WILD WOOD MUSHROOM WHITTLING

Start with a simple piece of wood and slowly shape it into a carved mushroom using traditional whittling techniques.

You’ll be introduced to the basics of knife handling in a calm, supported setting – learning how to safely hold, carve, and refine the wood as it begins to change shape in your hands. The process is steady, tactile and totally absorbing, bringing your focus onto small, mindful movements and capturing your close attention rather than speed or output. This session is all about the process.

Working from a cylindrical block of wood, you’ll gradually carve out the form of your mushroom, smoothing details and giving it its own character as you go. No two pieces will look the same, and at the end we’ll have a whole collection of super fun-ghis to make friends with!

If you haven’t worked with natural materials in this way, you’ll find it surprisingly satisfying – it gives you a nice opportunity to step away from the fun of the festival atmos and slow down, concentrate and watch a shape emerge through repetition and patience.

What you’ll come away with is a finished wooden mushroom and a new understanding of basic whittling techniques – and who knows, maybe a new hobby!

If you’re a fan of funghi, check out other mushroom-themed workshops like: ‘MAKE A MYCOLOGICAL MASCOT: SCULPT YOUR MUSHROOM SPIRIT USING AIR-DRYING CLAY’ by Lisa Clarke (15:45-16:45 on Fri 31 Jul), and/or ‘MAGICAL MUSHROOMS: EMBROIDER A TINY FUNGHI UNIVERSE’ by The Wolves (12:15-13:45 on Sat 01 Aug).

IMPORTANT INFO:

• Suitable for ages 8+ (U16s to be supervised). Beginners welcome. Participants must be comfortable using a whittling knife.