2025 date TBC- Beginner Pole Lathe Bowl Turning Experience day | 09:30 to 5.30pm
Gain an insight into an ancient craft. This is how Vikings made bowls. Learn to turn a bowl with expert Amy Leake, create beautiful shapes from lumps of wood using a pole lathe. Spend a day on our farm surrounded by nature gaining the satisfaction of learning a traditional craft. Lunch by the open fire included (Weather permitting).
Aimed at beginners. Please note a fair level of fitness is required as pole lathes are foot operated :-) Over 18 years old. *v* Scroll down for more details *v*
Interested but can’t find a date to suit you? Enquire about other dates
Gain an insight into an ancient craft. This is how Vikings made bowls. Learn to turn a bowl with expert Amy Leake, create beautiful shapes from lumps of wood using a pole lathe. Spend a day on our farm surrounded by nature gaining the satisfaction of learning a traditional craft. Lunch by the open fire included (Weather permitting).
Aimed at beginners. Please note a fair level of fitness is required as pole lathes are foot operated :-) Over 18 years old. *v* Scroll down for more details *v*
Interested but can’t find a date to suit you? Enquire about other dates
Gain an insight into an ancient craft. This is how Vikings made bowls. Learn to turn a bowl with expert Amy Leake, create beautiful shapes from lumps of wood using a pole lathe. Spend a day on our farm surrounded by nature gaining the satisfaction of learning a traditional craft. Lunch by the open fire included (Weather permitting).
Aimed at beginners. Please note a fair level of fitness is required as pole lathes are foot operated :-) Over 18 years old. *v* Scroll down for more details *v*
Interested but can’t find a date to suit you? Enquire about other dates
Learn to make a bowl on a traditional pole lathe.
The day is led by Expert Pole lathe Bowl Turner Amy Leake, she is highly regarded in her profession for her work and teaching. She has been working with wood for years before deciding to teach.
All tools and materials will be provided, along with all the tea, coffee and all the biscuits to keep you going, plus a delicious lunch cooked over the campfire (veggie and vegan food available).
What is bowl turning?
Transform a block of wood into a beautiful bowl using a pole lathe - a wooden structure - which pressing the treadle pulls on a cord that is usually wrapped around the piece of wood (called a mantrel) that is attached to the bowl blank being turned.
What to expect?
Classes are made up of a maximum of 6 students and take place in the beautiful setting of our family farm nestled on the edge of Sheepleas nature reserve and at the foot of The Surrey Hills, an area of outstanding natural beauty.
This is aimed at learning a traditional craft and being out in nature. The workspace is undercover in a former open sided farm building so you’ll hear the birds sing whilst you work. Lunch is often cooked on the same fire and served there.
An overview of a pole lathe and how to use it.
Centering and mounting the bowl blank
Turn the outside & inside of the bowl using various techniques and traditional tools
There will organised breaks, but the kettle is nearly alway on the fire, so students can stop for a break whenever the feel.
Most students will be first time bowl turners, some may be returning to further practice their skills and gain more experience. Please note, a traditional pole lathe is foot operated and hard work, so a fair level of physical fitness and hand strength is required to operate. Students find it a hugely rewarding day.
The bowl turning experience is led by expert Amy Turner. Read more about Amy and others in the Team
We will guide you through the steps of making a wooden bowl. You are guided through the whole process and advice is on hand to help you.
See our FAQs page for more detail of what to bring, wear and timings
If you’re not sure this course is quite for you, explore the other crafts and experiences we offer.
”We really enjoyed my pole lathe bowl turning experience with Amy, she was an excellent teacher, she explained things really clearly and was really patient. My husband and I really enjoyed spending the day outdoors, learning a new skill and were both thrilled with the bowl we managed to make.“ Sarah, Surrey, Feb-22 See what other students say about their experience.
