2026 PRE FEST COURSES
Pre fest courses will run on Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th. Courses will range from 1 to 2 days and will start from 10am each day, participants traveling long distances will be welcome to arrive the night before their course starts.
A simple vegetarian lunch will be provided during pre fest, along with plenty of tea and coffee.
Tools, lathes and other equipment will be provided during the pre fest courses, but please bring any of your own tools with you that you would like to use, and it would be useful to bring a lathe if you have access to one.
Please Note: Prefest courses do not include the price of a weekend ticket. These must be bought separately.
AMY LEAKE
Amy started green woodworking over 10 years ago and is particularly inspired by Swedish and Baltic woodenware and historical ceramics.
"What continues to pull me in is the love of using and enjoying
handmade items in my everyday life, the simple pleasures of using a hand thrown mug, a turned wooden bowl and a handmade wooden spoon for my breakfast every morning makes my heart sing. These objects transmit the energy and care the maker put into them, and I feel a connection to the people who made them."
Amy's work speaks for itself and we are delighted to have her teaching with us again this year!
Amy will be teaching a course on handled bowl making, aimed at people who have already turned a few bowls on a pole lathe and looking to progress their work.
Turning handled bowls - Thursday 10th - £120
RALEIGH KLOTZEK
Raleigh and her partner Oliver run Wild Crafted Home, which was born from a shared devotion to traditional craft, to working closely with wood, fiber, and iron, and to building a community that values the skills, stories, and culture rooted in making.
They live and work from our home and workshop in Sweden, surrounded by forest, field, and a community that continues to grow.
Raleigh will be teaching a one day course on Handled Broom making.
Handled Appalachian Broom Making - Thursday 10th - £150
NICO DE WISPELAERE
Nico is a full time greenwoodworker, father, and artisan based near Bruges, Belgium. He handcrafts wooden spoons and turned treen on the pole lathe, combining his fine arts training, tattoo artistry, and arborist experience. His creations celebrate the beauty of wood and the connection between nature, art, and craftsmanship. Through Handgemaakt Geluk (Handmade Happiness), Nico shares functional, mindful, and artistic pieces that bring joy and meaning to everyday life.
Nico will be teaching a one day beginners bowl turning course.
Beginners Bowl Turning - Wednesday 9th - £120
MATT WHITTAKER
Matt has been working with wood and steel for over twenty years now. What first attracted him to these materials and the crafts of the Greenwood and Forge was their immediacy, the need for a very few tools in order to be able to create practical, everyday objects.
Matt has been designing, making and innovating hook tools for bowl turning for many years and his forging courses have been an integral part of the Bowl Gathering since we began.
Hook Tool Forging - Wednesday 9th - £130
SAMUEL ALEXANDER
Samuel Alexander is a professional green wood carver, tutor and craft author.
He has been making for over 10 years and his organic style celebrates rounded forms found in nature and harvest.
His carving courses have been taught internationally and he often likes to share his holistic making practices via his “Calm Carving” YouTube videos.
Recently, Samuel published his debut book “The Green-Wood Carver: Slow Woodcraft For beginners”.
Outside of his teaching travels he is usually found making from his outdoor workshop in Czechia.
Samuel will be teaching a 2 day course for experienced woodworkers, carving bulbous drinking vessels.
2 day Bulbous Vessel Carving - £230
NADINE GRUNDY
Nadine a traditional craftsperson, making, teaching and demonstrating a range of arts and crafts
She teaches wood carving, split wood, bark and fibre baskets and natural ink and paint making.
Nadine has a wealth of teaching experience and a huge range of knowledge when it comes to natural materials.
Nadine will be teaching a 2 day foraged fibre basket weaving course.
Foraged Fibre Basket Weaving - 2 Days - £230
FLO HAMER
Specialising in traditional and heritage crafts, Flo works with natural materials to produce high quality work that is functional and beautiful
Her work ranges from timber framing and joinery, to carving, bowl turning and basketry. All of her work is linked by a love of making and a passion for keeping traditional crafts alive.
Flo will be teaching a one day split hazel basket weaving course.
Split Hazel Basket Weaving - Wednesday 9th - £120
NIC WESTERMANN
Nic is renowned as one of the world's best toolmakers, forging tools by hand with extreme precision and focus on edge geometry and functionality. There is a long waiting list to get one of Nic's tools, so this is a rare opportunity to forge a tool under his guidance. Nic will be doing a two day knife forging course, including bevel grinding and handle fitting to produce a tool that will last generations.
Knife forging 2 days - £250
ALI ASADI
If you have turned a bowl or even if this is your first time turning, you're gonna enjoy this workshop!
Ali has spent many years mastering the art of plate turning, and on this course, he will be sharing his knowledge and showing you all the techniques needed.
Plate Turning - Wednesday 9th - £120
