“Hands on Heritage” is the name given to a unique educational site within Tunstall Forest, mid way between Orford and Snape, Suffolk. It is run by volunteers with the key objective to give outdoor learning opportunities to school children. More can be read about this on their website Hands on Heritage https://www.handsonheritage.co.uk

In 2017 it was decided the volunteers would build an authentic weaving shed as an area for children to work undercover, if needed, and particularly to accommodate the space and the equipment to teach weaving skills.

In 2017 I visited to watch the early construction of the shed.

The volunteers used green oak timber and original style construction

Wall and roof timbers were measured and fitted together

A social skilful community worked harmoniously a couple of times a week over many years.

The foundations were dug and the building framework was erected.

The Covid years hindered progress but as an outdoor pursuit small bands of volunteers continued to make progress.

A huge task was to construct the authentic shingle roof. Each tile was to be made by hand from chestnut logs brought onsite.

In 2023, 6 years later, there still remains work to complete the build but the years of craftsmanship, companionship and creative fun can be seen and touched. These photographs only begin to show the beauty of their work.

And inside the exquisites authentic design clearly demonstrates how working in such a space would have felt like in centuries past.

This project has taken years of toil and it was particularly disappointing when the roof was badly damaged when vandals set fire to the adjacent round house thatch roof. This was not only a huge set back but a huge cost. Fortunately many responded to a crowd funding appeal and the volunteers set to work to remove burnt tiles and repair the damage.

It is now winter 2023 and volunteers continue to attend weekly for maintenance work but once Spring 2024 arrives these exciting constructions surrounded by forest (see below) will be crowded with children learning crafts such as wittling, pewter casting and fire lighting. Many of these children, ages 5 to 15, will not have spent time in a wood before and certainly not learn these crafts. It is a novel and memorable learning occasion. They trial life in the Roman, Saxon and Viking times all linked into their school curricula. This learning is lead by the volunteers who have developed not only their own craft skills but also how to hand these on to the next generation. These visits have become a very special day out for pupils and volunteers alike each year.