Traditional skills produce useful goods — and give their creators a sense of satisfaction

In the Wild by Tim Kaye of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

Green woodworking was, in the past, an essential skill, passed down from generation to generation. The ability to select the right tree, use the correct tools and imprint your own unique design on an item is something we have, to some extent, lost. Not so Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s Wellbeing team though. Funded by Wiltshire Council Public Health, we regularly undertake work with wood in a variety of forms. One of the key skills is the use of the pole lathe. This is a contraption that turns wood so items such as table legs, dibbers, rattles and rounders bats can be made. In the past this was the life of a bodger - someone who lived in the wood, turned the legs for chairs, dried them out and was one of the many people earning a living from their craft.

For participants on our programme who have mental health issues, the chance to immerse themselves in turning wood is rewarding. You can lose track of time completely. For those with severe problems in their life this escape can be essential. Added to that, you come away with something you have made and your confidence goes up. Anyone who has made a pot, painting or crafted a poem will know what this creative surge is like.

Green woodworking is also good for teaching people about trees by the back door. You have to know how the tree grows, where it likes to grow, what the grain is like, how to select the best piece and how to work it. Once you have built up a little experience you know what trees will produce the appropriate timber for certain items. Ash is strong yet flexible, so is often used for chair legs and struts. Alder, being resistant to decay under water, is good for making clogs for instance. And cherry produces a lovely finish with reddish tints.

One recent participant exclaimed that she thought pole lathe work was “even better than spoon carving”. Others didn’t want their tools taken away and would have probably stayed turning all evening. Even one of the staff members had to be cajoled away from his work so the group could get home. So, when you pass that tree that needs to be felled, think about what useful items it could provide as well as the many hours of satisfaction for anyone producing them.