London Green Wood | Make a spatula at Hackney City Farm

Learn about working with the grain, the basis for all woodworking. Use a shave horse and drawknife to make cooking utensils.

Make your own cooking utensils! Learn the basics of green woodworking and working with the grain. Make a locally grown spatula to take home with you. We will be using a shave horse and draw knife, traditional chair making tools that are very safe to use. Suitable for complete beginners.

This is a great taster course for anyone who's considering our longer courses.

Limited low income and unwaged discounts are available for this course for those who would…

Things to remember

We have no indoor space and will be working outside in all weathers (under a tarp if it rains) so please come prepared.

Warm, outdoor clothes in the winter.
Sunhats in summer.
Raincoats whenever.
No sandals or bare feet please.
Walking boots or work boots if you can, a thick…

Do you offer concessionary rates this course?

Yes, we offer a limited number of low income rates on our courses. There is no eligibility criteria, these discounts are available for anyone who needs them. This is a trust based system, we do not require proof or even an explanation of the rate you choose.

Can I change my booking?

Our cancellation policy is explained here: https://london-green-wood.live.baluu.co.uk/terms

I am booked on a course, is it going ahead?

Yes, you will receive an automatic reminder email 3 days before your course, via our booking partners Obby.co.uk. If you haven’t received this please check your spam.

It’s raining, is the course going ahead?

I’m afraid so, please come prepared. We have tarps to put up, so even if it’s torrential we’ll try to keep you dryish. We work outdoors in all weathers and will only cancel courses in the event of extreme weather conditions which would make the courses unsafe (ie. a red warning from the Met Office with risk to life).

Do you offer private courses?

Yes, most of our courses have private booking options. We take private bookings up to 2 weeks in advance. The early you put in a request, the more likely we are to be able to accomodate you. If you have a last minute need for a private course, please contact us and we'll see what we can do.

Do you sell gift vouchers?

Yes, you can buy gift cards through our booking partners Obby.co.uk. These are valid on over 2500 classes available on the Obby site, including all London Green Wood courses. Gift cards can only be redeemed through Obby.co.uk and will not work on bookings through our own website (the commission is different). Gift cards are valid for 1 year. If you have any queries about gift cards please contact hello@obby.co.uk directly. If you are buying a course as a gift for someone we recommend you come together, it’s more fun that way. We also recommend that you book a space on a specific course date rather than buy a gift card to avoid disappointment, as some of our courses book up several months in advance.

Can under 18s join this course?

No. This course is for over 18s only.

Do you have sessions for children and young people?

Yes, see our Family Whittling courses for 6-8yr olds and 9-18yr olds. These courses are for kids and young people to come accompanied by an adult who will supervise and work with them at all times, each course space is for 1 adult and 1 child to attend together. We recommend that parents/ carers join the course so that they can keep their child safe when whittling at home and be confident in their child’s abilities to work with knives and wood.

Can I bring my dog?

Only guide dogs and assistance dogs please. If possible, please let us know in advance.

Is the workshop accessible for people with disabilities?

Our workshop is outside and at ground level, but there is uneven ground on the way in through the farm. The toilets are on the ground floor, and there is a disabled cubicle. We will do everything we can to make all our courses accessible to everyone regardless of disability. If you are thinking about a course and are unsure if this would suit you, please contact us to discuss. Often in these instances we find the best thing is to arrange a visit, so you can see the workshop and decide for yourself.

Do you have any more dates planned?

Yes. You can join a waiting list to be notified of new dates, https://london-green-wood.widget.obby.co.uk/event/knife-skills-woodworking-north-london/dates Each specific date also has it's on waiting list, which you can join to be notified if there are any cancellations.

Sally - 12 May 2025

This was such a fun day for me and my boyfriend! Really great class, very friendly and relaxed, and we were so happy with what we made in such a short time.

Marion - 28 April 2025

I didn't really expect to master new woodworking skills, but - hey! - I made a marvellous spatula out of a log of pear wood. It was quite a magical operation, taught with expertise, encouragement and patience. All of our group of 6 were rather amazed by our results. It was a very enjoyable 3 hours on a Sunday afternoon.

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3hrs event1 event

from £25

Private BookingFor groups of 4 to 6 guests

£50

Make a spatula at Hackney City Farm

Age Requirement