DSC_0093_5-min - Little Acorn Furniture

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Our Courses

Family “greenwood” experience
Alasdair will take you through the basic principles of Green Woodworking and provide the knowledge, tools and materials needed to get you using a pole lathe. Turn as many items as you like using a variety of local hard woods and unlock the full potential of this ancient craft.
Introduction to pole lathing
During this one or two day course, you will get to practice the principles of green woodworking: cleaving and shaping the wood using side axe and draw knife before turning on a pole lathe to produce a range of items - as long as it is round!
Simply stools
This two-day course offers you the chance to produce a simple three or four legged stool with hard wood top and turned or draw knifed legs.
From tree to table
This three day course gives you time to produce a table or bench with stretchered legs using more advanced techniques. The addition of stretchers between the legs allows you to make larger items with more refinement.
Table making course
This four-day course gives you time to explore the intricacies of green wood furniture design to produce a dramatic and unique piece of furniture of your own design.
Chair making course
Over this full four day course you will make and assemble a complete chair from local Ash and Beech. Choosing from one of two traditional designs you will be responsible for shaping all components and joining therm using traditional wedged mortice and tenon joints
Make your own shaving horse
In order to make a traditional shaving horse you will need a pole lathe, in order to use a pole lathe a shaving horse is essential. Get around this catch 22 situation by making your very own shaving horse over two days in Alasdair's fully equipped Greenwood workshop.
Handle making and tool restoration
This is a one day course aimed at giving you the basic knowledge and skills required to make a tool handle of any sore from green Ash. Be it an axe, hammer, chisel or spade you can restore personalise and bring back to life any old tool. We will go back to the days when things were done 'proper' and a tool handle could last a lifetime of use.
Cleft hurdle gate making
Discover the ancient art of gate making using authentic traditional tools and techniques. Using the true nature of the wood to ensure both beauty and strength, start with a freshly cut log and explore the entire process of cleaving , shaping and jointing.
One-to-one tuition
Work and learn at your own pace - receive uninterrupted expert tuition in the art of green wood furniture making and have exclusive access to the range of hardwoods available in the workshop.

What our customer’s say…

Completed the 2 day 'Simply Stools' course this weekend and loved it. Alasdair is absolutely passionate about his chosen subject and incredibly generous in sharing both his passion and knowledge. I have not just learnt a huge amount but found the whole experience massively rewarding. I can not recommend completing any of Alasdair's courses enough and will be back as soon as I can. Thank You!!

David Smith

Wonderful work on a commission for a special birthday. Documented and photographed from start with cutting the wood, making the top and legs to assembling and final polishing. If you want something special I can not recommend them highly enough. I will be going back for more individual pieces of furniture to be hand made.

Hazel Payne

Great bonding weekend activity with my 14 yr old son. We both learnt lots of skills in a supportive and fun atmosphere. Great set up and very encouraging. Look forward to the next time

John Edwards

Had a fantastic day pole lathing with Alasdair and Simon. The course was excellent value for the day and there was a great ratio with a small group. Would recommend to anyone, I had an absolutely brilliant day!

Will Silver

We asked Alasdair to make a custom bench for Mums birthday and he was brilliant, great updates all the way through the build and the finished result is excellent! We would highly recommend. Thanks again Alasdair

Tom Baker

Special present from my son. A brilliant two day experience. The total weekend was great fun, really interesting and a real experience. Tea to start the day then a root around to find a suitable stool top that we each liked the look of. Then a bit of history behind greenwood working. The recently felled log was then produced which we split in half then into quarters. That was a coat off job even in December. A explanation of the next stage of making a rough leg shape came next and how to use the various hand tools. There's always someone to help or offer advice. Using the various hand tool was fantastic and it was the same kind of tools and same methods used back in history hundreds of years ago. The whole process was really absorbing which meant you where able to focus entirely on the three legged stool you are making or discussing each others plans or components. By the end of the two days we had each produced a three legged stool which we were very happy with. Can't wait to move on to another course with Little Acorn Furniture.

John O'Neill

Birthday gift from my wife who knew I liked mucking about with wood. Probably the best birthday present I've ever had, I was totally in my element. Alasdair, Simon and Joel make the whole experience interesting, fun and challenging. They leave you to get on with things, if that's what you want, or are always there to help with a helpful demo or gentle nudge in the right direction. At the end you will feel like you've really achieved something e.g turning a log into a working tool, or piece of furniture, all whilst using the same tools and techniques that were used hundreds of years ago. No sounds of power tools here, just the gentle sounds of the forest and some eager woodworkers creating some amazing things from scratch. Seriously, it really is that good.

Kevin Henry

I would highly recommend the shaving course run by Little Acorn Furniture. The course, which is week run by Alasdair, teaches you how to make a shaving horse which you take away with you, and how to use a pole lathe. The facilities provided are good and the support and tuition given is excellent. Alasdair is ably supported by Simon who complements the course. Thank you Alasdair for an enjoyable course.

ian stainer

What a great weekend, I was there with a 17 year old boy that I care for and the experience was amazing. Jack did the two day stool making course and he loved it. Alastair and Simon where great at helping and explaining the process to Jack and made sure that Jack was involved in the whole weekend. It is a full on course and jack loved the hands on experience. He especially liked working on the lathes and produced a rolling pin and rounders bat. There were three other people on the course and Alastair and Simon where brilliant at including Jack throughout the two days. I cannot thank Alastair and Simon enough for such a great weekend and experience. And to see Jack's happy face when his stool was finished was a memory I shall never forget. Cheers guys, I shall be back to make my own stool.

Gary Barnett

Had a Great day at Little Acorn Furniture...had a different requested for Alasdair. I wanted to do some wood carving.... and make a bowl. Alasdair found me some spalted beech. Ended with a lovely looking bowl, my wife loves it . Chuffed to bits with it. Really reccomend a course with him.

Jez Heath

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