APTGW - Essex Bodgers Next Meet Sat 6th September 2025
Chamando a todos os artesáns [Galician] - (Calling all artisans)
News by Wendy of the Wool, Pics - by Rich (r2wood)
Our last meet of the summer months gave us a mainly cloudy but dry day which is kinder to wood carving than the baking heat when the crack danger is real and you’d better be soaking your work in some water.
The Garden looked its spectacular self, and it was nice to be back as I wasn’t present for the last meet up and was getting Garden Withdrawal Symptoms. We did, however, see a lot of Hornets (European variety, I checked!) particularly around the Sedums bordering the beds. Sedums are a sun loving plant valued for their drought tolerance and minimal water requirements and provide some of the last food for pollinators as they bloom in late summer and autumn. Hence it is normal to see Hornets patrolling these areas as they hunt flies, wasps and honeybees (they do eat the nectar from flowers too and sap from trees like Dogwood and Birch).
Rich had a commission of a Tai Chi Fighting Staff to hand over to it’s new owner Jackie, who gave a demo of it in use, he later carved a serving spoon from Cherry. Chief Inspector of Cheek and Gifts, Wilkins worked on what we think are ‘pokey sticks/rib ticklers’ a tool for tomfoolery, whilst bestowing us with tales from his time in the Police Force.
Bob worked on carving a serving spoon, in between tree watering and cuddles with Poppy. Jamila worked on a spoon, and brought a new tool she’d recently purchased from blacksmith/toolmaker Dave Budd, and told us about her recent trip to the Wilderness Gathering. Bowl Mike (you guessed it!) worked on a large bowl. Jamie worked on a goblet (in between chats and cuddles with Poppy). I worked on nothing because I had left some tools at home couldn’t decide on what to do until it was home time (better luck next time, but I did drink a lot of tea and chuckle a plenty).
Looking forward to our next meet up and realising that it is not long now until the main event of the year in the Garden’s calendar – Apple Day (Sunday 5 October).
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 near bottom of page.
Hope to see you there, and please email 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/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
Members Services (Please ask if you want to be added to this list)
Sharpening Service - R2 Wood
I’ve launched a sharpening service for greenwood carving tools, offering APTGW members a 5% discount. Covering Sloyd and Spoon knives, Axes, Adzes, Gouges and more. Please contact Richard at info@r2wood.co.uk to enquire.