APTGW - Essex Bodgers Next Meet Sat 18th October 2025
Sveicīņs Kūkgrīzēji [Latgalian] - (Hello Woodcutters)
News by Wendy - Pics By Wendy and Rich.
In a change to our usually timetabled meets, our next will be on Saturday 18 October. This weekend’s meet is re-scheduled due to Apple Day on Sunday 5 October and the preparation activity going on in the garden on Saturday.
It was an overcast day with a small threat of rain when we gathered for our most recent meet up. We spent some time outside, then went inside due to a few well placed spots of rain, and then, wouldn’t you know it, the sun came out and made it all warm!
Bob worked on a spoon from a blank that Chief Inspector Wilkins brought from his freezer. We also had discussions about frost, the hot summer causing more sugars in leaves and autumn colours (the hot summer is expected to lead to a spectacular autumn display this year!). Bob also bought a walking stick off CI Wilkins and very pleased with it he was too (more than you could shake a stick at).
CI Wilkins chiefly inspected a piece of wood with a knife and by powers unknown (tea, biscuits, banter?) it turned into a spoon before our very eyes. Rich worked on a multitude of things that were already in progress but needed refining, including two spoons, a bird bowl and a kuksa. Jamie joined us and worked on a fox figurine and his goblet which is nicely taking shape. I worked on a felted landscape which is proving difficult and will need a lot of work before I’m happy with it.
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.