About Wood Creatives

Formed originally as a woodcarving club, we now embrace all creative aspects of working with wood. Although we are a club, not a class, we welcome beginners and experienced woodworkers alike, with practical guidance from existing members as needed. Our club is friendly and informal: tea and coffee are provided and members who stay all day either bring a packed lunch or enjoy a meal in the Hillcrest Café. (We down tools at 12.30pm for lunch and a period of noise-free time.)

Equipment and Safety

The workshop, originally the woodworking department of a former boys' school, is equipped with woodworking benches, machinery, hand tools and some wood for members’ use. If and when beginners ‘get the bug’ and feel they would like to continue woodcarving, they are encouraged to purchase and care for their own hand tools and to source their own wood. As always, guidance is available where required.

Members must be aware that the workshop can, at times, be very noisy and dusty and tools and machines can be dangerous. Individuals must understand that they are responsible for their own safety and for their own equipment and be mindful of the safety of other members at all times. We recommend members wear their own ear plugs or defenders, dust masks and suitable gloves. All tools or personal possessions are left at the club at the members’ own risk.

Members are responsible for leaving their work areas (including any machinery used), safe, clean and tidy, for which brooms, a vacuum cleaner, dustpans and brushes are available.

It is a condition of the club's insurance that for safety reasons there must always be at least two club members in the workshop at any time it is open.

Payment and Attendance

The cost of running the workshop is funded entirely by member subscription. This is currently £30 per month per member and is required in advance at the beginning of each month. Payment is made by standing order and may be adjusted (with notice) according to membership numbers to cover the rent. As the rent is fixed, we cannot waive subscriptions if for any reason members are unable to attend.

We ask that the Club Treasurer or Secretary is informed if a member intends to leave the club permanently, so that his or her place can be offered to someone else. In the event of a member's non-attendance and non-payment without explanation and/or agreement for four weeks, his or her place may be offered to someone else.