“Here at Real Wood Studios, we’re trying to create as much value from each tree as possible. A tree that blows down in a storm could easily just be turned into a pile of firewood, or it could be transformed into amazing tables and chairs. We are giving that tree a new and valuable life, which can bring pleasure for many years to come.”
Sharing knowledge
We are sharing this value with the wider community. It is important to us to be here for local people – to show what can be achieved with a sustainable wood business. We share our knowledge in several ways:
- By offering partnerships and creating opportunities for learning, skills and career development through affordable facilities, career mentoring, visits and workshops. Working closely with schools, colleges, and the community we aim to inspire and nurture future generations of makers and wood lovers as well as educating the public on the sustainable use of local timber.
- We have relationships with local charities such as Borders Forest Trust who we recently shared a tree-planting day with (see image below) and The Tim Stead Trust; with local schools in Jedburgh and other towns; with colleges and specialist furniture makers such as The Chippendale School of Furniture, and finally with local businesses and public bodies.
- The timber and sawmill part of the business is integral to what we offer. It provides a service making beautiful local timber available and accessible to use, and is showcased in the work of the resident makers here at Real Wood Studios.
- We advise people, whether they consider themselves makers or hobbyists, who come here to buy timber for their projects. We’re all passionate about beautiful local wood, and we help them find the right bit of wood for their work.
- And we have a wonderful collective space, a “hive mind” of creators, makers, and specialists, and we enjoy sharing this with others. We’re always happy to hear from makers interested in our bench spaces, who might want to join Real Wood Studios.
Our dream is to become more than just a workshop—we want to be a thriving community dedicated to sharing skills, celebrating craftsmanship, and sustaining the beauty of woodworking for generations to come- watch this space!