1st June – Green wood-worker booked
All the materials Charles Ash uses are sourced locally from sustainable woodland. All his products are worked green (i.e. straight from the tree) using no power tools – and all are handmade in the truest sense of the term.
Charles’ background of theatre set builder at Shakespeare’s Globe and his love of history led him to establish TouchWood Crafts in his rural Oxfordshire home and workshop. His creative skill produces stylish and bespoke furniture, gifts and products for the home using the rich tradition of green woodworking – a skill now rarely practised today. He also offers green wood workshops – a great way to spend a day getting back to nature – where you will learn about the history and craft of wood carving and create something special to take home, use and be proud of.
Charles will bring his pole lathe (one of the most important tools in sustainable green wood craft), shave horse and chopping block to demonstrate green woodworking for us during the day. He will also bring a selection of beautiful smaller items for sale.
25th May 2017 – PRESS RELEASE
No stone will be left unturned to make Stow Cotswold Festival a day to remember. In a major coup, the Saturday, July 15 event hosts an exclusive master class of dry-stone walling. This spectacular test of toil and talent is set to draw in crowds to the community Festival celebrating Cotswold life, heritage and crafts, from 11am to 11pm. The crème de la crème are set to battle it out in the contest, organised by the Cotswolds Conservation Board which oversees our precious 790sq mile Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
“Past champion wallers will pit their skills against each other for a top prize of £500,” revealed Cotswolds AONB rural skills and grants officer Edward Bonn. “Two competitors will build a 1.5m wall, to be judged by the expert eye of Master Craftsman John Day, from the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain.”
Facing up to each other are Jeremy Mort, from Natural Boundaries, Evesham, and James Bullock, who runs Cheltenham-based Cotswold Stone Designs.
Edward added: “Previous dry-stone walling demonstrations, particularly the annual competition, have been immensely popular with participants and spectators. The upcoming demonstration will showcase the best walling, which is also a vital skill in preserving the Cotswolds landscape.”
