Westonbirt Tree Fest this weekend

[AndyT]

Anyone else thinking of going?

The Forestry Commission has clearly put a lot of effort into making this an event which will appeal to a wide range of people. Indeed it can be a bit hard to see past the range of foodie exhibits and live music performances, but if you download the full list of exhibitors (from http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/Treefest_Exhibitors_2012.pdf/$FILE/Treefest_Exhibitors_2012.pdf) you can find these interesting possibilities lurking beyond the novelty chopping boards and fairy mushroom house vendors:


Classic Hand Tools: Axes, Carving Tools, Woodturning Tools. The following companies will be trading with Classic Hand Tools, giving demo’s and carving: Robert Sorby Woodturning, Abranet Sanding, Gransfors Bruks Axes, Wetterlings Axes, King Arthurs Tools

Down to Earth: Working tools and related items from an era when quality counted for artisans country minded people who require edged tools for wood related jobs

Ian How Tools: Quality recycled and refurbished hand woodworking tools and collectable tools

Mac Timbers: Sale of timber, UK species. Mainly plants, blanks and chocks

Nic Westermann Blacksmith: Hand forged ironwork, specialising in green woodworking tools

Tony Murland Tool Shop: Antique Woodworking Tools

Tools & Trades History Society: Display of old hand tools for woodworking forestry. Display of unusual tools and “what is it” identification. Sale of publications & Demo’s.


Unfortunately it's not open on Friday this year (when I had booked a day off work!) but is on Saturday till Monday.
More info at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6xclux.

 

[Paul Chapman]

I'm planning to go on Sunday.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[mickthetree]

Looks great, but is it just me or is there no information easily available as to where it is and how to get there?

 

[Paul Chapman]

Looks great, but is it just me or is there no information easily available as to where it is and how to get there?

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6xcmkm

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[mickthetree]

Cheer sPaul

That is what I was looking for, but my point was that the link should be clearly visible on the pages all about the event. Maybe it is and I'm just missing it.

But thanks! ;-)

 

[Mike Wingate]

I got my tickets this morning in the post. I shall be there on Saturday. Taking the red van in case I buy more timber. I am after some paring chisels and a round microplane, plus anything that may come in useful.

 

[CHJ]

Will no doubt be there at least one day, possibly Sat. weather being the main decider as far as I know.
Of course there is nothing needed on the wood or tool front, just going for a relaxing walk around.

 

[AndyT]

Chas, that's exactly right!
I shall be doing the same. In fact, I shall only be there to look at the trees...








...If some of them have been cut down and shaped a bit, and have chunks of old iron stuck on, well, I'll have to put up with that!

 

[Grahamshed]

I could do with getting away from the house for a while. Might give it a go.

 

[Togalosh]

Hhm..a day out of town with the phone switched off, amongst trees, tools, cider & all things woodlike??..sounds too tempting to pass up.

 

[paulm]

Keeping an eye on the weather and hoping it's half decent .....

Cheers, Paul

 

[Mike Wingate]

With the right waterproofs on, you will be o.k.

 

[paulm]

Had my share of mud and rain on Friday at another festival, not in a hurry for a second dose so soon :lol:

Hopefully it will be okay though, and I'll finally make time to go round the actual arboretum too for the first time after visiting for years :roll: !

Cheers, Paul

 

[CHJ]

Made it today, it's local to me anyway so no problems if weather causes an abandon.
Several heavy storms but experience seems to have finally sunk in and we managed to be conveniently inside a tent during the down pores.
Should be better weather tomorrow but best not to go in your best suit foot ware all the same.

Not a bad days entertainment and relax as far as we were concerned, managed to put the world to rights with several exhibitors/stall holders.

CHT tent, hmmm well -------

Most interesting, despite not really being my scene was the TATHS display and the attendant guys, a very good and varied display of personal collections and sympathetically restored tools. they even kept the Boss amused while I discussed and reminisced about tools and life in general.

Hope to have a couple of images later, forgot camera but hope to have a couple mailed to me later.

Large selection of Cabinet*, Turning and Carving timber available at reasonable prices plus several purveyors of finished furniture with some realistically priced pieces.
* You need to know your timber and the work involved in converting it.

 

[AndyT]

Chas, we nearly met! I too spent most of my time on the TATHS stall where I finally got around to joining up and came away with a pile of useful publications, having spent the rest of my cash with that nice Mr Tony Murland. Lots of good timber to be had, from MAC Timbers or from a good number of others with a trailerful of goodies to shift.

I also enjoyed watching mobile milling ancient and modern - on the one side a traction engine and circular saw on a trailer, looking like something out of Thomas Hardy; on the other a mobile bandsaw mill, all orange paint and shiny steel.

It was actually sunny most of the time, and I found a rather good cookery demo to watch (safely inside a marquee) when the thunder and lightning started.

 

[Mike Wingate]

Very wet. Thunderstorms and lightning. No Clifton planes at Classic tools!

 

[treeturner123]

Well, those of you who are both brave enough and not so interested in classic planes and are booked to come on Monday (forecast very wet and windy!), do call by the GAW (Gloucestershire Association of Woodturners) tent which I THINK is on Cherry Avenue where, in the morning, you can watch me butchering some valuable wood on a demo lath!

Phil

 

[Paul Chapman]

Just got back from Westonbirt. A very pleasant time and the weather was excellent. Bought a few nik nacks There was a bloke doing beautiful leather work and I bought one of his belts at what seemed to me like a bargain price. Having got my lathe up and running, I bought a couple of pieces if Purple Heart to make something for my daughter - she's really into purple. Some nice turning tools at good prices so bought myself a scraper. Couple of other things from Classic Hand Tools.

The event has been changing a lot over the years. It's all a bit random now from a woodworking point of view and I'm not sure I'll bother again. However, if you want a nice day out with the kids, it's excellent.

For woodworkers, the future's Cressing Temple

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Harbo]

The future might be CT but it's a bit remote from me especially as I really don't need anymore tools?
I went to Westonbirt a few years ago and apart from the CHT tent I didn't think it was worth the journey - full of stalls selling a load of tat?
If I get the chance and the weather looks good might go to Yandles next month - at least the entrance is free?


Rod

 

[Paul Chapman]

The future might be CT but it's a bit remote from me especially as I really don't need anymore tools?

It's not just about buying tools, Rod. For me it's more about guest demonstrators and others you can learn from.

Cheers :wink:

Paul