Home | Bracken Woodworking

About us

David Bell is a skilled cabinet maker with over 35 years experience, having launched a woodworking cooperative with four others in Didsbury, Manchester, and later a workshop in Wilmslow that still runs today. Former colleague, Garry Olson and he made bespoke individual pieces for customers and for exhibitions, with himself specialising in chairmaking.

David then entered Primary education, becoming a Headteacher of a local Staffordshire school, before becoming semi-retired in 2015 to take up Educational Consultancy and to spend more time in his home workshop and barn.

Now, David is offering woodworking lessons in his barn and workshop facilitating those who want to make simple wooden items whilst learning to use traditional tools, working with green (or undried) wood and using solely English timbers, some of which are foraged locally.

The lessons are open to beginners and experienced alike.

"David is kind and a brilliant teacher. He did not set specific tasks and allowed you to choose. I was not nervous using the machines: I trusted David, he knows what he is doing. I am very glad that I did it; it was really fun and exciting!"

JAMIE

"David helped me turn a plank of lime into a wedding table pan display stand and, after the wedding, into a garden seat combining a great balance of demonstration, instruction and letting me have a go. The time in his well equipped workshop went fast and I left with my creation and a strong sense of achievement."

HELEN

"David was incredibly patient with us novices. There were so many different options of things to make, even in the shorter sessions, and it's such a lovely setting. The workshop has a rustic feel, located by a river in beautiful countryside."

DANIEL & FRAN

"I really enjoyed working with David in his workshop on a personal woodcraft project. David's coaching style was excellent; he listened to my ideas and suggested improvements and enhancements to, not only which project I should undertake, but throughout the work itself. When I was struggling with what aspect I should undertake next and how I should approach it, he would ask questions which guided me to a successful solution in such a way that I thought it was my idea! This workshop has a wide range of woodworking tools, with a very good mix of both modern electrical power units and also more traditional woods tools, which he has made himself. My personal favourite was the dowel 'pencil sharpener', which was a real eye opener. He showed me how to use each tool that I needed to work with and supervised my work, but only enough to see if I had listened well enough to understand. There was no micromanagement and he let me work at my own pace which was a big plus for me. Basically, I would recommend anyone who wants a positive woodworking experience to give Bracken Woodworking a go!"

DAVID

"The experience was really good. David lets you do what you want to do and will adapt to your requests. He didn't get annoyed if you did anything wrong. He lets you do most of the work. You get to choose the type of wood."