APTGW - Essex Bodgers Next Meet Sat 28th June 2025
Tonk'peh lapan sutra [Vulcan] - (Hello wood people)
News - by Wendy of the Wool - Pics by Wendy & Rich:
A lovely summers day greeted us at the Garden for our recent meet up, with a nice breeze too. As ever the flowers and plants looked fabulous with a large patch of poppies in flower in the bed next to the pathway to the classroom. The bees seemed to adore them with several spotted running around in a single flower. Sadly, the nice cooling breeze also blew the petals off the poppies and there wasn’t a single one left later in the day (although there were more in bud).
We once again continued with our end grain cups – Jamie and Ranger Dave’s had been drying since last time, so they were able to oil them with linseed oil and put them in the sun. Dave Wilkins, Wendy and Jamila had more carving and refining to be getting on with. Jamila headed off to spend the later part of the day with a friend who has recently started a wood carving group at Orchard Meadow in Crouch End, maybe we will have a group visit there in the future. In between giving directions, tips and tomfoolery, Rich worked on an end grain goblet. With their cups oiled and sunbathing, Jamie moved on to carving a fox figurine, while Christmas planning started early for Ranger Dave who was carving the first of many Santas he’ll be making between now and December.
We were also joined by Sue in the afternoon who worked on some spoons and brought along the lovely end grain cup she made on a course with Wooden Tom.
With it being a nice warm day, a few of us stayed at the garden until around 7pm, to make the most of the weather and company.
Members Services (See Listings at bottom of page)
Where local members can offer charged services to other local members: Craft Courses, Tool Repairs, Lathe building, Lathe for sale etc. Have a service to offer? Please reply to this email.
Listings will be approved at our discretion and are limited to local sole traders. There are no listing fees. We do not take responsibility over any transactions, so please be mindful of where your money is going.
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
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.