Green Woodworking at Deepdale

Green Woodworking at Deepdale
Richard Rood with Andy, who’s very pleased with his rounders bat, which he created during a 1 day introduction course

A Norfolk farm has added green woodworking to its activities.

Deepdale Farm has won many awards and accolades over the years for the diversification of the farm, and the team are delighted to add a new activity. Richard Rood is now teaching green woodworking courses, a one-day introduction to green woodworking for beginners and a three-day stool making course, teaching students how to make beautiful things out of materials from the woodland on the farm.

Richard has been a regular visitor to Burnham Deepdale over the years, demonstrating at events like the Deepdale Spring Market and selling his beautiful woodwork in the Pop Up Shops and at the Christmas Market. While watching Richard work his pole lathe by the pop up shops, Estate Manager Nathan Nelson chatted with him about this traditional process of woodworking, and the idea of Richard running courses at Deepdale began to form.

“We’ve long thought that Deepdale Farm could be a centre for rural skills and learning. The courses with Richard are the beginning of what will be a wide and varied programme of courses, activities and events. The students who attended Richard’s courses in 2021 really enjoyed themselves, and so we added more dates in 2022, many of which have already filled.” said Nathan.

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Stephen showing off his lathe creation on a one-day course and Richard demonstrating a pull knife

Richard’s courses currently take place in the Brick Barn of Deepdale Camping & Rooms, a barn where many customers will have enjoyed dancing to great music at events like Deepdale Festival. The farm team at Deepdale are currently preparing another beautiful barn on the farm to become a venue for future courses and events. Conversations are ongoing with various artisans and experts about other courses that could be run at Deepdale, from spoon whittling to bushcraft, chainsaw courses and conservation skills training.

Anyone interested in attending a rural crafts workshop at Deepdale Farm can find all the information they need on the farm website: www.deepdalefarm.co.uk

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