Wood Creatives

Wood Creatives, formerly known as The Hillcrest Woodcarving Club, have gathered in numbers as a result of their recent publicity drive. We continue to improve our equipment and facilities at our workshop within The Hillcrest Centre, Bay Vue Road, Newhaven, BN9 9LH.

Towards the end of 2021 we sadly saw the passing of our most senior member Jim Harman, who had been woodcarving there since 1968. Jim’s daughter has made a kind donation of his cherished carving tools to the club and we much appreciate his gesture. The club also received a fabulous wood lathe as a donation from The Barrett family of Seaford after the loss of their son Jono Barrett, a fellow woodturner and mutual creative spirit.

In the two years period that has been affected by Covid, the Wood Creatives have responded to a downturn in membership by reaching out into the local community and forging some new links for the future. Recently, we have been speaking to a number of new initiatives including Seaford Environmental Alliance, The Skate Society, Wilder Gardens Project and Save Seaford Swifts to name a few. We hope to be in a position to engage and help with future projects using our skills and workshop facilities. Our aim is to forge wider links to other community activities and make lasting relationships whilst welcoming new ideas to utilise our Wood Creative facilities.

This merry bunch of some 30 men & women are growing steadily. As our numbers increase, we have the capacity to open on other days and we may consider evenings and weekends if demand is high enough. We undertake a variety of projects from relief carving to sculpture. Recently we have decided to broaden the range of work and include many other forms of woodworking and creativity with wood. We hope to develop more woodturning activities and perhaps dedicate one day a week purely for this activity – watch this space.

Our club at present operates on Mondays & Thursdays between about 9.30am & 3.30pm. The current fees are £30 per month, with half price for the unemployed (tea & biscuits are free). For beginners the club provides a good selection of carving chisels as well as hand & electric tools, for use in the club. We also “provide” a secure, safe, friendly and helpful environment with advice & support from experienced members.

During lockdown Wood Creatives was forced to close, reopening cautiously when it was judged to be safe. A few people decided against returning and our numbers fell alarmingly. Happily the current management team (Ted Gordon – treasurer, Jeremy Adams – secretary, Joe Boylan – publicity) have built up the membership to pre lockdown levels. We are however very keen to welcome new members to our club, if interested please pop by on a Monday or a Thursday to look us over & have a guided tour. Otherwise please contact Joe on 07768 331038.