt landscape to life

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse, so if you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is concrete, so treadles cannot be pegged down.

Our stash of wood has suffered in the summer heat. If you have any wood you want to play with or to bring for others please do.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Hope to see you there,

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

Calling all wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, turners, tanners, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters, strummers, Rangers, and of course, Bodgers!

Our last meet was fantastic. We’d not had one for a while, so it felt extra special. Even a torrential bout of rain near the end didn’t dampen any spirits. We retreated to the log cabin, hit the biscuits, and carried on carving.

We had a visit from Ali Asadi (@carvingandturning on Instagram) who came with a lathe, gave a couple of our newer members their first go, and then turned one of his marvellous lidded boxes. Deborah, Andy, and Bowl Mike ventured out from London. We had three Davids, Ranger Dave, Chief Insp Dave Wilkins, and Pink Panther Lathe Dave, who didn’t live up to his name as was without the Pink Panther. Mike showed us how he retrieves his pencil from an ankle pocket he made for his carving jeans. Wendy (who dislikes coffee) ate several cappuccino biscuits. Ranger Dave brought some Willow, Bowl Mike brought some Birch, and CI Wilkins brought a huge bounty of various wood. I snagged a lovely bit of Birch ideal for a ladle and a couple of Bird Bowls. I also accidentally broke the Duck Bowl I was making, but such is life. Plus this wood stuff grows on trees!

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse. If you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is concrete, so treadles cannot be pegged down.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Hope to see you there,

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

Calling all wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, turners, tanners, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters, strummers, Rangers, and of course, Bodgers!

I’m back from the wonderful SpoonTown. A week in a tent, teaching, carving, catching up with old friends and making a bunch of new ones. I’m still tired, but renewed with new experiences and memories.

We are missing our early August meet due my 50th Birthday coinciding. Our next and only meet in August is Saturday 26th. 10am - 6pm. I hope to see you there!

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse. If you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is concrete, so treadles cannot be pegged down.

Our stash of Beech is past its best, rot has settled in. If you have any wood you want to play with or to bring for others please do.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue
The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please. Members had suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived. Scroll to bottom for map.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Hope to see you there,
Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership
Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.
Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

Calling all wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, turners, tanners, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters, strummers, Rangers, and of course, Bodgers!

Our next meet at the Walled Garden: Saturday 22nd July 10am until 5pm.

I will be away for our next meet 22nd July, busy preparing for SpoonTown, but worry ye not as Ranger Dave will be opening up and David Wilkins esq will keep you all entertained and safe. I hope you all have a lovely time, I’ll surely miss being there.

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse. If you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is concrete, so treadles cannot be pegged down.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Hope to see you there,

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

Calling all wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, turners, tanners, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters, strummers, Rangers, and of course, Bodgers!

Our next meet at the Walled Garden: Saturday 8th July 10am to 5pm.

Our last was a busy one, and we had another new attendee, Sue M, a beginner to carving who under the tutelage of David W carved a butter spreader and did a mighty fine job. It was a hot and sweaty day, so the watermelon brought by Sue D was a very welcome treat. There were bowls and soap dishes being started, a bowl finished after several years, and a few spoons carved. Lastly: Fingers crossed for the Walled Garden volunteer team in this year’s “London In Bloom” competition, let’s hope they bring home the gold prize again!

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse. If you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is concrete, so treadles cannot be pegged down.

Our stash of Beech is past its best, rot has settled in. If you have any wood you want to play with or to bring for others please do.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Hope to see you there, and please reply if you have any questions.

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

Calling all wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, turners, tanners, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters, strummers, and Rangers.

Our next meet at the Walled Garden: Saturday 24th June 10am until 5pm.

The previous meet was lovely, we had the sun, plenty of heat, and welcomed two new faces, David and Kevin. Let’s hope for another dry sunny day for this coming meet.

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse. If you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is concrete, so treadles cannot be pegged down.

Our stash of Beech is past its best, rot has settled in. If you have any wood you want to play with or to bring for others please do.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Hope to see you there, and please reply if you have any questions.

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

Calling all wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, turners, tanners, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters, and strummers.

Our next meet at the Walled Garden: Saturday 10th June 10am until 5pm.

The beginnings of summer are here, so expect some chilly wet days mixed with tropical sweat fests. Hope we don’t suffer either at the next meet, and can relax in the glorious surroundings to the melodies of the birds and the percussion of our axes.

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse. If you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is concrete, so treadles cannot be pegged down.

Our stash of Beech is past its best, rot has settled in. If you have any wood you want to play with or to bring for others please do.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Hope to see you there, and please reply if you have any questions.

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

Calling all wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, turners, tanners, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters, and strummers.

Our next meet at the Walled Garden: Saturday 27th May 10am until 6pm.

I’m looking forward to the 27th, and fingers crossed the weather forecast rings true. It should be a nice warm sunny day, in stark contrast to the unusually chilly last meet, which had us sitting inside with coats on.

We have a new name “Essex Bodgers”, suggested by myself and voted on by members in our whatsapp group. The change is to bring our name in line with many other local APTGW groups, eg the Kent Bodgers.

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse. If you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is concrete, so treadles cannot be pegged down.

Our stash of Beech is past its best, rot has settled in. If you have any wood you want to play with or to bring for others please do.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Hope to see you there, and please reply if you have any questions.

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

Calling all wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, turners, tanners, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters, and strummers.

Our next meet at the Walled Garden: Saturday 13th May 10am until 5pm.

I arrived home from the Ball just a few hours ago blissfully fatigued, unpacked a few bits, filled the sheds with others and had a well needed long shower. It certainly was an experience none of us will forget, and I will remember it as “The Mudball”. It was so great to catch up with our more distant wood buddies, and I hope you all came home with some new pals. I just wish there were more hours in a day to get to talk to the huge number of lovely welcoming folks the APTGW attracts. Can’t wait for next year! Huge thanks to all involved in putting on such an event.

It was fantastic to see a good number of our group present and was great to see many of you taking on various courses and learning new skills. Be sure to bring your wares when you’re next here. We even had two members teaching! Thanks to Lisa Atkin and David Stovell, your courses will really help give the group some presence. Last but not least, we had some winners of the craft competition: Lisa Atkin, 3rd place for her Woven Back Log Chair in the “Freeform Chair” category, and myself with 2nd place in “Non Turned Treen” for my painted Bird Bowl. We’re both chuffed to bits. Thank you to all who voted for us.

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse. If you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is concrete, so treadles cannot be pegged down.

Our stash of Beech is past its best, rot has settled in. If you have any wood you want to play with or to bring for others please do.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Hope to see you there, and please reply if you have any questions.

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Wood Group

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

Calling all wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, turners, tanners, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters, and strummers.

Our next meet at the Walled Garden: Saturday 29th April 10am until 5pm.

This will be the last meet before the Bodgers Ball. I do hope you all bought Ball tickets and we can get together with all the other local groups. If it’s your first Ball don’t hesitate to ask me any questions.

Link for the APTGW website to buy your tickets. https://www.bodgers.org.uk

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse. If you can bring your own please do.

Our huge stash of wonderful Beech is getting on, but has developed some great figuring. If you have any other woods you want to play with or to bring for others please do. Park Rangers said there will be more soon as the seasonal trimming takes place.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Hope to see you there, and please reply if you have any questions.

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Wood Group

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

Calling all wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, turners, tanners, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters, and strummers.

Our next meet at the Walled Garden: Saturday 15th April 10am until 5pm.

The last meet was rather quiet, it was wet and chilly too. But as I sit here, the sun is shining, blossom is blossoming, and I haven’t worn my wooly hat for a week. Spring is most definitely here!

The Bodgers Ball tickets have gone live, I do hope you’re all coming! I have just bought a big shelter for the Essex Group and Highgate Spoon Union to congregate under at the Ball. Hopefully we will only sheltering from the sun.
Link for the APTGW website to buy your tickets. https://www.bodgers.org.uk

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse. If you can bring your own please do.

Our huge stash of wonderful Beech is getting on, but has developed some great figuring. If you have any other woods you want to play with or to bring for others please do. Park Rangers said there will be more soon as the seasonal trimming takes place.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Hope to see you there, and please reply if you have any questions.

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Wood Group

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

Calling all wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, turners, tanners, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters, and strummers.

Our next meet at the Walled Garden: Saturday 25th March 10am until 5pm.

The last meet was busy, it was lovely to see you all. We had a lovely mild day, in high contrast to the blizzard filled journey to the Midlands Woodworking Show the previous day. A few of us worked on Bowls, others tackled spoons to which David WIlkins provided some well appreciated guidance. Andrew begun work on weaving a fishing net, the first time I’ve seen it in progress. I have tasked him with providing the group with fresh fish for a future group feast.

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse. If you can bring your own please do.

Our huge stash of wonderful Beech is getting on, but has developed some great figuring. If you have any other woods you want to play with or to bring for others please do. Park Rangers said there will be more soon as the seasonal trimming takes place.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Hope to see you there, and please reply if you have any questions.

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Wood Group

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

To all the thawing wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, turners, tanners, tinkers, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters, strummers.

Our next meet at the Walled Garden: Saturday 25th Feb 10am to 4pm.

We had a new member Chris join us last time, he’s relatively new to carving and got his start by doing a course with none other than David Stovell. At the meet David Wilkins coached Chris in some spoon carving, Merlin made some chopping boards, Carl and myself carved spoons from some lovely Walnut that he shared to the group, and David W very generously donated several books for the group’s library. We rarely have an Essex meet without some wooly goodness, and this time Wendy rapidly jabbed a penguin whilst Needle-felting.

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse. If you can bring your own please do.

Our huge stash of wonderful Beech is getting on, but has developed some great figuring. If you have any other woods you want to play with or to bring for others please do. Park Rangers said there will be more soon as the seasonal trimming takes place.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to pay.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Hope to see you there, and please reply if you have any questions.

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Wood Group

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us

Salutations fellow wood botherer’s, willowy woolly weavers, tanners, tinkers, leatherworkers, stickmakers, dragon riders, folksters and pluckers.

Our next meet at the Walled Garden: Saturday 11th Feb 10am until 4pm.

The last meet was fantastic, we had a great numbers, a new face, the return of our first Dave, made a lot of wood chips, and some got heated by a nice curry. It was really nice to see and hang out with you all again. See you all on the 11th!

If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse. If you can bring your own please do.

Our huge stash of wonderful Beech is getting on, but has developed some great figuring. If you have any other woods you want to play with or to bring for others please do. Park Rangers said there will be more soon as the seasonal trimming takes place.

Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.

About the venue

The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.

Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to pay.

Free parking is available in the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.

Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles

Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99

Hope to see you there, and please reply if you have any questions.

Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Wood Group

APTGW Membership

Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.

Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW (this is a requirement for the insurance the APTGW provides to locals groups like us). It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
For just £20 a year you get:

• A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.

• Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)

• Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball

• Meet hundreds of other Bodgers and Green Woodworkers

• Learn new skills in masterclasses

• Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball

• Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!

• Have the opportunity to purchase very reasonably priced insurance for teaching or demonstrating

Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/join-us