Bodging at Parkwood

The Woodland Bodgers Camp at Parkwood Springs

Green woodworking skills – bodging – were learnt by 220 children in the great outdoors of Parkwood in a hive of craft activity between the 8th and 11th of June this summer. Primary children from Year 2 to Year 6 from Byron Wood, Pye Bank and St. Catherine’s schools were all given the opportunity to find out more about their local woods and how they were once managed and used. Wood which is worked when freshly cut or ‘green’ is easier to split, turn and carve than wood that is dry or seasoned. Green woodworking has been practised for thousands of years in the making of baskets, hurdles, simple furniture, buildings, tools and other products. Although many of these uses have been partially replaced by other materials, there is still an active craft industry and many woodworkers use green wood, both for traditional and new products. After a guided walk through the woods the children saw demonstrations of bodging (green wood turning), hurdle making and basket weaving, and then tried these crafts for themselves. Tutored by a skilled wood‐turner each class produced a rolling pin, a garden dibber and a baseball bat on a traditional pole lathe. The children were also instructed in willow weaving and crafted their own basket to use in school, as well as learning how to make hazel hurdles – traditionally used for stock fencing.

For many of the pupils, this was their first visit to Parkwood Springs and they were surprised to find the exciting diversity of the woods within walking distance of their schools. Not only did they return to school with a collection of beautiful hand‐crafted items which they had made themselves, but they also took with them the knowledge of ancient woodland skills, and how to apply these today.Who knows…perhaps we have some of the future generation of green wood workers in the making, growing up right here in Burngreave?

For more information on running a Woodland Bodgers Camp please contact: Leonie Kapadia, Community Forester, Sheffield City Council on 07976 988 627 or Leonie.Kapadia@Sheffield.gov.uk