Learn how to make a small gate, up to 4ft maximum, using traditional greenwood working techniques.
Before power tools we would split our wood into usable sizes following the grain and natural curves of each log.This course will take you from a log to a finished gate in two days, using only hand tools and traditional methods.We will be using Sweet Chestnut which is a naturally durable wood from a sustainably managed coppice woodland in Wicklow.Mike Carswell is a professional coppice worker and greenwood worker. He has nearly 20 years experience in utilising traditional methods to produce sustainable woodland products. A graduate of the Bill Hogarth Memorial Apprenticeship Trust in the UK, Mike is fully qualified and insured in coppice restoration and conversion of raw materials. He has a good knowledge of the ecological impacts and the heritage of woodland management in Ireland.
The Old Workshop is a restored stone workshop in Graine, once home to wheelwright Dick Brennan. Restored with the support of the Heritage Council Traditional Farm Building Scheme , it is now a community workshop curated by carpenter Shannon Spicer Nash, hosting monthly woodworking and making days with guest tutors.