About

Founded by Stephen Ryan, producing, demonstrating and teaching the skills of non powered traditional woodcraft.

Green Woodworking

Green woodwork is an ancient woodland craft that uses freshly cut timber, which allows the wood to be shaped easily by hand tools, into household items such as furniture and kitchen-ware. Woodland crafts also have a foundation of environmental sustainability, minimising the impact on the environment via locally sourced coppice and continuous cover forestry materials, and the use of hand tools, rather than imported timbers and electrical equipment.

About

Stephen Ryan from Green Woodwork Ireland has had a passion for woodcraft for the majority of his life, culminating in 25 years of professional experience, but his passion for woodcraft started from a much earlier age. Stephen has a First-Class Honours in Furniture Design and is a member of the Heritage Crafts Association and the Association of Pole Lathe Turners, Green Woodworkers and Associated Crafts. Stephen started his career as an apprentice church pipe organ builder, and has practiced many forms of woodwork over the years, including furniture design & make, furniture restoration, joinery as part of a landscape design and build team and fit-out for shops and nightclubs. Now concentrating on the use of handtools only to produce furniture, decorative carving, woodturnings and carved spoons. 

Materials

Working with green wood is a pleasure that is hard to match! Green woodwork is a form of woodcraft that enables the use of freshly cut “green wood” and simple handtools to make functional products. The wood is shaped while it is still fresh and easy to work. Finished pieces change shape slightly When dried, then they are completed with natural oils and waxes, giving each piece individuality and tactile touch. Hardwoods of many species are locally sourced through continuous cover, small scale woodland management and coppicing, alongside gathering materials from other small businesses involved in the management of trees and woodlands.

Tools & Equipment

Stepping back in time and immersing yourself in a craft that has been practiced throughout the centuries is a real joy. Pieces are produced on a traditional foot-powered pole lathe or vice known as a shave horse or “Coopers Mare”. Simple handtools such as the axe knife, draw knife for carving and chisels for turning are the mainstay of the green woodworker, sandpaper is never used, leaving the makers tool marks clearly visible. Stephen enjoys a happy healthy workshop with minimal use of electrical equipment, reducing or eliminating harmful noise, dust and chemicals. 

Minnowburn National Trust & The Workshop

Green Woodwork Ireland's workshop space is located at the National Trusts, Minnowburn Wardens Office, close to Shawsbridge, Belfast. The Wardens Office dates back to at least 1832, predating the building of Terrace Hill House in 1856, and makes up its farm buildings and stables. The workshop space was once used as a Milking Byre, added to the existing building in the 1920's. 

The National Trust at Minnowburn helps support a number of small environmentally sustainable businesses and social enterprises including Minnowburn Community Allotments, Belfast & District Beekeepers Association and Piccolo Mondo, supplying the many walkers with fresh tea, coffee and locally made tray bakes from their restored Citroen Hy van.

Walks around Minnowburn, Close to the city, in the heart of the country

Minnowburn is on the southern edge of Belfast, its meadows and woodlands rolling down to the Lagan river - perfect for a short stroll or the start of a longer walk.

Dander along the burn that gives the area its name, beeches towering above, past where generations of children fished for minnows.

Climb Terrace Hill and discover the garden built by linen merchant Ned Robinson, where you can have a picnic or take in the views across the Lagan valley.

The old avenue curves back down the hill to the Sandpit field, which in once reverberated to the sound of ‘Pop for Peace’, a concert in 1969 endorsed by John Lennon.

On the other side is a short walk to the Giant’s Ring, a huge neolithic earth henge and tomb where you can imagine scenes of ancient gatherings and rituals.

Paths wind through fields, past the mill village of Edenderry and back to the river, to its first historical crossing at Shaw’s Bridge, named after an officer in Oliver Cromwell’s army.

Keep an eye out for sculptures and natural art along the path and see if you can catch the blue flash of a Kingfisher, or an Otter poking its head above the water.

A History of Minnowburn & The National Trust

We first became involved at Minnowburn in June 1945, when the Minnowburn Beeches, the famous stand of trees alongside the Ballylesson Road at Shaw's Bridge, came under threat when a felling permit was applied for to allow building.

As the Shaw's Bridge was a well-established retreat and walking destination for Belfast, we stepped in to buy the ten acres surrounding the trees and protect this special area from development.

A generous offer

But there was a twist in the tale - with funds unavailable and pleas to local Malone Road residents unsuccessful, out of the blue a local philanthropist Bennett Sergie offered the full amount of £1,400, equivalent to about £45,000 today. Unfortunately, before the Trust could purchase the land, Bennett Sergie took his own life.

Success at last

However, the publicity his offer had generated meant that the felling was delayed and we eventually acquired the Beeches in 1952, with help from the Ulster Land Fund. As further land became available around the Beeches, we took the opportunity to further protect the area, purchasing an adjoining field of 17 acres in 1962.

When the owner of Terrace Hill applied for planning permission to build houses on their property, fearful that the development would spoil the surrounding area, a further 100 acres were purchased, again with a grant from the Ulster Land Fund, bringing the property to the size that it is today.

National Trust - Minnowburn