Courses -
Countryside Skills

WILLOW WORKSHOP

29 September 2007
29 March 2008
5 July 2008

Using English brown willow and traditional techniques learn to 'weave and wale' a basket to take home.

Tutor: Deborah Albon
Course fee £50 includes coffee and tea.

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POLE LATHE WOOD TURNING

13 October 2007
3 May 2008
28 June 2008

pole lathe course An introduction to wood turning on the traditional pole lathes. Participants will be able to take home their own simple turned objects.

Tutor: Jonny Morris
Course fee £55 includes light lunch.

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MAKE A BENTWOOD CHAIR

20-21 October 2007
4-5 April 2008

Learn how to make a comfortable, natural bentwood chair to take home, selecting your own new timber and using a minimum of tools to facilitate the steaming process.

Tutor: Nick Parker
Course fee £200 including ploughmans lunch.

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POULTRY HUSBANDRY

3 November 2007
19 April 2008

An half day session giving participants the opportunity to handle a variety of poultry species.  Advice and guidance on retailing eggs.  10.30am - 3.30pm.

Tutor: David Bland
Course fee £45 includes coffee, tea and light lunch.

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AN INTRODUCTION TO COPPICE MANAGEMENT

9 November 2007

A practical day school encompassing good practice in coppicing; to make the best use of coppiced products with safe use of tools.

Tutors: Nick Parker and John Booker
Course fee £60 to include tea, coffee and packed lunch.

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WOVEN  HURDLE MAKING

10-11 November 2007

An introductory two day course for novices to learn the basic skills and make a traditional woven hazel sheep hurdle.

Tutor: Nick Parker
Course fee £165 including lunch.

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WILLOW WORKSHOP - AN IMPROVERS COURSE

17-18 November 2008

A two-day course for people who want to take their basket making further, participants will make an oval basket with handles suitable as a small shopper or garden basket, etc.  9 am – 5 pm.

Tutor: Deborah Albon
Course fee £120 includes coffee and tea.

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CHRISTMAS STAINED GLASS WORKSHOP

23 November 2007

Make a small copper foiled stained glass panel, and learn many skills including how to cut glass to a precise pattern, grind glass edges and joining pieces using copper foil. Students can work on a design they have brought with them, or ones provided by the tutor. Suitable for beginners or those with some experience. 9.30am–4.30pm

Tutor: David Lilly
Course fee:
£70

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LEATHER WORKSHOP

24 November 2007

Through making either a belt or a wallet learn hand stitching and dyeing techniques. The belt will be plain, laced or stamped with a choice of buckles. The wallet will be decorated with your own unique carved design. 9.30am-4.30pm

Tutor: Emma Driscoll
Course fee:
£60

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CONTINUOUS HURDLE FENCING

16 January 2008

Learn the practicalities of making a continuous wattle fence using mature hazel rods woven between upright supports.  Advice on sources of materials, tools needed etc. 

Tutor: Bob Holman
Course fee £50 including lunch

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STICKMAKING WORKSHOP

1 March 2008

A market stick is a traditional type of stick for country walking, and also used by farmers to take to market.  It is a good basic stick, suitable for beginners to make. 9.30am-5pm

Tutor: Charles Hutcheon
Course fee:
£65

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HEDGELAYING

8-9 March 2008

Students will learn to thin out then lay selected material to form a stock proof hedge which is pleasing to the eye. Tips will be given for uses of the discarded material. 9.30am-4.30pm

Tutor: Nick Parker
Course fee:£130

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TRADITIONAL ROPEWORK

9 March 2008

Come and try your hand at the art of traditional rope work.  Students will make a round clout mat and a sailor’s whisk brush during the day. 

Tutor: Charlie Tyrell
Course fee £40

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STONE CARVING WORKSHOP

5 April 2008
6 – 7 September 2008

These workshops are for people who wish to develop skills in carving with Bath stone. Students on the one-day workshop will carve a leaf design, and on the two-day course there will be time to complete a Tudor rose. 9.30am-5pm

Tutor: Will Spankie
Course fee:  One day -
£70
                 Two days - £140

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MAKE A RUSTIC TABLE

28 April 2008

Students will select their own material and using basic woodworking tools to make a unique table, which also complements the bentwood chair.  9.30am-4.30pm        

Tutor: Nick Parker
Course fee:
£75

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STAINED GLASS WORKSHOP

11 April 2008

Learn traditional leaded light techniques to turn that dull obscured-glass window into a blaze of coloured light and brighten up any room in your home. No prior skills required and you don’t even have to be artistic, just good with your hands! Spend the day making a panel to take home and show off to your loved ones.

Tutor: David Lilly
Course fee: £90 to include materials

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CORACLE MAKING WEEKEND

26-27 April 2008
27-28 September 2008

Coracles are traditional riverboats.  Round in shape, they are paddled with one oar. On this two-day course you will make a traditional ash slatted coracle to take home, and try out your boating skills on the Museum’s millpond. 

Tutor: Nick Parker
Course fee £200

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SKEP MAKING

1-2 May 2008

Learn to make a useful addition to the beekeeper’s equipment from straw, and find out how skeps are used in beekeeping.  A rustic feature to a cottage garden, even if it is not inhabited by bees! 

Tutor: Carolyn Farley
Course fee £90

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IRONS IN  THE FIRE

3 May 2008
6 September 2008

A practical day in the Museum’s 150 year old working smithy, learning about the traditional skills of the village blacksmith.  Each student will make their own simple object to take home.

Tutor: Martin Fox
Course fee £65

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AN INTRODUCTION TO CHARCOAL BURNING

3 May 2008

A practical day exploring charcoal burning using both traditional and current methods, from selection of wood to lighting the kiln, to marketing the product. 

Tutor: Paul Pinnnington and Jon Roberts
Course fee £50 including lunch

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A DOWSING WORKSHOP

9 May 2008

Explore the background and practise the ancient craft of dowsing.

Tutor: Rosemary Hudson
Course fee £25 includes light lunch.

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FENCING TECHNIQUES FOR SMALLHOLDERS

24-25 May 2008 

Post and wire, post and rail, close boarding and panel fencing techniques will all be explained and demonstrated on this course. 9.30am–4.30pm

Tutor: Nick Parker
Course fee:
£120

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SMALL FARM ANIMALS - SHEEP AND PIGS

17 May 2008

A day school to explore the feasibility and management of a smallholding with sheep and pigs.    Feeding, housing, breeding, and regulations.

Tutor: David Bland
Course fee £65 includes coffee, tea and light lunch.

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GATE HANGING

19 May 2008

Gate hanging without the use of concrete. Learn how to dig a neat hole and secure a gate post with stones and soil and then hang a gate. 9.30am–4pm

Course fee: £60

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BEES FOR BEGINNERS

23 May 2008
23 June 2008

An introduction to bee-keeping past and present. See inside a skep and a modern hive, learn about their function and take part in driving bees to a new hive. 10.30am-4pm

Tutor: Carolyn Farley
Course fee: £40 please bring a packed lunch.

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FOOD FOR FREE

24 May 2008
28 September 2008 

Learn how to identify seasonal wild foods, distinguish similar species and gain an understanding of the history and folk lore attached to the plants. Then take a guided walk around the museum to find plants and learn how to prepare a meal from them and other staples. 9.30am-4.30pm

Tutor: Ian Humphrey
Course fee:
£65

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CORN DOLLY WORKSHOP

28 June 2008
23 August 2008

Learn the history and development of this ancient craft, as well as the practical skills involved in weaving corn dollies.

Tutor: Verna Bailey
Course fee: £50 includes coffee and tea.

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BIRDS OF PREY EXPERIENCE

15 August 2008
29 August 2008

Whether you are considering taking up falconry/hawking or would simply like to enjoy a day out that offers something completely different, this course is for you.  A unique opportunity to:

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learn about the husbandry and training of birds of prey

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make falconry furniture, for example anklets and jesses

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handle and fly birds in the Museum's parkland

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Learn about the history of hunting with birds

Tutor: Sally Buckland
Course fee: £50 including tuition, teas and coffees

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THE BEEKEEPERS PREPARATION FOR WINTER

26 September 2008

Find out about when and how to take off honey stores in autumn, reducing the structure of the hive and feeding to prepare the bee colony for the coming winter.  A useful follow-on from beekeeping for beginners.

Tutor: Heather Clover and Carolyn Farley
Course fee £40

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