Roundwood timber framing – July

Book this and the 2 – 5 September 2019 course together and save £25 | book both courses for £795 

Book your place on The Sustainability Centre’s website.

The course in brief:

A practical, hands-on course in building with roundwood timber using traditional tools and techniques, working with local wood sourced from our site. Timber like this, used in the round, marries strength and beauty to create buildings that can either stand alone or sit comfortably alongside more traditional structures.

The course will take you through the process of raising your very own roundwood timber structure and will include both theory and practice. From selecting your timber and peeling the bark, to visiting a completed project and raising the frame, these two complimentary courses will inform and inspire you to create a beautiful natural building, designed to blend into its surroundings.

“The course was very well structured and I feel I have learned new techniques and skills, and honed a few others. The experience of sitting around the fire, cooking in a bush kitchen and being at the conservancy was priceless. I feel empowered, refreshed and enthused with regard to my own timber work.”
Rob O’Brien

The course in detail

Over the course of four days you will create a one bay cruck frame starting with winter-felled trees and finishing with a standing frame. We will cover all aspects of roundwood timber framing including:

• The necessary foundations and ground works
• The selection of suitable timber species for frames
• The selection of poles and the peeling process
• Framing bed introduction and layouts
• The theory and practice of cutting various joints involved in a structure.
• The tools required, including the use of a log scribe
• Visit to a completed roundwood timber framed building
• Discussion of various natural materials and finishes e.g. shingles, green roofs, rendered straw bales, sheep wool etc
• The course culminates with the raising of the finished frame

The course will give you:

• An understanding of how to select the correct timber and poles
• Experience of peeling, framing beds, cutting various joints including scribed half laps, mortice and tenons, and raising a completed frame
• Opportunity to use traditional tools
• An understanding of various natural materials and finishes
• A full course booklet will be provided to all participants to enable you to take on projects of your own.

This course can be booked individually for an introduction to roundwood timber framing, or it can be bought together with the September course for a deeper learning outcome.

Who is this course suitable for?

No carpentry experience is required as we’ve tailored this course to cater for both novices and experienced carpenters.

What to bring/wear

• Please dress according to the weather with waterproofs, sunhats, sun cream etc as necessary.
• Old clothes, stout footwear and a change of shoes are necessary.
• Calculator and camera would be useful.
• Hot drinks are provided but you may choose to bring your own snacks and a bottle of water.
• Lunch is available every day except Monday from the on-site Beech Cafe, or you may choose to bring your own.

About the tutors

Artizans is a team of natural builders in the South Downs National Park whose core belief is in building sustainably – treading lightly on the landscape but delivering homes and structures that suit modern-day living.

Dylan Walker formed Artizans in 2013. He learned traditional timber framing techniques and construction skills as an apprentice to Ben Law and has focused on working with timber in the round and creating more sustainable buildings since 2006. His teaching style is patient and understanding and his down-to-earth manner makes even the trickiest techniques easy to understand. He loves being a part of the course attendees’ journeys and his enthusiasm and passion for his subject is infectious!

Paddy Cox has been a researcher in environmental sciences for many years. Since 2009 he has been involved in designing and building eco-structures, with a particular interest in utilising the natural resources that are found locally, such as timber and straw bale. Paddy assists Dylan in sharing and promoting traditional wood crafting techniques and the management of woodlands for the benefit of individuals and communities.

Volunteering

Volunteer opportunities for 2019 include a two storey cruck framed straw bale office, a reciprocal roof roundhouse, outdoor shelters, and making and installing hand split shakes.

“I’ve had a wonderful time – the course and leaders have been inspirational. Thanks to all for the warm welcome. Dylan and Paddy for patience, good humour and instruction, and Mandy for the excellent cakes!”
Tom