Cleft Oak Fence
A 2 day fence building workshop
26/27 May 2025, 9.30-5
£215
A collaborative workshop with Andrew Merson of Sheffield Woodcraft. You'll learn everything you need to make your own cleft oak products at home and contribute to building a fence for this new split wood basket centre in Cumbria.
We’d love for you to join us for this course. Nothing beats the smell of freshly split oak, there’ll be lots of time to talk while we’re working, plenty of hot or cold drinks, and hopefully the sun will join us.
What you’ll learn
How to cleave oak with an axe and wedges, and then a froe.
How to use a drawknife and shavhorses to shape oak rails and palings
Create mortise and tenons with hand tools
All these skills are transferable to many other greenwood crafts.
What to bring
Your lunch
Sturdy outdoor footwear.
Clothing suitable for the weather - it could be hot, cold or wet.
Gardening or working gloves.
Who is this workshop for?
The workshop is for anybody who wants to learn more about greenwood skills and heritage crafts, and spend a creative couple of days in the Lake District.
Places available
There are 6 available spaces on the course.
Accessibility
Some level of fitness is required. Splitting and shaving oak is a bit of a workout. You need to be able to stand for most of the day.
We will be in an outdoor workshop space so I won’t be taking any covid precautions but I will have spare masks available if that would make you feel comfortable.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email and I’ll be happy to help.
Skill level: Beginner
No experience is necessary
Where is it?
The course will be held at a new venue, a barn that will become a hub for split wood basketry & heritage crafts. We’ll be working outside, under a tarp if the weather is bad.
The postcode is LA12 8LQ.
I’ll send out directions and parking instructions closer to the date.
Public transport:
The valley doesn’t have any public transport but you can stay within walking distance. I’m happy to pick you up from Ulverston Train Station or Hawkshead bus stop. Email me to chat about this.
What is included?
All materials and tool use.
Plenty of hot and cold drinks, cakes and snacks.
Where to stay
There is a lot of accommodation in the Lake District so you won’t struggle to find somewhere.
Click here for a list of Airbnbs close to the Barn.
Grizedale camping has camping spaces for tents and vans, yurts and pods to hire, and a bunkbarn. . The Eagles Head pub in Satterthwaite is a short walk away.
Terms and Conditions
Participant cancellation:
If you need to cancel your place on the course please give me as much notice as possible.
If it is up to 21 days before the course start date, I will re-advertise and endeavour to fill the place. You will get a full refund.
If it is less than 21 days before the course start date you will not be automatically eligible for a refund, unless the space can be filled.
I know that emergencies happen and they aren’t always conveniently 21 days before an event. Get in touch and I’ll try to help in any way I can.
Course cancellation:
If there are not enough bookings for a course to be viable by 21 days before the course date, then I will contact all course members immediately by phone or email and all payments will be refunded in full.
If I have to cancel a course at short notice due to any unavoidable circumstances, then I will contact all course members immediately by phone or email and all payments will be refunded in full.
