In Yorkshire, a group of enthusiasts have transformed an ancient art into a gesture of urban sustainability. The Yorkshire Spoon Club brings together around thirty carvers – amateurs and professionals – who recover fallen tree trunks to give them new life. The goal? Save wood from disposal and turn it into unique objects such as spoons, cups or bowls.
The initiative gained new life after Storm Amy, which knocked down a large alder tree in Shipley. Instead of ending up in landfill, the wood from the tree was distributed among club members, becoming raw material for artisanal creations.
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A laboratory in the heart of the forest
The club meets monthly in Elleker’s Wood, an ancient woodland managed by Dan Watson, the group’s founder. In this green oasis, between lit fires and shared coffee, the participants dedicate themselves to the processing of fresh and fragrant “greenwood”.
Many of the members live in cities and do not have direct access to the raw material. That’s why they often listen to the sound of a chainsaw as a sign: there could be a new project around the corner. Local arborists also willingly collaborate, providing wood that would otherwise be shredded.
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The impact on mental health
In addition to the environmental value, the club promotes a strong social and psychological impact. Carving days in the woods become opportunities to combat loneliness and cultivate the connection with nature. The contact with the wood and the slowness of the manual gesture have in fact positive effects on the mind, they are a kind of form of active meditation.
The art of carving thus reveals itself to be a way to creatively recycle, preserve urban biodiversity and rediscover an authentic connection with the environment. After all, every spoon or cup tells a story: that of a fallen tree which, thanks to a group of patient hands, finds a second life.
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