The comings and goings in Carmarthenshire
Written by Tir Coed / Monday 26 July 2021
We have reached the 8-week mark on our Woodland Carpentry Course in Carmarthenshire and there have been many comings and goings over the last four weeks.
Firstly, we gave a very warm welcome to Dan and Osian, two new trainees who are hoping to develop a career in the outdoor conservation sector. Meanwhile we said a fond farewell and good luck to Oscar who has been successful in securing a position at Pembrey Country Park with the Kickstart programme.
Nature has been busy too, the tadpoles have transformed in to tiny frogs and the blue tits have long flown the nest.
Our trainees have been introduced to our brand new digital workbooks which they are completing alongside the hands-on practical element of the course.
Creativity has been flowing as each trainee has spent time designing different archways of all shapes and sizes, with influences from many cultures around the world. From these designs one archway, a design inspired by the Japanese Torri gate was chosen to build - putting our skills, stamina and patience to the test.
Using a wind-blown Corsican pine we harvested from the woodland site, we measured, sawed and de-barked the timber needed for the archway. Securing the pieces together at right angles with mortise and tenon joints required painstaking accuracy and a great deal of chiselling.
Despite the hard work and delicate nature of getting the angles just right the group have been getting on brilliantly, there has been plenty of fun, laughter and supporting one another to get the job done… not to mention copious amounts of tea and cake!
