APTGW - Essex Bodgers Next Meet Sat 9th August 2025
ಮರತ ತೊಂದರೆಗ್ ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ [Tulu] - (Hello tree troublers)
News - by Wendy of the Wool - Pics by Rich
Our last meet had cooler temperatures, and the garden looked much revived – it was looking a little parched during the last heatwave (as were we all!). Less heat equalled more bird activity. While eating our breakfast, we spotted a Buzzard being bothered by a couple of crows who appeared to be trying to escort it off the premises! There were crowds of blue, great, coal and long-tailed tits, flittering between the feeders and the vine that is creeping over the pergola in front of the classroom.
We were joined by Fay, one of the garden volunteers, who had come to finish harvesting some lavender for drying, having been rained off on her attempts earlier in the week. It was Fay who noticed the Raven’s bird call and later I managed to catch it on my Merlin app. Ravens are larger than their crow cousins, with a wingspan comparable to a buzzard. Raven’s also have a metallic blue sheen to their feathers a ruffle around their throat that is beard like. If you see them in flight, the Raven has a wedge shape, whereas the Crow has a fan. Apparently, the Raven is also more aerobatic and will often be seen doing barrel rolls, or flying upside down, especially during the courtship season when he’s trying to impress a lady. The Crow prefers to take a direct route (hence the phrase “as the crow flies”).
My birdy highlight of the day was seeing a Greater Spotted Woodpecker on the feeder! Rich managed to get a photo too! This was the first time I’d seen one for more than a fleeting moment, so this was exciting, especially as I’ve been wanting to see one for a long time and we often hear them drumming on trees in the earlier part of the year.
In woody matters, we were few on the ground, it being the middle of summer and with various woody festivals taking place. Mr Wilkins also couldn’t make it until just after lunch which meant that Bob had to step up and take care of cheeky sparing with Richard and anyone else around! He did a good job. I continued to work on the felted teddy bear, which is taking a bit longer than it should, but I forgot my sharp needles to help with the threading this week. Rich and David Wilkins continued with making bud vases and Bob picked up his tools again to make a cooking spoon.
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.