Pay It Forward with Bristol Tree Craft

We believe that everyone deserves the chance to experience the joy, calm and creativity of spoon carving. Not everyone has the opportunity to access workshops or materials, and that is where our community steps in.

By choosing to Pay It Forward, you help us open the door for someone who otherwise would not have the chance. Your kindness supports individuals who could benefit most from the wellbeing and confidence that craft  brings.

Pay it Forward 

Spatula-Making 

This half-day workshop is a great introductory course to the world of green woodworking.
Starting with a cleft section of a locally harvested log, we will use traditional green woodworking tools and techniques to shape your very own spatula to take home.

All tools and materials will be provided as well as a steady supply of teas/coffees & biscuits to keep our engines ticking over. 

Suitable for ages 16+ (under 18’s must have consent form signed by parent/guardian before workshop)

*Bristol Tree Craft is a non-for-profit organisation, sometimes we may have to cancel or postpone courses if they are less than 50%  undersubscribed. We do try our hardest to keep courses running when every possible.
If a course is cancelled full refunds will be issued.*

Wooden Spatula Making Course

Gabor 

What a great way to bring people together, really enjoyed the course. Ben is an awesome instructor & super friendly. Would definitely recommend it! 

Sam Tottenham

I couldn’t recommend these courses more. Hugh and Ben were friendly and well informed from start to finish. I had a barrel of fun and came away with a new confidence and excitement to continue my wood whittling journey. 

 

Andrew Rose

Great course: the tuition is good, with lots of guidance if you need it, and they make the whole experience fun and rewarding. A great way to spend an afternoon!

Jay  Robinson

Really good fun day with a lovely crew.  It was very satisfying getting the hang of the tools and coming out with something genuinely useful to take home. Can't recommend it enough.

Joseph  Bailey 

A brilliant session making spatulas for our 5th wedding anniversary. Friendly and knowledgable hosts with great enthusiasm for their craft

Isabel McLellan

We had such a great time at our class, brilliant tutors and such a warm & friendly atmosphere! Couldn’t recommend more!

Natasha  Jarvis 

Fantastic courses! 10/10. Always great friendly relaxed atmosphere, it's not in the least bit intimidating (even if you've done nothing like it before), and you leave proud you made something! 

Spatula Carving Course

Georgia Batziou

I highly recommend this course! I thoroughly enjoyed it. The woodwork and using the tools were incredibly satisfying, and I quickly entered a calm, hyperfocused zone. Ben, the instructor, was lovely—always checking in and offering excellent guidance throughout.

Learn to carve a wooden spatula by hand! 

This full-day workshop will give you everything you need to turn a log into a beautiful, usable cooking spoon to take home with you! 

You will make your spoon from locally sourced green (fresh) wood using an axe and two types of carving knife, which you will be taught to use safely and effectively. The course is suitable for both complete beginners and those who’ve made spoons before and would like to hone their skills and develop their designs.

We'll be working in the beautiful courtyard of Bridge Farm Community. All tools and materials provided, as well as a steady supply of refreshments throughout the day. 

Participants are invited to bring a simple contribution to a shared vegetarian lunch for the group. We will provide bread, cheese, salad, and all cutlery/crockery. 

There is also the option to bring your own packed lunch. 

Suitable for ages 18+.

*Bristol Tree Craft is a Community Interest Company working with limited resources , sometimes we may have to cancel or postpone courses if they are less than 50%  undersubscribed. We do try our hardest to keep courses running when every possible.
If a course is cancelled full refunds will be issued.*

The Location will be updated in early 2022. 

Spoon Carving 

Clarice

This workshop was amazing. Ben and Hugh are excellent teachers, just lovely, funny and very patient. I was struggling a bit and they really took the time to help me now I have a beautiful spoon I made myself! Highly recommend.

Spencer

I thought I was a pretty competent green woodworker but Hugh and Ben thought me some essential techniques - I had to unlearn some bad/dangerous habits! Very grateful for their patience, they were very helpful and it was really fun to learn in a group of people with mixed experience. They managed to give everyone one on one help. Very satisfying to finish a spoon in one go. Oh and a hearty lunch was much appreciated too in a lovely setting.

Rebecca Richards

What a fab day!!! Ben & Hugh led the workshop so brilliantly and explained everything really well. Having never used a carving knife or axe before I came away having learned loads. Can't wait to christen my new spoon. Such a wonderful way to spend a Saturday...

Jimmy Aldridge

Had a mega fun time spoon-carving last weekend! What a hidden gem of a venue - Bridge Farm feels more like rural Somerset than the centre of Bristol. My partner gave the course to me for a birthday gift, and I couldn't recommend it enough. Ben and Hugh were very thorough in their teaching, and broke the process up into really manageable chunks. They also plied us with coffee and kept the fire blazing, so we were nice and warm even though it was a cold day. Delicious soup too!

Really fab teachers - very knowledgable and hugely charismatic. Couldn't recommend more!!!!

Emma

Spoon-tastic! Had a brilliant day whittling my very own spoon… it now has pride of place in my cutlery drawer. The teaching was superb and the lunch was a lovely treat, what a fab day!

Simon Oatley

I thought it was an excellent class, Ben was really helpful and I enjoyed hte session a lot. He was relaxed but kept an eye on everyones progress and kept the session moving - 5 stars

Spoon Carving - Full Day

Emma Smith

Fantastic day, I learnt loads and feel like I've had a break from the city even though it was only 10 mins away from home! Hugh and Ben were excellent facilitators, keeping things moving without rushing anyone. I feel so proud of my spoon, I almost don't want to use it! Feels so satisfying to have started with a log and come home with something so beautiful(ish!). Would highly recommend it.

Florence

I had such a lovely day on the spoon making course. Hugh and Ben were brilliant teachers, working at a relaxed pace and giving clear instructions. I was so pleased with my spoon and can’t wait to do more wood carving. It’s so engrossing! 

Rachel

I really enjoyed this course so much I have taken it twice. I had no prior experience with wood working. The teachers structured the course so that new skills with axe and knives were introduced gradually through the day as we needed them to make our spoons. Highly recommended.

Phil Dodd

Ben and Hugh run an excellent workshop. They are friendly, patient and very good teachers. Everyone at the workshop was able to use the tools very quickly and produced a beautiful spoon I highly recommend this for anyone curious about getting into green woodworking.

Laura Penning

Yesterday I attended the spoon carving course and it was just brilliant, I loved every moment of it. Ben and Hugh are great teachers and it was a pleasure to spend the day learning from and chatting with them both. There were five of us on the course and we each got plenty of one on one when we needed it. The home made lunch was lovely, and it was extra special eating it with bowls and spoons they had carved themselves. It was very inspiring! I'm so happy with the spoon I made, I quite fancy carving a spatula next. I would wholeheartedly recommend their courses to everyone.

Mark Stanley

We had a brilliant day carving spoons under the watchful eye of Hugh and Ben. We learned to use several hand tools safely and used a range of techniques to turn a wedge of tree into a recognisable spoon.  Lovely lunch and endless tea to keep us going, and plenty of chatter in our small friendly group.
Highly recommended. And you get a spoon ♥️

Cat Jameson

Ahhh what a fantastic day! Ben and Hugh put on a fantastic workshop.

Tuition- Communication before workshop was supportive and informative. Workshop was clear and well paced with plenty of 1:1 whenever needed. Tutors very knowledgeable and friendly.

Refreshments- endless tea and biscuits and a super tasty, quality home cooked veggie lunch served alongside a vase of flowers picked from the farm.

Well recommended!

Isis Wolf-Light

Thanks so much Ben and Hugh for excellent tutelage and a great day carving my spoon. I am very happy with my end product and will use my spoon with pride in the kitchen. You were both fantastic teachers and held the space very well, and the lunch was delicious!

Jane Webb

What a fantastic day! We loved learning a new skill and our wooden spoons will definitely get used. Ben and Hugh were engaging and patient teachers. Thank you for a great day. 

Greg Phillips

I had a great time, the morning is making a spoon "blank" with an axe, and the afternoon is finishing the spoon off with knives. Both instructors were very good, knowledgeable, and gave clear instructions, with a good emphasis on safety. They were also a lot of fun. Would recommend and I hope to take another one of their courses to learn more from them. 

David Attwood

An excellent day. Ben and Hugh were great teachers, very patient, clear, and had lots of plasters! Would highlight recommend, it’s a great project they run. 

Rob Matthews

Had a great day doing something I've always wanted to do, left with a self carved spoon and lots of inspiration!

Julie 

I loved the day and treasure my spoon.  Ben the teacher was great - very friendly and great at explaining and demonstrating the processes and very helpful when we got stuck.  Time management was good.  The salad lunch was lovely - just right for eating outdoors in the most beautiful setting.  Loved visiting the baby goats too.  A great day which I didn’t want to end.  I’ll practise at home and book another course soon.

Alan Cridford

Have just completed the Spoon Carving course. This follows the Spatular Course last October.  Both courses were really enjoyable with clear and considerate instruction from Ben and Hugh.  I can highly recommend the Bristol Tree Craft courses.

Paul O’Callaghan

This was a really brilliant workshop. Hugh and Ben were very welcoming and extremely knowledgable, talking us through every aspect of the process and clearly demonstrating each practical skill required.  There can’t be many more enjoyable ways to spend a day and I can’t wait for my next course with Bristol Tree Craft. 

Suzanne Stewart

Fantastic day - great fun, organisers were lovely - supportive and friendly. Shared lunch was a great idea. I will definitely be back .

Jennifer Short

This was such a lovely treat with a great and patient teacher and an actual useable, beautiful spoon at the end of it! 

Brian Wooster 

Excellent day, very attentive instructors, on the day good crowd lots of banter. Thoroughly enjoyed myself. 

TONY STEADMAN

Absolutely loved it, so nice to spend a day crafting a spoon. Very therapeutic and a really well run workshop.  Thanks so much 

Nick Coetzee 

An outstanding day. Well run ++++ and the instructor was a super trainer/ couch and absolute expert who could impart his skills in a relaxed and supportive environment. I can’t remember when I had such an enjoyable day. Thank you to the team! 

Joanna Bowden

We had the most fantastic day with Bristol Tree Craft learning all about spoon carving. The team, Ben and Hugh, were exceptionally good teachers, patient and thoughtful, responding quickly to the different needs of all the attendees. The space was great, much warmer and sheltered from the elements than we were expecting. The equipment was top-notch and there was plenty of time in the day to achieve what we wanted. We have definitely both developed a new passion for spoon carving, and we hope to come back to carve a bowl in the new year. Worth every penny.

Lucy Latter 

A fun and informative course with great people :)

Veronique  Foulds 

Highly recommend the full day spoon making workshop- we learnt so much and came away with amazing spoons! Absolutely loved it! 

Natasha Jarvis

Incredible spoon carving day. Hugh and Ben talked us through everything so clearly, and made everyone feel so welcome. I'd tried spoon carving before using online tutorials, but always got stuck, and I learnt so much more through both Ben & Hugh sharing their knowledge at every step of the way. Hot tea and coffee always avaliable to keep everyone warm, highly recommend. I will be returning for the improvers session. 

Martyn Berryman

Imagine a day filled with laughter, camaraderie, and the satisfying accomplishment of transforming a simple log into a beautiful spoon. That's exactly what I experienced with Bristol Tree Craft! Hugh and Ben, our expert instructors, led our group on a journey into the world of green woodworking.

The atmosphere crackled with a sense of shared purpose as we learned the traditional techniques. Each step, from wielding hand tools to shaping the raw wood, felt empowering. But the experience wasn't just about the craft itself. Lunchtime brought us together, fostering a sense of community as we shared stories and fueled up for the afternoon's creations.

By the end of the day, we weren't just leaving with handcrafted spoons, but with a newfound appreciation for the connection between nature, creativity, and human connection. It was a truly enriching experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a day filled with fun, learning, and a dash of accomplishment.

Jon coldridge

Liz King

Hugh and Ben were great instructors, giving us confidence to use all the tools safely and taking time to ensure we understand every step. A lovely setting, great company, excellent lunch and I went home with a respectable spoon ( in my opinion anyway)

Lisa Vaughan

An awesome place to learn a new craft. I thoroughly enjoyed making a spoon/scoop in silver maple! Very well organised, excellent staff and a fantastic place to be. I’m coming back again in November to try making a bowl! Five stars !! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heidi Thompson

What a lovely day, such a calm interesting day with such lovely patient teachers.

Maya Neville

Attended a spoon carving day in September with Bristol Tree Craft. Was a lovely day out learning how to use new tools and make a spoon! The instructors were lovely and I would absolutely reccomend this:) 

Tom Weld

Really enjoyable day of whittling and wood carving under expert instruction and I now have my own bespoke wooden spoon. Recommend to anyone who wants to experience the meditative joys of wood carving (or just playing with an axe).

Eleanor Smith

Excellent course! Very inclusive and accessible teaching ethos and style. I learnt loads but at a very relaxed pace, we all had time to really practise and embed the skills as well as ask all the questions we wanted. This is a really fab project and I was delighted I could support them and while learning something cool. I’m super happy with my spoon! 

Rosemary  Stokoe 

I am 76 and recently attended a spoon carving day run by Bristol Tree Craft. My initial apprehensions (would I manage?) quickly melted away as I became absorbed in the activity.
Ben explained and demonstrated spoon carving in stages, emphasising safe use of tools. He gave clear instructions, accompanied by encouragement , advice and praise.  I was delighted to go home with a functional cooking spoon and, as a bonus, without my usual aching stiff neck.
I will recommend the course to family and friends.


Many thanks Ben

Neil Selkirk

great day. well run looking at getting my own kit now !!

Ciara Long

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves on this spoon carving day course. It was much more in depth than i was expecting and to come away with the skills to use three different tools safely was fab! The farm itself was delightful and i am very happy with my spoon.

Sarah O'Doherty

Fantastic day carving a spoon with Ben. He was very friendly and explained techniques very well and was encouraging throughout. Wonderful location and I've booked myself on to bowl  carving next. Can't wait. 

Amber Pinckney

Absolutely amazing!

Were’s the 11 star button?! 

Hugh guides you through spoon making with good humour, skill and patience.
Just the right level of support, free rein and  practical learning.

The setting is a hidden wonderland! 
Left the day feeling happy and fulfilled at the spoon I made, but also the friendships forged. 

HARD RECOMMENDED ! 

Lilian Mcgroarty

Really lovely space to sit and explore the craft of apolo carving…

Really thorough learning  and teaching… all in all a lovely day spent. Great to hear about tht other Projects supporting young people…

Would highly recomend this course to anyone ! 

Ella Wyzocki

I had such a wonderful time making my spoon.  Hugh gave super clear instructions and made the techniques really accessible and doable.  I would definitely recommend this workshop to anyone. 

spencer rouse

I had such a lovely day. I bought my dad a spoon carving course for his birthday and  I was very keen to tag along. Hugh is a patient and thorough teacher. Explaining all the tools and their uses. I have made a few spoons but I came away with loads of tips and new hand holds and techniques.  He paced the day perfectly and managed expectations and supported everyone’s varying levels of experience.  Nice to spend the day with a really great bunch of people and to share a delicious lunch and craft experience together. I can’t recommend BTC enough and what they bring to Bristol communities with their ever expanding program of courses and events. 

This full-day workshop will give you everything you need to turn a log into a beautiful, usable cooking spoon! 

Start with a stump, end with a bowl!

Come and carve your very own unique bowl from a log using an axe, drawknife and various gouges in this full-day workshop. 

This course is more physically demanding than carving a spoon, so would serve as a natural progression for those who have done some carving before, however beginners are also welcome! 

18+

*Bristol Tree Craft is a Community Interest Company working with limited resources , sometimes we may have to cancel or postpone courses if they are less than 50%  undersubscribed. We do try our hardest to keep courses running when every possible.
If a course is cancelled full refunds will be issued.*

Bridge Farm Community 

Bowl Carving Course - Full day 

Phil  Okeden

Wow!  What a fabulous day!  It was very focussed but relaxed.  A lovely mindful day with something to take home at the end!  The instruction from Ben and Hugh was brilliant.  They were incredibly patient, hugely knowledgeable and always positive and encouraging.  As a result, we all achieved and produced fantastic wooden bowls in a day!  I have learnt so much from these guys and am now inspired to do more green wood work!  Plus, we had a delicious lunch - result!  Bravo guys - it was outstanding!

ROB Cunningham 

Fantastic day, the guy's were great, really enjoyable and interesting course, well worth the money

Alan Stredwick

What a fantastic day!
Thank you Ben and Hugh for being such good teachers and making everyone feel so relaxed.
I came away with a bowl I was really pleased with thanks to you both!
Will spread the word.
Kind Regards
Alan

Geoffrey Neck

A really full and interesting day. Ben and Hugh made everyone welcome and provided excellent instruction in the art of bowl carving. Not quite a finished article at the end of the day but definitely bowl-like and completable at home. Lovely lunch broke up the day and got back home tired but happy with the day.

Christine  Edwards

An enjoyable - if full-on day led by  Hugh.  Starting with a split log and ending up with a carved bowl.  Every stage clearly explained and demonstrated.  Sharp tools and other equipment made available as required and a friendly, collaborative environment maintained throughout.  

The setting is pretty rustic, but the large frame tent (Presumably ex military?) was an ample size for the small group of us to all work in and provided reasonable shelter against the strong wind and rain of the day.

In practice it was a struggle to complete all stages before the light went, so many people, me included will probably be finishing up their bowls at some future date in home workshops or similar - however, one can hardly blame the limited daylight hours on the organisers, December has short days, deal with it!  Plus I understand that plans are in place to instal solar power shortly so that lighting will improve.  

Overall a great and enjoyable experience, both well thought out and delivered.  

Sandilya Avadhanam

Really enjoyable course with a very friendly and welcoming environment

Scott Hext

Absolutely fantastic day once again! Thank you Ben for running the day and BTC for running these courses. I can’t wait to book another ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A really fun and informative day in the company of some great people. And at the end of it I even managed to produce a credible wooden bowl! Thoroughly recommend. 

Ian Hulin

High the tutor was knowledgeable and friendly. Would recommend this course for anyone who likes wood carving

Sarah Froud 

Had a great time learning how to carve a bowl and came out of it with a useful item! Thanks so much.

Start with a stump, end with a bowl! Come and carve your very own unique bowl from a log. 

Grow Wilder

Standard

e.g. I'm a homeowner or pay high-end rent, own a vehicle and have expendable income. I can afford regular holidays.  

Community Supporter 

Private Booking

e.g. I have some expendable income, and can buy non-essential items. I have access to a car and can afford petrol. I can take an annual holiday. 