Sallerton Wood reviews

5 Oct 23'

Steph reviewed: Introduction to green woodworking at Sallerton Wood

"I have recently completed a day experience at Sallerton Wood with Andy. I had no experience at all. I had only ever sawn a piece of wood once and not in a straight line. It was a really good day. I found it relaxing and the teaching of the techniques was memorable. (I think I would know how to do it all again). I made a mallet, a spatula and tried my hand at wood turning (this I later made into candle sticks). It was a thoroughly enjoyable day. Even though it was raining we were all dry and we didn’t even notice the rain as we were so engrossed. Definitely recommend this to everyone. "

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thank you very much indeed, Steph, for posting that very positive review. We're very pleased that you enjoyed the course, its tuition, and the pleasant conditions out of the elements in the workshop shelter. We look forward to seeing you again one day, if you return for a visit, or another course. In the meantime, enjoy using your mallet, spatula and candlesticks!"

28 Sep 23'

Derek reviewed: Make a shave horse at Sallerton Wood

"I had a great time at Sallerton Wood 🪵🪓. The course was very informative and made you realise what craftsmen our ancestors were. Beautiful setting, simple but delicious lunch and you came away with not only a sense of achievement but a' Shave Horse' of your very own. Thanks Andy. 👍👏"

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thanks, Derek, for your very positive review. We're very glad to hear that you had a great time at Sallerton Wood, and found the course to be useful and informative. Glad, too, that you enjoyed the setting and catering. We hope to see you back at Sallerton Wood one day, and in the meantime, enjoy working with your hand-crafted shave horse. "

28 Sep 23'

Craig Barnes reviewed: Greenwood carving at Sallerton Wood

"Sallerton Wood is a fantastic, tranquil location, full of babbling brooks. I had lots of fun cooking on the rocket stoves. The green woodworking course provided me with some really useful insights and contributed to my confidence as a new green woodworker. I found Andy's sharpening tips and tool buying advise to be especially useful. Thank you for a great stay and a great course."

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thank you very much indeed, Craig, for your kind review. We're very pleased to hear that you enjoyed the course and picked up some useful new skills. We hope that these can be applied to new opportunities in the future. We're also glad that your enjoyed the working environment at Sallerton Wood, and also the wood-fired cooking facilities. "

22 Sep 23'

Phil Hubbard reviewed: Make a shave horse at Sallerton Wood

"I would highly recommend this course, Andy Morton the Instructor has a very calm and forgiving approach to the tuition, all tools and equipment at hand, no real need for any previous practical knowledge ( although as ever a little skill may help progress ), demonstrations are given and help is available if you get stuck at any point or if some of the tasks are a bit too physical depending on your own limitations, The idea is you complete the project almost entirely by yourself giving a huge sense of achievement and take home a Shave horse which is an essential piece of equipment to carry out further work. The surroundings are idyllic and the lunch time sandwich making ingredients provided by Jane are very tasty with lots of homemade elements. Be careful you may want a Pole Lathe next! "

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thanks very much, Phil, for your generous words about the course and its Instructor, Andy. Thanks also for your kind words about the provided lunches, and the woodland and stream settings for the course. We're delighted that you enjoyed the course, and we look forward to seeing you again at Sallerton Wood any time that you choose to return. In the meantime, enjoy using your new hand-crafted shave horse. "

21 Sep 23'

Sarah Madisson reviewed: Introduction to green woodworking at Sallerton Wood

"What a wonderful day working with greenwood for the first time in the beautiful Sallerton Woods. Andy is passionate about the craft and patient with us students. Can't wait to come back and learn some more. "

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thanks very much for your kind review, Sarah, and we're glad that you enjoyed the course. It's good to see that you intend to return to learn more, and we look forward to welcoming you back to Sallerton Wood."

18 Sep 23'

Toby Weston reviewed: Pole Lathe Turning at Sallerton Wood

"Went on this course with no turning experience. Andy was great at explaining and demonstrating with all the tools. He is very knowledgable about all things carpentry and forest management, and entertained all my questions about timber framing too! Will be recommending these courses without a doubt."

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thanks very much, Toby, for your positive review. We're delighted that you enjoyed the course, and indeed your interactions with Andy, the course tutor, on a range of wood-related topics. We hope to see you back at Sallerton Wood sometime in the future for another course. "

16 Sep 23'

Nick Reynolds reviewed: Pole Lathe Turning at Sallerton Wood

"The course was all I'd expected, and more. The large shelters, all built by Andy from locally harvested materials, gradually revealed themselves as I followed the signs through his idyllic wood to join him and the others for introductions with proper tea and coffee from his home made wood fired kitchen range. He then demonstrated and expertly guided us at a relaxed pace through each stage of the process from log to finished article including cleaving, preparing the billet using froe, axe & draw-knife and setting up and operating the pole lathe. The turning tools were introduced in turn as I mutilated a practice billet, with Andy on hand to explain why the inevitable mistakes occurred and how (in theory at least) to avoid repetition - practice makes perfect! I was then able to progress onto turning items for a shave horse, making fewer mistakes and learning how to achieve a consistent diameter. There was also an excellent session on the sharpening and care of tools, which I have already applied to improve the keenness of some of my chisels. I can't think of anything that would have made the course more informative or enjoyable and aim to go back."

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thank you very much indeed, Nick, for such a comprehensive review. It's clear that you really enjoyed the course, and took away a lot of useful skills with you. We're also very pleased that you appreciated the working environment at Sallerton Wood. We note that you aim to return for another visit to our woodland workshops, and we look forward to that. In the meantime, keep those tools sharp!"

15 Sep 23'

Graeme Gallimore reviewed: Greenwood carving at Sallerton Wood

"Great environment to spend a very enjoyable weekend of learning to do some green wood carving. Andy is a excellent tutor, and with his guidance I came away with a Koksa which I surprised myself I was capable of. Soooo peaceful and relaxing, good for the heart and soul."

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thanks, Graeme, for that generous and positive review. Glad to hear that the peaceful woodland environment was good for your soul too! We look forward to seeing you again when you come back to Sallerton Wood for another course. "

15 Sep 23'

Ian reviewed: Greenwood carving at Sallerton Wood

"What a magical experience. Thank you Andy for an amazing couple of days in your beautiful and peaceful woodland. You have created a wonderful space to learn carving and making techniques with your expert and patient approach. And to come away with my kuksa is a bonus. I will be back. "

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thanks very much for your kind review of the carving course, Ian. Glad to hear that you really appreciated the woodland environment too. Looking forward to seeing you again on a future course. "

14 Sep 23'

Dave Hargreaves reviewed: Pole Lathe Turning at Sallerton Wood

"Great location! And what a great course. The whole works from cutting a chunk off a still ivy clad log, cleaving it to avoid later gremlins, marking, shaving, to then getting it on a lathe, and under Andy's watchful eye, (and ear, he can hear the mistakes!) roughing out and learning how to turn it into something useful and pretty! The joy of wood. I never thought I'd be so absorbed for two days. We covered wood types, tool sharpening and maintenance, and had a fabulous lunch provided both days, and plenty of tea! Andy, you are a very good instructor. Thank you. I'm already working on the return visit. "

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thanks very much, Dave, for submitting that enthusiastic and comprehensive review. We're delighted that you enjoyed the course, its location, and the lunches and tea. Your kind words about the tutoring are also appreciated. We look forward to seeing you again when you return for another course. "

14 Sep 23'

Rachel reviewed: Greenwood carving at Sallerton Wood

"Another fantastic weekend in the beautiful Sallerton woods under Andy’s patient, watchful eye. My husband and I can’t wait for the next one!"

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thank you very much, Rachel, for your positive words. We were glad to see you return to Sallerton Wood to do another course, and glad that you and Richard enjoyed it. We look forward to seeing you both again in the future. "

20 Jul 23'

Isaac Day reviewed: Stool making course at Sallerton Wood

"Would recommend this course to anyone, Andy is extremely knowledgeable and a brilliant teacher. The lunches and coffee were amazing and I will 100% be returning in the future for another course."

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thank you very much indeed, Isaac, for your kind review. We're really pleased that you enjoyed the course, and the lunches and coffee too! It's great that you will be joining us again for another course in the future, and we look forward to that."

18 Jul 23'

Bernard Olesqui reviewed: Stool making course at Sallerton Wood

"What a fantastic time I had doing the stool making course. Andy is so knowledgeable, patient and also an amazing cook, what great pizzas we had, again thank you for 3 great days and see you again. Bernard Olesqui"

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thanks very much indeed for that good review, Bernard. We're delighted that you enjoyed the course so much, and the clay oven-baked pizzas too. We note that you intend to see us again, and we look forward to that. We have a chair-making courses coming up in September, with available places at present! In the meantime, enjoy using your hand-crafted stool."

17 Jul 23'

Emily Cook reviewed: Stool making course at Sallerton Wood

"I cannot recommend the stool making course more highly. I absolutely loved my time at Sallerton Woods...the whole process from start to finish was thoroughly fulfilling and I'm sad I can't stay longer to learn and create more! Andy is so talented and full of knowledge, the surroundings are beautiful, lunches and coffee delicious and the option to stay on sight such a bonus. A wonderful experience, thank you!"

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thank you so much, Emily, for that lovely review. We're very pleased that you enjoyed so many aspects of your 3 days at Sallerton Wood. We very much hope to see you back at the woods again sometime in the future, to do another course, or just to visit. In the meantime, enjoy using your lovely stool."

14 Jul 23'

Graeme Gallimore reviewed: Introduction to green woodworking at Sallerton Wood

"What a great way to spend a day working in a beautiful woodland, with natural materials from the site, and creating a little piece of carving to be proud of. Thoroughly enjoyed the tutoring, and other guests company, making a memory that I will look back on very fondly. PS. take care, them tools are bloomin sharp :-)"

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thank you very much, Graeme, for that kind review. It's great that you enjoyed the course, it's tutoring, companionship, and natural environment. We hope to see you back at Sallerton Wood one day sometime in the future. "

6 Jul 23'

Barry reviewed: Introduction to green woodworking at Sallerton Wood

"Great day out in the woods. Andy is a passionate and very skilled craftsman, who also happens to buy good cake and make a decent cup of tea ! Came away with 3 (semi useful - limited by my skills only) items but really enjoyed the day. It was given as a present and turned out to be a real treat - Highly recommended !! Thanks Andy. "

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thank you very much indeed, Barry for that positive review and recommendation. We're really pleased to hear that you enjoyed the course, and the cake and tea too! We hope to see you back at Sallerton Wood sometime in the future. "

19 Jun 23'

Carole reviewed: Introduction to green woodworking at Sallerton Wood

"I so enjoyed the course and learned so much that I have booked to attend another! Andy is a good teacher and the other students were good fun .I do recommend the course."

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thanks very much for your recommendation, Carole. We're very pleased that you enjoyed the course, and we look forward to seeing you in Spetember when you return to Sallerton Wood to do the Shave Horse Making course. "

19 Jun 23'

Susie Jones reviewed: Make a shave horse at Sallerton Wood

"This was my third course at Sallerton Wood and definitely the most challenging and rewarding! I learnt some more greenwood working skills and was able to practise ones I had learnt previously. Andy is a great teacher and a very skilled craftsman with solutions to every problem. The whole two days were really well planned and resourced so everyone achieved success no matter what their previous experience. It was also lovely sharing lunch breaks with a really sociable and interesting group of people in a beautiful woodland setting. I’m looking forward to my next course already!"

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thank you very much indeed, Susie, for posting your review of the course. We're delighted that you enjoyed the course, the companionship of the other attendees, and the woodland setting of the workshop area. We look forward to seeing you again at Sallerton Wood again when you return for your fourth course, and we look forward to hearing about what you have made on your new shave horse in the meantime! "

14 Jun 23'

Rosie reviewed: Introduction to green woodworking at Sallerton Wood

"Thank you very much for a really enjoyable day, the woods were such a lovely place for an introduction to woodworking techniques! Andy was a great teacher, very patient and helpful, and we can't wait to come back for another course. "

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thank you, Rosie, for your very positive review. We're pleased that you enjoyed the course, and it was good to have you and Bethan on the course. We look forward to seeing you again when you come back to Sallerton Wood for another course. "

13 Jun 23'

Helen reviewed: Introduction to green woodworking at Sallerton Wood

"I had a really excellent day - the location is beautiful and the course was so informative and fun - I had no previous experience of woodwork and I will definitely be signing up for another course! "

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thank you very much indeed, Helen, for your comments. We're very pleased that you enjoyed the course and its location, and we're delighted that you're intending to join us for another course at Sallerton Wood. We look forward to that."

4 Jun 23'

Tanya & Chris Barber-Hopgood reviewed: Greenwood carving at Sallerton Wood

"Andy is a brilliant teacher, balancing good, clear instruction whilst allowing you to explore the creativity of the craft by yourself. So the product you take home will be entirely unique to you. The course is adapted to different levels of skill and we were complete beginners. Even if you have no experience in woodworking but you want to try your hand at something new in the crafting world then this is a fantastic course for you. You will not only take home something completely original that you have created with your own hands but you will do it in the most beautiful of surroundings. I can’t begin to describe the peaceful atmosphere of this woodland and highly recommend camping. For 2 days you will feel like you are completely removed from civilisation. We visited in the Spring when the forest was blanketed by bluebells and wild garlic and on our first day met a deer. We awoke on the Saturday morning to the sound of light rain, a babbling brook and birdsong. People pay money for meditation soundtracks that aren’t as good as this. We would recommend taking a pair of well fitting gloves as this sort of work is hard on the hands. All in all a wonderful place to stay and a wonderful thing to do. Would highly recommend in every regard. "

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thanks very much, Tanya & Chris, for your lovely thoughtful comments about the course, and its peaceful woodland environment. We are really pleased that the two of you returned to Sallerton Wood to do the Greenwood Carving course. Your comments will be really useful to others when deciding whether to attend a course with us at Sallerton Wood. Thanks too for your suggestion about work gloves! Very helpful. We hope to see you both back again at Sallerton Wood sometime in the future."

4 Jun 23'

Nick Paish reviewed: Chair making course at Sallerton Wood

"I came back for another course at Sallerton Wood and late May is the perfect time of year as the wild flowers and bird song are at their best in this little piece of paradise. Andy remains the perfect tutor with his calm and easy to follow advice while leaving you be to add your own mark on your piece. I made a large arm chair with a rail back and I still can’t get my head around how in 7 days I turned a couple of logs into a beautiful chair. Don’t worry about going hungry either as every day Andy provided a fantastic spread for lunch, the pizzas made in the wood fired oven were the best, and plenty of biscuits and cakes to keep your energy levels up. I can’t recommend a Sallerton Wood course highly enough, whatever you choose to make you will have a great time in a beautiful location and take home something you made with your own hands "

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thank you very much indeed, Nick, for that lovely review. We are delighted that you returned to Sallerton Wood to attend another course and make a wonderful arm-chair. We're glad too that you enjoyed the woodland environment with its wild flowers and bird song. Thanks for your comments about the lunches, and we're pleased that you liked the pizzas in particular. We hope to see you back at Sallerton Wood again one day, for a course or just a visit. "

31 May 23'

Jon McGurk reviewed: Chair making course at Sallerton Wood

"Wonderful course with an excellent tutor, which offered this complete novice the chance to start with logs of ash wood and finish with a proper chair. Andy is marvellous whether you get the hang of something straight away or are struggling, his patience is as limitless as his knowledge. I would heartily recommend this course to anyone from complete beginners to those with existing skills. The woodland is a little bit of heaven in the Devon countryside, the pizzas weren't bad either! Many thanks and I hope to be back for another course next year."

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thanks, Jon, for taking the time to write that kind review. We're really pleased that you enjoyed the course, and the woodland environment in which it took place. We're also pleased that you enjoyed the pizzas made in the wood-fired clay oven in the kitchen shelter. It was good to have you on the course, and we look forward to seeing you next year if you manage to get along to do another course. In the meantime, enjoy your lovely chair. "

29 May 23'

Wendy Johnson reviewed: Chair making course at Sallerton Wood

"Really enjoyed this course. Andy was supportive, encouraging but helped me when I needed it. I have never done anything like this before but felt empowered and I am extremely proud of my finished chair. The surroundings are beautiful, the whole experience was very positive and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to try something different and creative. It was hard work but I enjoyed every part of the process and it was an experience I will never forget. I met some lovely people and at 67 I achieved something I never thought I could. Thank you Andy you are brilliant at what you do long may it continue. "

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thank you very much indeed, Wendy, for your lovely review. We are really pleased that you enjoyed the course so much, and the environment in which it took place. You and your husband, George, both made wonderful chairs, and we hope that you enjoy using them for many years to come. We'd love to see you back at Sallerton Wood at sometime in the future, for another course, or just for a visit. "

20 May 23'

Adrian Jowitt reviewed: Make a shave horse at Sallerton Wood

"Brilliant course …again! And I’ll be back for the chair course. Andy’s a great tutor and good company. Do a course with Andy and you will not be disappointed. "

Sallerton Wood responded:

"Thanks, Adrian, for your kind review. We're delighted that you enjoyed the course and its tuition. It will be great to see you back at Sallerton Wood to do the Chair-making course. In the meantime, thanks for your support, and enjoy using your new shave-horse. "