Coopers Mill continued........

It was all hands on deck and full production mode today with all of the WWP gang getting stuck into continuing our fencing project for Natural England . We were joined today by Mark the new Occupational Therapist from Shrub Hill Workshop. He wanted to come and experience what it was like to be a part of the WWP so that he can know what he is recommending to his clients. I knew by the end of the day he'd be busy planning how he'd be able to get out and work with us again! Such is the addictive effect of the WWP. Anyway, Mark agreed that the satisfaction of the work involved along with the beautiful setting and of course, wonderful company, makes for an extremely therapeutic environment.

So order of the day was some hole digging, which the able and willing Dan and Ian set to work on. Graham and Gary got back to work on the fence they started on Wednesday. Mark found a home on the shave horse and Mike and me.....well we put the kettle on and milled about a bit.

The Shave Horse

This is Mike shaping a spatula on a "shave horse", using a hand tool called a draw knife. The shave horse is like a medieval "Black & Decker work mate. It allows you to secure wood in a stable place while you work and shape it. All of our regular group members can now use the shave horse with confidence.  

Reindeers made by the group

This is Ian with one of the 'herd' of reindeers that the WWP gang have made!
The reindeer bodies and heads are made out of ash and shaped with draw knifes on the shave horse. The legs, neck and antlers are made from coppiced hazel. The nose is made from hazel wood and shaped with a rounding tool before being painted red!  The reindeer will be sold at our market stall in Bewdley on the 4^th & 18^th December 2011  http://www.bewdley.org.uk/whats-on/?event=9748&d=4&m=12&y=2011