Ffion Harris
Originally from South Wales, I came to the Lake District fourteen years ago to study Outdoor Education - I fell in love with the place and decided to stay where I met a wealth of enthusiasts in a variety of traditional skills such as weaving, carving, knapping, trapping and foraging to name a few.
I leapt at opportunities that arose and found myself on traditional travel expeditions in the UK and abroad. From the deserts of Oman and Morocco, the jungles of Borneo and Central America, to a -30 C snowshoe expedition on the frozen rivers of Maine. Eventually taking the role of survival consultant in the Pearl Islands of Panama which is where I met Mango dog.
Amongst all my enthusiasm for natural materials my strongest passion is working with different UK woods. Engrained deep in my memory is the first perfect long curl of cherry wood that came from a spoke shave whilst carving a canoe paddle. I later went on to loft the plans of a wooden canoe which was then built with cedar, elm, ash and yew. Whilst taking on these projects, I met two great mentors who were proud to call me their apprentice.
George Alfred Henderson on the canoes maiden voyage
and
Hugh Wright in his workshop, his carved walking sticks in the background.
Everything I make is from sustainably sourced local wood. I have designed and built a complete bar using old oak whisky barrels staves and reclaimed scaffold planks – it was topped with a hefty solid slab of oak aged 209. This can be seen today in the Barrel House, Kendal.
Another bar made by myself -To The Root and CIS in Ambleside boasts a similar design. Vertical staves with oak strips woven through.