Spoon carving workshop

Discovering there was a spoon carving workshop happening not far from where we live was exciting, discovering we were free was unexpected, and realising it coincided with one of best friends visiting was perfection! Rufus and Jared ended up staying at home due to illness (which was turned out to be a good thing) but that didn’t stop the rest of us having a lovely time together.

It took place at Fairburn Ings – a place where trees, stumps and logs are plentiful. The three tools needed to carve a spoon are a hatchet, a knife and a hook knife. All incredibly sharp and really quite dangerous. Our tutor was quite the legend and a great teacher – always there when you needed him, never hovering, full of positive comments and endless interesting experiences to share. After a straightforward (and slightly gruesome) health and safety talk we got started.

It was much harder work than I expected but it was also far more enjoyable. I felt such a sense of achievement seeing the slivers of wood collect and the smell of the fire was fantastic. Most of us agreed that the atmosphere and peace was even more desirable than the carving itself. Winston wondered between the park, a log and my knee.

After the hard work was complete we were rewarded with three bean cous cous chilli, and then totally spoilt by getting to toast mega (seriously mega) marshmallows around the fire. Winston didn’t eat much chilli – the sloping table and make shift bottle holder was far too distracting.

We were all SO pleased with how our spoons turned out. What an accomplishment when photographed next to the raw material we started with! One brand new porridge spoon.

Fairburn Ings along with Steve from Friends of Fryston Wooods are going to be running regular carving workshops at the reserve. Unless children are over 12 they can’t really do much, but the atmosphere is wonderful and it takes place right by the park.

E xx