Spoonfest 2025

[plastic-ninja]

I went as volunteer crew to Spoonfest 2025 & had a great weekend so thought I’d write a little report.
Spoonfest, for those who don’t know, is a celebration of all things Spoon. Held in Edale in the Peak District at the beginning of August each year.
I’ve been trying to go for a few years but never made it so this year I volunteered as a crew member & spent the evenings making pizzas with a lovely bunch of people.
During the days I sat by the fire and carved away at defenceless pieces of wood & managed to get to a couple of courses and lots of demonstrations by some crazy talented carvers.
My favourite piece was this little “Shcoop”.
I’d recommend Spoonfest to anyone. It was super friendly and very relaxed. Tuition was excellent and always loads of advice available around the fire.

 

[Bhod]

It was a good weekend, I attended a couple of the workshops, bought a new axe, didn't quite finish any spoons but did come away with several 'blanks'.

 

[Stew]

I'll get there one year!!

 

[Falstaff]

Thanks for the write up and glad you enjoyed it, but I don't get it.
What's the attraction/interest, it seems to be very popular ? Is it just something that some folk just "get", like stamp collecting or trainspotters (that's not a derogatory, just looking for examples - oh!, lamp collecting and stoves!) I don't see it as a bushcraft/prepper/survival essential skill?

 

[Toddy]

Everybody needs a spoon...or a dozen

Carving is a really good way to learn knife skills, a practical ability. It needs a little forethought, it needs a bit of patience, and it's a pleasant way to spend an hour or so quietly working, chatting, enjoy a bit of company, learning something new.
Experienced carvers find it actually lowers their blood pressure, that it's truly one of those 'good for you' chill out things.
The carver comes to recognise timbers, often sources their own blanks, knows when to gather, how to season, etc.,

I think an entire festival on the topic sounds excellent

Toddy....owner of some absolutely wonderful examples of the spooncarvers art

 

[Pattree]

^^^^^** that!

 

[Falstaff]

Ok, thanks Toddy, good answer. Not sure I've got the patience for that, but then again maybe that's why I should try it and see. e.g. I made myself a much-used square section Spurtle, but never had the interest to carve any sort of decoration into it to finish it.
I'm more interested in flint knapping, which is quite possibly the very same thing, but with a different material. Not as a spoon though...

 

[Toddy]

I can sit absolutely fascinated watching flint knappers

I can also be utterly fixated in Russ's garden, 'cos he put down something like 10 tons of flint chips
Everywhere I look I see conchoidal fractures, percussive fractures, ripples, erallieur scars.... native flint is so rare up here that any assemblage catches the attention of archaeologists

Carving utensils, gadgets, etc., though, you can safely do that indoors

 

[Bhod]

Thanks for the write up and glad you enjoyed it, but I don't get it.
What's the attraction/interest, it seems to be very popular ? Is it just something that some folk just "get", like stamp collecting or trainspotters (that's not a derogatory, just looking for examples - oh!, lamp collecting and stoves!) I don't see it as a bushcraft/prepper/survival essential skill?

What's the attraction in flint napping or basket making? what's the interest in wood turning or methods of firelighting using other things than a match?

It's not about 'collecting', it's about taking something in the raw (ie a lump of wood) and turning it into a Spoon, Fork, Butter spreader, Scoop etc, using primarily an axe and a knife or two. For me it's as much a part of bushcraft as firelighting or shelter building is.
Woodland camping - I've never carried a tent peg with me always preferring to carve the ones I need onsite, spoon carving was just a natural progression for me.
Sat around a fire wanting to decompress I'll whittle away on a spoon blank I've either axed out on site or brought with me. I'm not very good still being very much a novice but I've made a spoon that will hold liquid/food should I need it to.
Spoonfest was a weekend away in which I could attend workshops on Knife/Axe sharpening, safe knife techniques, safe axe techniques, axing the blank etc, see demonstrations of various green woodworking ie spoon carving, kuksa making etc and all in the comfort of like minded people

Not to everyones taste granted but I'm glad I attended.

 

[plastic-ninja]

It was a good weekend, I attended a couple of the workshops, bought a new axe, didn't quite finish any spoons but did come away with several 'blanks'.

Obviously I bought a new axe too. One of Robin Wood’s medium sized ones. I love it.

 

[Bhod]

Obviously I bought a new axe too. One of Robin Wood’s medium sized ones. I love it.

Ahh I bought one of Max's, was hoping Peter Kovacs might have had some for sale but alas he didn't bring any with him.

 

[Brizzlebush]

Potential thread derail alert!

I went to Spoontown this year, a little smaller apparently. I've not been to Spoonfest but I'd like to, the dates didn't work for me this year.

I did 3 brilliant workshops, met some really lovely, kind and creative people, learnt a hell of a lot and slowed down my busy brain for a while.

Oh, and I carved some spoons, a tiny kuksa, bought a new axe and other toys, chatted to people around the campfire, watched sunsets and made new friends.
Highly recommended, if whittling and craft is your thing.
Or if you just want to meet nice people and learn new skills. Eg: Basketry, copper smithing, bowl turning, forging, shrink pots, plates, bead making and painting. If it's not your thing, it's not your thing, I get that it isn't for everyone. A lot of people think I'm weird, and a bit "niche" and that's fine.

It feels like an extension of the "craft" element of bushcraft (if that "bushcraft" term is a thing?) instead of the wild living skills. It's all fruit from the same tree to me, it just depends on which skills you prefer.

In short the weekend accelerated my skills and I had a lot of fun!

 

[Brizzlebush]

Ahh I bought one of Max's, was hoping Peter Kovacs might have had some for sale but alas he didn't bring any with him.

Max who, out of curiosity? I saw some of Peter's, they're gorgeous.

 

[Bhod]

Max who, out of curiosity? I saw some of Peter's, they're gorgeous.

Maximillian Neukaufler, yeah there were a couple of people at Spoonfest with Peter's axes, lovely to look at and a nice feel to them. The one I bought from Max is a on the heavier side and hollow ground, really nice to look at and a good solid feel to it.

 

[Brizzlebush]

Maximillian Neukaufler, yeah there were a couple of people at Spoonfest with Peter's axes, lovely to look at and a nice feel to them. The one I bought from Max is a on the heavier side and hollow ground, really nice to look at and a good solid feel to it.

Very nice indeed.

 

[plastic-ninja]

I’d been eyeing up Robin’s axes for a while as I do have a bit of a soft spot for Sheffield steel.
Sold all my Gransfors axes & replaced with one I forged with Dave Budd plus a heavy one he forged without me. Robin’s axe is nicely in between the two.

 

[Stew]

I’d been eyeing up Robin’s axes for a while as I do have a bit of a soft spot for Sheffield steel.
Sold all my Gransfors axes & replaced with one I forged with Dave Budd plus a heavy one he forged without me. Robin’s axe is nicely in between the two.

Which one is his middles zied one? I keep thinking about getting the carving axe but um and aah.

 

[Bhod]

I’d been eyeing up Robin’s axes for a while as I do have a bit of a soft spot for Sheffield steel.
Sold all my Gransfors axes & replaced with one I forged with Dave Budd plus a heavy one he forged without me. Robin’s axe is nicely in between the two.

I did look at Robin's axes, a little too light for me, also looked at the Karlson which I quite liked but again just a little too light, over-riding factor for me was the hollow grind to Max's. Would have liked to have handled a Kalthoff to compare but none available, ho hum, decision made now.

 

[plastic-ninja]

Which one is his middles zied one? I keep thinking about getting the carving axe but um and aah.

The Woodland axe. It’s a little bigger & heavier & a longer haft than the basic axe. Similar size to the GB SFA, which I always regretted selling.

 

[plastic-ninja]

Which one is his middles zied one? I keep thinking about getting the carving axe but um and aah.

It’s about the same price as the carver but more hatchet style head & longer.