Saturday 12 June
On Saturday we hosted a Young Turners Training Day organised and funded by the AWGB and the Worshipful Company of Turners. Six young people old were taught how to turn a bowl by Les, a coloured tealight holder by Martin and a pyrography piece by Bee Mathews. Read more about this fantastic experience in Martins’ post.

Tuesday 14th June
In our shop, we have a variety of woodworking magazines that can be taken for a donation to the MIND UK charity. In those magazines you can find Woodturning projects, including instructions and pictures of the process, read about skilful woodworkers and learn about tools, chisels and equipment. At the same time, you can support people who experiencing mental health problems by donating to MIND.


Free Hampshire Sheen Joint Demo
On Tuesday evening, Martin and Les joined together for a free Zoom demonstration for our mailing list member. During the two hour demo, Les turned an ornamental Ziricote bud vase and an ogee shaped platter. Both pieces were finished by Martin using the Hampshire Sheen range of products including Pre-Thinned Cellulose Sanding Sealer, Microcrystalline Wax, Gloss Finishing Wax and a Carnacrystalline Stick, Intrinsic Colours and Embellishing Waxes.


Here is a short video of the highlights from the second half of the evening:

Don’t leave your turning blanks in direct sun light.
Les’ Tip of the Week
It can cause the wood to split.
Temporary Access Changes from w/c 20th June.
From the 6th June, the Garden Centre started phase two of its exciting redevelopment. Whilst this is going on, access to The Woodturning Shop will change slightly from the week starting 20th June. Unlike before though, appointments will not be necessary.
See this post for our new access details.




Course Availability
There is a space available on our very popular Woodturning Experience Day group course on 24th June. Come and try it for yourself, or it can be an ideal gift to someone (Father’s Day is this Sunday!) who wants to learn a new skill or find a hobby for life.
Also, we have some spaces available on a Beginners Two Day Group Course on 30th June-1st July. Our customers described it as ‘one of the best practical courses’ and run in a ‘relaxed (no pressure) atmosphere & plenty of Les humour’.

Martin’s Product of the Week – Pewter Lids
Enjoy the aroma of pot-pourri in a hand turned bowl topped with one of these gorgeous decorative pewter lids.
They are very attractive pieces with plenty of gaps for fragrance to be released through. If you have some yew wood in the workshop – four to five inches across would be perfect for a bowl, or perhaps some ash or sycamore coloured to match the shades of the pot-pourri inside . .