Some of The Big Tree folks
Eoin Cox
A native of Fife he has been involved in communities, landscapes and heritage for more than 40 years. His involvement in timber came through years of working in the ancient archaeological landscape of Scotland. He was predominantly involved in medieval and early industrial European trade with Scotland. He has worked in Russia, Central Asia, Saharan Africa and Scandinavia.
Working with the late Tim Stead sculptor and furniture maker he helped form a nucleus of local Borders people into what became the first community woodland buyout in Britain in 1987. Borders Community Woodland has been a international model of community engagement ever since. WWF asked No Butts (a company formed by Eoin and Tim) to explore the potential for a large Scottish based / woodland centred Millennium Project, quickly to become Millennium Forest For Scotland Trust, they were instrumental in being founding Trustees of Borders Forest Trust. Eoin founded and focused on the economic restoration element of a BFT bid around Woodschool, a unique centre for local timber utilisation.
This unique collective of furniture designer / makers was widely recognised as an exemplar of social enterprise within Europe for the furniture, forestry and creative industries. Committed to raising awareness of Scotland’s new makers and users of local hardwoods and in all traditional applied arts and crafts, he received an MBE in 2002 for his work in small business development in rural Scotland.
He has provided extensive technical, commercial and strategic advice to companies, organisations and individuals throughout the UK , Europe, USA, Japan and Australia involved in value added community forestry. He is also a strong advocate of social capital, community capacity and entrepreneurship.
Eoin left Woodschool in 2008 to concentrate on his gallery business Buy Design Gallery, near Jedburgh and to take up more direct action in community woodland work.
Working with the late Tim Stead sculptor and furniture maker he helped form a nucleus of local Borders people into what became the first community woodland buyout in Britain in 1987. Borders Community Woodland has been a international model of community engagement ever since. WWF asked No Butts (a company formed by Eoin and Tim) to explore the potential for a large Scottish based / woodland centred Millennium Project, quickly to become Millennium Forest For Scotland Trust, they were instrumental in being founding Trustees of Borders Forest Trust. Eoin founded and focused on the economic restoration element of a BFT bid around Woodschool, a unique centre for local timber utilisation.
This unique collective of furniture designer / makers was widely recognised as an exemplar of social enterprise within Europe for the furniture, forestry and creative industries. Committed to raising awareness of Scotland’s new makers and users of local hardwoods and in all traditional applied arts and crafts, he received an MBE in 2002 for his work in small business development in rural Scotland.
He has provided extensive technical, commercial and strategic advice to companies, organisations and individuals throughout the UK , Europe, USA, Japan and Australia involved in value added community forestry. He is also a strong advocate of social capital, community capacity and entrepreneurship.
Eoin left Woodschool in 2008 to concentrate on his gallery business Buy Design Gallery, near Jedburgh and to take up more direct action in community woodland work.
Dave Barella
Mackem Dave is a full-on Northumbrian who loves wood and getting the craic with folks. Having spent years in the agricultural sector and laterally ending up his other working life driving wagons he decided that his "retirement" should be spent working with wood.
A really good bowl turner he already knew a shed load before he pitched up on one of the courses a few years ago. We haven't been able to get rid of him since !!!! (Just joking Dave.) Like Gail he brings a complementary set of skills, knowledge, patience and pace to the courses. He is NOT a Geordie !!
Mackem Dave is a full-on Northumbrian who loves wood and getting the craic with folks. Having spent years in the agricultural sector and laterally ending up his other working life driving wagons he decided that his "retirement" should be spent working with wood.
A really good bowl turner he already knew a shed load before he pitched up on one of the courses a few years ago. We haven't been able to get rid of him since !!!! (Just joking Dave.) Like Gail he brings a complementary set of skills, knowledge, patience and pace to the courses. He is NOT a Geordie !!
Working with wood and green wood in particular sustains the spirit. Individual creative input and manual work create a bond with the object that makes its beauty and purpose appreciated for longer.
The action, participation with others and eventual outcome of that activity are often more than the product itself. The making of something from tree to final piece of furniture is a great achievement. The combination of heads, hands and hearts however is the product that maintains people.
An underlying social objective of the workshops is to achieve common unity. It is the main driver of our workshop ethos. It is the environmental context and the productive content which allows conversation to happen and enjoyment result. This approach allows people to focus their attention on a third thing rather than on themselves and others.
The Big Tree Society courses are more hands-off than hands-on, from a facilitator’s point of view. We get the participant started, get them familiar with the objective; whether it is a stool, a chair or a giant wood print and steer them through a process. During a course, trees are appreciated more, techniques learnt and honed and traditions appreciated and understood.
Everyone learns and shares the new knowledge with fellow participants. The exercise is demanding, stimulating and fun. The new confidence and interpersonal skills that develop are self taught. Teaching is gleaned by the participants during the day and hopefully continued and transferred beyond.
The action, participation with others and eventual outcome of that activity are often more than the product itself. The making of something from tree to final piece of furniture is a great achievement. The combination of heads, hands and hearts however is the product that maintains people.
An underlying social objective of the workshops is to achieve common unity. It is the main driver of our workshop ethos. It is the environmental context and the productive content which allows conversation to happen and enjoyment result. This approach allows people to focus their attention on a third thing rather than on themselves and others.
The Big Tree Society courses are more hands-off than hands-on, from a facilitator’s point of view. We get the participant started, get them familiar with the objective; whether it is a stool, a chair or a giant wood print and steer them through a process. During a course, trees are appreciated more, techniques learnt and honed and traditions appreciated and understood.
Everyone learns and shares the new knowledge with fellow participants. The exercise is demanding, stimulating and fun. The new confidence and interpersonal skills that develop are self taught. Teaching is gleaned by the participants during the day and hopefully continued and transferred beyond.