Rycotewood and Young Woodworkers

[Nick Gibbs]

I visited Rycotewood Furniture Centre, the venue for Talking Tools on 12-13th Feb cos I'd never been there before, and I have to say that I was really impressed. They educate folk from 14 to any age, and have some interesting programmes that get their degree students designing projects to be made in schools and on special projects. The guys who run it are inspiring.

Educating younger woodworkers is really important, I think. British Woodworking is going to be at Talking Tools, hopefully with a group of the pupils from Oxford High School who made wooden block planes last year. We're going to be showing how anyone can have a go making a plane. And our bench is going to be pretty close (if not next door) to Thomas Lie-Nielsen, so it'll be an interesting contrast.

Yesterday I attended the felling of an oak near Oxford as part of the One Oak Project, which will also be featured at Talking Tools. It's a really intriguing idea which is incorporating local schools. Timber from the tree will be at Rycotewood, shown I think by the passionate James Binning from Deep in Wood.

Which is to say I think it's going to be a fascinating couple of days, and entry is free. Perhaps some teachers can bring their pupils to inspire them. There's parking nearby, a train station within a few minutes' walk, and a great Park & Ride service.

Hope to see you there.

Nick

 

[wizer]

Is that a similar scheme as the One Tree project that Alan Peters, John Makepeace, etc, etc were involved in back in the 70's\80's?

 

[Nick Gibbs]

Not entirely sure, but I think it's rather more wide-ranging. They are giving wood to some furniture makers, other bits to turners and green woodworkers. But quite a lot is going to be made into outdoor furniture and things for schools, with the students at Rycotewood working with children to design the items. Sylva, the organisation behind One Oak, are passionate about raising awareness of the need to manage our forests, and they want to make sure future generations are more aware of the link between trees and furniture and building than perhaps many people are now.

We are planning a competition in British Woodworking and another in Living Woods for people to submit ideas for use of a portion of the tree. The best idea will be given the timber and eternal fame through the pages of our mags and other media!!!! You can find out more at Talking Tools.

Nick

 

[houtslager]

sounds cool , wish I could get my sorry *** over for it

hs

 

[woodbloke]

Towards the end of this month I'll be making a trawl through the old Rycotewood thread from a while back to see which forum member proposes doing what and on what day. All details about the event are now on the Axminster web site and I've completed an elfn'saftey return for Ian.
As Nick has said (or may not have done) parking is very scarce or non-existent at Rycotewood, so the Parkn'ride buses will have to be used to hoof stuff/gear in for our bench over the weekend.

Watch out for the thread later on (I'll ask Philly to make it into a 'sticky' until the event is over) - Rob

 

[Nick Gibbs]

There is a very big car park just next door to the college (behind the Westgate Centre) and another beside the Ice Rink (get your skates on), so parking isn't quite as bad as people imagine. It just costs! I think the Westgate car park is about £4 for two hours. The Park & Ride car park is free, and the bus costs a couple of quid. There are P&R spots at almost all the entries to Oxford. It is a great system.

See you there.

Nick

 

[Mike-W]

I generally make use of the Oxford Park & Ride - knowing what a nightmare parking in Oxford can be, (not to mention costs) its my preferred system & I would suggest visitors use Park & Ride. The service from the south (A34) Redbridge is excellent & costs £2.20 return, runs every 10 minutes and drops off around the corner from the college.
Nick is correct however there is a CP right next to the college, not sure how full it will be on Friday & Saturday.

Mike

 

[Nick Gibbs]

What a fun life we must all have using the Forum to discuss car parks!!!!!