Green Wood Intensive - Professional Development Course for Woodworkers - Month Long Course in South Devon

Description

An advanced green woodworking course for woodworkers. This course is designed for experienced woodworkers who want to explore green woodworking—either to integrate it into their current practice, or to take their career in a new direction. Many furniture-making colleges overlook green woodwork entirely, often considering it a lesser craft. That’s a real shame. Green woodworking is accessible, environmentally sensitive, physically engaging, and creatively fulfilling—and it can absolutely form the foundation of a meaningful career. My own practice combines both sides of the craft: working with seasoned timber and with freshly felled poles. What excites me most is finding ways to bring these two disciplines together in practical, elegant ways. The Green Wood Intensive runs for one month (with 23 taught days), and is a deep, hands-on immersion in: - Traditional green woodworking techniques. - Contemporary furniture making. - Steam bending and tool care. - Personal design and project development. - It’s hosted at the Devon Green Wood Centre, nestled near the breathtaking South Hams coastline—an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Course structure - Intro Day: - We’ll begin with a half-day to settle into the workshop and get oriented before launching into the first project. - Week 1: Slab & stick stool. A traditional green woodworking stool with a steam-bent component. You’ll learn: - Cleaving, axe work, and drawknife technique. - Seat carving and leg angles. - Stretchers and rail construction. Week 2: Post & rung chair course. A 6-day intensive designed to build confidence and speed with: - Froe, axe, and drawknife use. - Chair construction fundamentals. - Seat weaving (final day). Week 3: Steam bending, tool sharpening & design. - One-day steam bending workshop. - Green woodworking tool sharpening and maintenance. - Development of your personal project. - Exploration of intuitive design methods suited to green wood. Week 4: Creative seating. Two options: - Continue your personal project if it’s a large undertaking. OR - Build a chair or bench using all the skills you've gained. Who is this course for? - This course is not suitable for complete beginners. It’s intended for: - Professional or semi-professional woodworkers - Designers, makers, or craftspeople with some experience - Anyone seeking to incorporate green wood into modern practice Not sure if it’s right for you? Please send a message via the 'message the tutor' button to discuss. - Optional machine use: While this isn’t a machining course, there is the option to be trained on power tools and machinery at the Devon Green Wood Centre. This supports a hybrid approach—combining traditional techniques with modern methods to create organic, contemporary furniture.

What's included in the price?

- Expert tuition from a practicing furniture maker. - All green wood materials. - Visits to a local hardwood sawmill and woodland to select timber. - Individual project time with guidance. - Optional machine training for integrating modern tools. Please note: seat weaving materials and any board materials for your personal project are not included.

Cancellation policy

Medium - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 4 weeks before the course starts

Maker

Peter Lanyon Furniture

with Craft Courses since 2013

Message the tutor

Peter Lanyon trained as a furniture maker at Rycotewood College in 1995, before going on to complete an MA with distinction in Furniture Design and Technology. He is a trained secondary school teacher, and has been teaching in many different guises for 2 decades. His current furniture practice sees him combining green woodworking techniques with his interest in design, and his skills in fine furniture making. He enjoys passing on these skills and passions through his courses.