During 2025 we established the foundations for the Forestry Workshop. This took place in Plashett Wood and a number of students attended.

The Project will be using locally-sourced timber from the surrounding woodland, so we identified trees that would need to be used in the building work.  Some un-economically viable wood from felled broad-leaved oak trees which otherwise would not be put to a practical use was selected and students used traditional hand tools to saw and shape these beams.  We looked at other conifers and softwood trees in the woodland which can be used for other purposes.

The students made good use of the long dry summer months in 2025 and established areas to work in outdoors. We built several shave-horses which will be used to create substantial wooden pegs for use in timber-frame building.

A group of us went to visit a local Grade II Listed farmhouse in Ringmershire, Clay Hill House.  This dates back to the 16th Century and amongst its outbuildings buildings is an 18th Century Sussex barn which was studied carefully for its construction methods, many of which we will replicate here.

Read more about the philosophy of construction for the timber-framed workshop >