Shrink Pot Carving Workshop

Make a shrink pot in a day with Jonathan Roots.

This course is for adults with basic carving skills (having carved a spoon or two) and with no more than six in the group there will be plenty of opportunity for personal guidance. All tools, materials and hot drinks will be supplied. Please bring your own carving knives if you have them.

The day will include:

• Overview of the making process

• An introduction to the safe use of tools

• Cutting and hollowing the pot

• Fitting the base

• Lunch - please bring a packed lunch

• Making and fitting the lid

• We will end at 4.30pm

About Jonathan

I discovered shrink pot making after learning the basic skills of spoon carving. I worked as a saddler for many years and when I retired I was lucky enough to own a lovely copse in Suffolk. Here I discovered how to to work green wood. This led on to spoon carving and shrink pot making.

Using green wood means not everything is symmetrical as the wood dries at different rates but it does mean every piece you make is unique.

Now living in the Pewsey Vale I source local timber to make my greenwood pieces. Often just by listening for the sound of a chainsaw tuning up and racing to the source to see if I can scrounge offcuts and workable lengths of timber.

I love the fact that every piece of wood is different and never lose the wonder of seeing a piece develop – some call it ‘chasing the grain’.

Teaching these skills is part of the green wood culture and I hope to introduce as many people as possible to this wonderful craft.

The course will be based at Found Outdoors in the barn or out in the woods around a fire pit (weather permitting). Please dress according to the weather.

For accessibility information please visit foundoutdoors.org/accessibility

Please note: This is a dog free site with the exception of assistance dogs. Thank you for understanding.