Hackney City Farm

Turn a wooden bowl outdoors on a foot-powered pole lathe.

Learn how to turn a wooden bowl using a *foot-powered pole lathe* at our woodland workshop in the city. Suitable for beginners and improvers.

Learn a heritage craft at the London Greenwood workshop. 

You will use a foot-powered pole lathe to turn your own wooden bowl from locally grown wood. 

Starting by learning good axe technique to prepare your bowl blank then how to set up a pole lathe you will move on to master the use of bowl turning hook tools. 

Powering your lathe by foot you will create a functional wooden bowl to take home with you. 

We will also talk about drying, oiling and caring for your bowl as well as selecting materials and how to continue. 


Turn a wooden bowl outdoors on a foot powered pole lathe

Valerie Hazan

I've done a number of classes at London Greenwood and have enjoyed them all. This new wood turning course was no exception. It is the only manual pole lathe class available in London and taught in the outdoor workshop within Abney Park. Our teacher Dave had prepared the blanks and the tools so we were able to get straight down to using the pole lathe. We all completed very handsome bowls (for a first go!) by the end of the day and I feel i have acquired a good understanding of the process. This class is taught in small groups  (4 of us on this occasion) so there was plenty of individual attention. As Dave had warned us, it's a physical day (foot-powered!) but there were plenty of stops for lunch/tea/coffee and a great feeling of satisfaction on completion. 

George Chapman

Great course with helpful knowledgeable teacher with small class size so you were never left waiting for guidance.  Lovely location and atmosphere.  Pole lathe bowl turning is a fun challenge.  Highly recommended

Thida Eng

Amazing class! Dave is a great teacher, he was really helpful and patient with us. I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in doing something crafty :)

Alice Tyler

This class was a great day (despite the rain!), we learned a lot under the excellent teacher Dave. We had a lot of fun, got a bowl out of it and were totally exhausted after (in a good way :). 

Heini Schneebeli

I certainly learned new ways to work with a foot powered lathe and Dave was an excellent teacher with lots of skill and patient. 
Green Wood Abney Park is a great set up and I will be back again.
Heini  

Jessica Bell

This was a great day, and had the best time - definitely want to come back to make more. Thanks very much!

Ben Harvey

We loved the course and the bowls! Dave was very knowledgable and patient, and the location at Hackney City Farm was beautiful. Highly recommended!

A hard but rewarding day with excellent tuition. So pleased with my bowl 🙂  Thank you!

Jenny Baker

Really enjoyed this day. It's hard physical work but very satisfying. Dave, the tutor, explained things clearly and demonstrated what to do. He was really patient and encouraging. would highly recommend this course

Jane Myat

Fantastic day: well organised, great setting, clear, focused and personalised tuition in a friendly supportive environment. Huge gratitude to Dave, Graham and the team at London Greenwood

Hedley

Great course.  Lovely location.  Very sensible and attentive instruction just when needed, but very hands on without too much standing around.  

Keith Clarke

Great day with excellent teaching and lots of fun

Rachel Alabaster

It was a fantastic day. Really well taught by lovely guys. Will definitely be coming back! Thanks to all. 

Jeff Jackson

I really enjoyed the day, the the process and technique were explained very well and I would definitely recommend this course  to anyone interested in learning an ancient craft. 

Sean 

Fantastic - really enjoyed it and would recommend

Alana Jelinek

Brilliant fun. Actually achieved a pretty good bowl. And a good workout

Yoav Ronat

Had a great day and a wonderful experience. Dave is an excellent tutor and I’m very pleased from the result. Definitely recommended!

Emily Knight

Brilliant course, with a very kind and knowledgeable instructor. Highly recommended

Chris Turpin

Fantastic course - professionally (and patiently) instructed by Dave. A really good day - I learnt a lot.

Nicholas Clegg

Really great day. Well structured, really nice instructor. Left feeling tired (it's a physical day) and really happy with my bowl. Would definitely recommend it.

Belinda Edwards

Fabulous course!  Supportive and helpful teacher. Lovely place. I really enjoyed the whole day 

Justine Henry

This was a brilliant day! The whole experience with an idyllic setting on a spring day, with all the helpful people involved, friendly staff & yummy food served in the on site cafe. Wood Turing on foot powered lathe was so much fun. It felt like peddling a bike with one leg, whilst scoring a wooden record, to carve the bowl. Definitely requires some co-ordination & concentration to get right. David the tutor made it look easy. Am looking forward to oiling the finished bowl, once the green wood dries out. Have already recommended this course to friends. Just do it! 

Eleanor Turner

Great day! Super helpful teacher and a lovely setting.

Jem Roberts

Excellent course, really great pace and calming direction. 

Borja Lorente

An amazing workshop, through and through.
Aided by the great weather, the quiet day spent in the tranquil respite of London Green Wood was as enjoyable as it was didactive.
And we ended up with nice bowls to boot!

Sara Karlsson

Turning my own bowl was a great experience! It made me inspired to turn more bowls and other things in the future!

Mat Jones

Really fun day learning how to turn a bowl on a pole lathe

David Young

A really great course - just what I was looking for to get back into pole lathing after a break of two decades! It was good to see complete novices doing just as well as self proclaimed carpenters like myself, and tantamount to the skill and care our trainer took with each of us. Thanks Dave!

Mike Dallimore

Enjoyed the class. I would recommend all the classes at Green Wood London.

Stuart Walker

Fabulous day learning bowl carving in hottest weather ever. Exceptional instruction. 

Laura Sedgwick

Fantastic workshop in a beautiful location. Anyone wanting to spend a day crafting would highly recommend!

Very intense, but fabulous day! We wee working in a stunningly beautiful setting. Tutor is very patient and helpful. I totally recommend this course.

Yahia Elgamal

The class was great. Was very intensive, starting with axing a piece of wood that was prepped slightly for us. Then we started turning the wood for many hours. At the end, we used a carving knife to get the stem out of the bowl. 

Dave, the instructor, was very patient and helpful. I definitely recommend this course, but be prepared from some physical effort. The place was fabulous  in the middle of hackney farm, was a great experience overall.

Michael Johnson

I had an excellent day turning a wooden bowl on the foot powered pole lathe.  I was rather pleased with my finished product - greatly assisted by the advice and instruction given on the course.  I would recommend. 

Tessa Booth

What a great day! The setting is utterly delightful, all of the equipment and tools beautifully cared for, and the instruction was amazing- thank you Dave, we had a smashing day!

Jordan  Elboim

Amazing workshop! Would definitely recommend. 

Alex Andronic

Great experience, it has been fun and interactive. It was hard work but definitely worth it. 

Steve De St Croix

Nicky Scowen

Lovely people, great outdoor workshop (we were lucky with the weather) A really cool thing to try, just be aware it’s hard work…

Emily Hopkins

Such a brilliant day! Dave was calm and kind taking us through all the stages of making. Thoroughly recommend their courses as always. 
(I also recommend investing some time in stretching before making :) )

Arent Warren de Jong

Amazing experience, can highly recommend!
Only cons where
- we were running out of time which made the end a bit stressed, and we spend less fine tuning time on various aspects of our bowls than we wished
- the main lathe+turning tools where for right handed people, as were the setup and the instructions. Handling this as a left handed wasn't trivial

Lesley Smith

A great course held in lovely surroundings.
The teacher Dave provided very clear instructions on what to do and gave help when necessary. 
I really enjoyed making my first bowl and would like to do more. 




Francesca  Savvides

Highly recommend - a full day of fun crafting. 

Jenny Lemkey

A brilliant day out in the open air learning how to turn a bowl. The team were very welcoming and the instruction careful and accommodating . I would highly recommend this experience learning to work with green wood with a great teacher ( Dave) and great facilities!

Sarah Bailey

Really enjoyed the Bowl Turning course led by Dave. He's a lovely and knowledgeable teacher, and London Green Wood is a lovely space to be in even when it's cold! 

Christopher Milson

Fantastic day, great surroundings, instructor was a great teacher, really clear and helpful. Ended the day with a great little bowl! 

Steve Ranson

I had such a brilliant day with Dave @ London Green Wood. We used axes, knives and the most incredible foot powered lathe! 
The day was both challenging and satisfying, and I came away with aching arms and a beautiful wooden bowl! Dave was very knowledgable, patient and skilled. He made it really easy and fun, and nobody hit themselves with an axe! I'm going to book onto the spoon carving course next!

Ed Thompson

Vasoulla Savvidou

I loved making my own wooden bowl. The instructions were clear and the teacher was friendly and patient. Well worth it. And we got coffe and biscuits. Thank you.  ❤️🙏🏽

Brett Banks

Great day learning firstly ace work to partially round my piece, then only turning using the pole lathe, a really enjoyable process, Overseen by a great tutor. One suggestion, make the set up more adaptable for left handed users.

Tim Wakeford

A great course. The teacher (Dave) was very good and knowledgeable, we all had a lot of fun and all ended the day with some nice looking bowls. I'd definitely recommend it.

Katy Lee

What a brilliant day! Lucy and Joey are amazing teachers. I learned loads, met lovely people, and took a beautiful bowl home. This course is a great gift for people who like making things. 

Brooke Dennis

A wonderful full day of intense craft! fabulous instructors, patient and helpful. I am very pleased with my first attempt at a turning a bowl! Would very highly recommend!

Elizabeth Crane

Teaching was excellent.
Small group size meant there was plenty of guidance.
Thoroughly thrilled with my day and my bowl!

Aaron Mangaram

Really cool experience and day out, I thoroughly enjoyed the process of making my own wooden bowl - makes you appreciate the difficulty of the craft! Dave was great in explaining and assisting along each step, would recommend others to give it a go!

Iona Wills

A really rewarding course, but requires a lot of strength so be prepared to use muscles you didn't know you had. 

Rachel Higgins

What a great course! If you’re at all into working with green wood do yourself a favour and book a place on this pole-lathe course. 

Daniel Warnes

Really great day with Dave carving a bowl with a foot-powered work. Such a nice man and was always super helpful whenever I needed it. Highly recommend any course at London Green Wood. Will definitely be returning :)

Mark Cartwright

Helpful and patient tutors, friendly atmosphere, delightful venue. The course ran to time, and we all got to take a handmade piece home. All round, a great day!

Liz Edmunds

The venue was good for a hot day: underneath the trees. Felt like a little haven. The tutor Dave was welcoming, patient and encouraging and was willing to stay later when we ran behind schedule so we could all finish. The bowl turning workshop is more physical than I had imagined (!) but you can take breaks. It's great to actually make something usable in a day and feel you've had a thorough intro to pole lathe. The one thing I would mention is that was glad that I took a small bag so I could have my valuables such as phone/cards etc actually on me as I worked as the only place to leave bags is in an area which is accessible to the public which carries an element of risk as you may be absorbed in the work with your back to this area. 

Jane Douglas

Extremely enjoyable and relaxing day on the pole lathe.  Lovely setting and great teacher. Thanks!

Maggie Walters

Dave was a brilliant tutor,  patient,  encouraging and kind.  Came away wanting to practise and learn more woodwork. 

Nice being in a small group to be able  to share experiences.

Will definitely recommend and I'm looking forward to do another course. 

Thank you 😊 

Sara Lee

A brilliant and and absorbing day of wood crafting, wonderfully supported by Dave who was as hands on or off as we needed. It was great to work through all the stages, from the initial axe work to the final smartening up and there was a real sense of achievement as we saw our creations morph into something recognisable from the piece of tree trunk we were handed at the start. Hugely satisfying and highly recommended. 

Paul Shrubshall

Thank you very much for a confidence-building introduction. 

Mark Hallows

Absolutely brilliant course and loved every moment of it! Really friendly group of students and Dave is a great teacher

Natasha Almeida

As with all the other courses I've done at London Greenwood (bowl carving, spoon carving, whittling), this day of bowl turning was absolutely brilliant. It's a lovely, inviting and peaceful space, our instructor (Dave) was clear, kind, always ready to help, and, with a fair bit of hard but enjoyable work, I came away with something beautiful that I'm super proud of, and skills that I hope to use in the future. Highly recommend, please go if you can! Thanks again LGW. 

Magd Bird

Sharon Chen

Fantastic workshop.  Dave is a very patient teacher.  He knows exactly when to help and how to do so without making feel the pupil feel silly for asking.  I am delighted with my bowl and am now thinking which course to go on next.  Having done all the one day ones, I think my favourite has been the spoon carving.

Simone Citeroni

Veronica Pasteur

Great fun learning new skills with a lovely bunch of people. Excellent guidance from Dave. 

John  Reid 

Loved it. Great setting, super chilled friendly people. Rewarding day. 

Dave Saunders

An excellent day out and learnt a great deal about using the pole lathe. Dave, the tutor was great in explaining techniques and methods. Ended up with a decent (ish) bowl that will remind me of the course.

Alice Hoolahan

Fantastic day! Dave was a great teacher, very patient and supportive. Delighted with my bowl and would highly recommend the course! 

Amanda Canning

Had a brilliant day leaving how to make a bowl on a manually powered lathe. Beautiful setting, lovely people and instructor Dave was so helpful. Would highly recommend.

Laura Bucero Descalzo

Got a gift of a bowl turning workshop, one of the best things iv done in ages, would highly recommend it!!

Erez fogel

Great day. Excellent guidance in a beautiful setting. 

Elyot Chambers

Great day
Thanks Dave
Really enjoyed everything 

Mark Chandler

The course was informative and very enjoyable. The tutor was patient and clearly explained each stage of the wood turning process, his assistance was also most welcome. Excellent and all round a relaxing day away from the day job. Pleasant setting in a wooded glade in the heart of Hackney. I will be attending  another course in the future.   

James Rega

This is great fun and such a rewarding experience. I recommend to anyone with even a little interest. 

Ross Raftery

This was my second course at London Green Wood, having previously also carved a fruit bowl. The tuition from Dave and Steve was excellent - they took us through the process clearly and provided guidance throughout the day. The day-long course is an ideal length, and Dave works with you all to make sure you come away with a great looking bowl. It is a process that finds muscles you didn't know you had, but the end result is hugely rewarding! I would highly recommend this course. 

Grant Cassin

Brilliant course, professional and safe. 
Will definitely go back and do a different course.

Johanna Seingry

I loved my wood-turning class! Our class was a mix of complete beginners (me!) and others who had a little experience. Our tutor was fantastic at teaching and helping us. We were all delighted with our bowls. The location was a lovely little oasis in London too. 

Oli Solomons

Dave was a great teacher, and we all ended up with lovely bowls after a day's relaxing turning amongst the trees! What's not to like?

Charlotte King

Great day, Dave was a great teacher, patient and very knowledgeable. Highly recommend. 

Akir Hall

Great workshop, I will be recommending this to friends.  Our instructor Dave was very accommodating, knowledgeable and kind

Daisy Bernard

Such a brilliant day out and great value. Dave was a great teacher and even stayed late to help us finish our bowls. 

Nick Castell

The course was fantastic and well paced. The class size was perfect for ensuring everybody got enough help. Dave was a great teacher and it really helped to have both him and Steve on hand with questions and for a quick demonstration; having two different people on hand meant you got the benefit of two different ways of describing things and two different ways to approach a problem. They were able to give a little 'boost' or help to rectify mistakes to ensure that nobody fell behind and everybody had a finished bowl by the end of the day.

The workshop is a nice place to be and there was a steady stream of tea, coffee and biscuits to keep us going. It's lovely being able to work outside and the axe work and lathing kept us warm! I'll be back for another course!

Bowl TURNING

Rhodri Jervis 

Great outdoors activity! Enjoyed thoroughly. 

CARLA CONTE

Chris Le Monde 

I've done 3 courses with London Green Wood, each one has been massively enjoyable! Great people leading the courses, lovely people participating in them, a whole day outside making something really beautiful with your own two hands! What's not to love? 

Kimberly Van Tongeren

Very fun and interesting workshop. Satisfying to go from block of wood to actual bowl in the span of 7 hours. Quite physical, but it was paced well throughout the day. 

Lola Wilson

Sinead Nunn

Great day. Dave’s instructions were easy to follow and everyone on the course had their own pace. Love my bowl. 

Odina Nzegwu

This was an excellently paced and facilitated course. I absolutely loved It. It had  just the right balance of hands on help and being left to explore wood turning on the pole lathe.  The setting of Hackney city farm gave it an extra special dimension!. I thoroughly enjoyed this course and would recommend it. Thank you for such a great day.

Jackie Lightfoot

Had a brilliant day learning new green wood bowl turning skills.  The activities were expertly led by Dave and the whole day was the perfect combination of relaxed and really well paced.  The other people in the class were really good  company and the sun shone which was a bonus!  I'm very pleased with my lovely sycamore bowl.   

Grace Sheldon

Absolutely loved it. Thank you so
much for a wonderful birthday for my dad !

Andre Pires

One of the best days out I've had in London. Dave was an incredible teacher, the class was so fun, will definitely be coming back

Gary Grant

Great day. A well structured exercise that pretty much any one can do to some level, even complete novices, which means everyone gets a result and learns something. Something you can do on your own, or in a group. First class tutoring and a lovely location. They do different kinds of course so lots of choice. Highly recommended.   

Katja Alissa Mueller

Great workshop with brilliant people. Enough time to learn new skills, have breaks to relax your sore muscles and take a super nice bowl home. Would highly recommend.

Emily Pavling

What a great day! Dave at Greenwood is helpful and attentive, the workshop was clearly enjoyed by everyone attending our session . Theres a relaxed and welcoming sense of community on site and you get to try your hand at a craft that’s traditional, unique and extremely satisfying! Well worth a visit! 

Choose a date

May 2025

Can't make these dates?