APTGW - Essex Bodgers Next Meet - Sat 26h April 2025
Hola Flor [Papiamento] - (Hello Blossom)
News - by Wendy of the Wool - Pics by Wendy & Rich:
Our recent meet up brought us sunshine and blue skies, although a little chilly from time to time. The birds were in full activity mode and my Merlin Bird App picked up 10 different bird songs in a few minutes! We were also lucky enough to see a woodpecker in a nearby tree. There was also a lone homing pigeon in the garden who had not made it home. We'll see if he's still there next time.
But let's get back to the important woody and tool related stuff. Resident David (Mr Wilkins) joined us and as usual, we gathered around his car boot to see what goodies he'd brought with him. He had Rasps and Rifflers for Rich to try on his cauldron, showed us a wooden box with some carvings he done on the outside as decoration. He had also brought along a Tomte style carving of Richard and a Hag-stone for Wendy. Please note this is not his opinion of me (at least I think so, lol!) but a naturally occurring stone with a hole through it, believed to have magical properties, such as warding off witchcraft or seeing through the disguise of a witch.
We also brought a hot off the press copy of the latest Bodgers Gazette with us, with its newly revamped design and layout by our very own Richard! He was very excited when it landed on the doormat the day before, several days after many others received their copies, but it was worth the wait. It was so exciting to see all his hard work in print and he has received many lovely comments from readers who have appreciated the redesign, more photos and clearer font. It's been nice to hear that it's enticed people to sit down and read the whole thing. If you've read your copy of the Gazette you may remember a story about Goose called Duck and some strife he caused for a Buckinghamshire Bodger called William Osler. Rich received an email from a local newspaper in Buckinghamshire who asked if they could be put in contact with William to do an interview with him as they'd read the story in the Gazette and enjoyed it's quirkiness. There was a bit of a problem with that though, as William Osler and his story were a piece of fiction written by Rich as an April Fool's joke! So unfortunately, he had to let the newspaper know, otherwise we'd have had to hire some Geese and a disguise for Rich.
Members Services (See Listings at bottom of page)
Where local members can offer charged services to other local members: Craft Courses, Tool Repairs, Lathe building, Lathe for sale etc. Have a service to offer? Please reply to this email.
Listings will be approved at our discretion and are limited to local sole traders. There are no listing fees. We do not take responsibility over any transactions, so please be mindful of where your money is going.
Regular Bits n Bobs:
If you have them, bring your lathe, shave horse, and any other fun equipment. We have a few chopping blocks and one kuksa horse, so if you can bring your own please do. Note for those with Lathes, our floor space is mostly concrete, so treadles may not be able to be pegged down.
Our meets don’t just have to be about making wood chips, we encourage members to bring other crafts to the meets, be that spinning a yarn, weaving a basket, making a tool sheath from leather or bark, and even decorative methods for our wooden items. Feel free to showcase your other craft skills as we are interested in sharing and learning a wider range of skills as we grow as a group. If any members would like to lead a session of various crafts for the group, possibly a paid one day course, please get in contact with me and we will see what we can arrange for the future.
About the venue:
The venue has toilets, kitchen, and is accessible to wheelchairs. I will supply teabags, coffee, sugar and cows milk. Please bring your own non dairy milk if needed. If anyone wants to bring biscuits, cake, snacks to share that would be nice, but bring your own lunch, bowl/plate, drinking vessel, and cutlery please.
Members have suggested a contribution for Tea/Coffee a few times, so I have decided to ask for a contribution of 50p. Obviously if you bring all your own bits, there is no need to chip in.
Free secure parking is available within the walled garden. Follow the main driveway all the way down, past the public car park and the “no unauthorised vehicles” sign, then the Walled Garden’s big gates will be on the left. Toot your horn to let us know you’ve arrived.
See site map, and map links near bottom of page.
Hope to see you there, and please email me at essexaptgw@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Richard Roberts - Group Coordinator APTGW Essex Bodgers
APTGW Membership:
Our meets are free of charge to members of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.
Non members are welcome to join us a few times to see if it’s something they’d like to pursue further. We then ask that folks join the APTGW. It’s only £20 per year and membership runs from January to December each year.
Join the APTGW here: https://www.bodgers.org.uk/joinus
For just £20 a year you get:
A quarterly Gazette with news views and articles on all aspects of green woodworking.
Attend the UK Bodger's Ball always held in mid-May (this is chargeable, but a bargain!)
Win prizes for your creations at the many craft competitions at the ball
Connect with other Green Woodworkers, tool makers, rural crafters.
Learn new skills in a variety of length courses.
Attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting which is held at the Bodgers Ball
Vote on how the organisation progresses and elect, or even stand for the committee!
Here is a "what 3 words" ink to the location: https://w3w.co/sizes.soup.puddles
Google maps link to location: https://goo.gl/maps/f6rYfb92p6n43Uz99
Members Services
Sharpening Service - R2 Wood
I’ve launched a sharpening service for greenwood carving tools, offering APTGW members a 5% discount. Covering Sloyd and Spoon knives, Axes, Adzes, Gouges and more. Please contact Richard at info@r2wood.co.uk to enquire.