For the last several hundred years, before widespread use of plastics and metals, woodturning provided a solution for many of society’s culinary and cultural needs.
I am a self-taught woodturner based on the south of the Isle of Wight. Having always been interested in all things practical and a bushcraft/camping enthusiast since my teens, I now want to create products that are beautiful, functional and kind to the environment. Whether they are for use in the kitchen, dining room or destined for display, I apply the ancient concept of ‘leave no trace’, as most of my items can be made, used, enjoyed and eventually disposed of (buried?) with little or no harm to the environment, therefore sustaining natural systems.
Material choice is an important part of sustainability. I focus mainly on native timbers such as Sycamore, Beech, Oak, Ash and Maple. In fact, whilst widely regarded as a weed, Sycamore was used in the dairy industry for many years, being one of our most hygienic and food-safe native timbers - the original butter churns were made of wood!
With proper maintenance and a little bit of knowledge, turned items can be just as useful as their modern counterparts, whilst offering something that is completely unique.