Sylvankin Avis 

I’ve been a woodworker since secondary school and have maintained an enthusiasm for it all that time. However I have not had the opportunity to create something out of wood by a process close to sculpture before. Here on the brilliant Sylvakin course, led by two excellent teachers, I had the chance to develop new woodcraft skills in the process of ‘carving’ a long bow from a caulk of ash timber. The start of the process was using an axe to remove the excess wood before seeking the defined shape of a longbow using drawknives and spokeshaves. With the help and guidance of the Sylvakin staff, Alex and Frank, I was able to come away with a very reasonable longbow which I am sure will shoot well and true.
Overall the course was a great success, in a beautiful woodland setting and in the company of friendly fellow students. I enjoyed the experience immensely and learned much. Well done Sylvakin.

Had an absolute fantastic weekend and came away with a cracking long bow which is really nice and smooth to shoot.
Big shout out to Alex and Frank who where brilliant. They both gave very good guidance and help in making the longbow which has given me lots of confidence in making my own bows in the future.
Met some really nice folks doing the
course.
I've been an archer for about 15 years and wanted to do a course like this for a long time. So glad I finally did it.
The whole experience was well above what I expected.

Well done lads and big thank-you for the experience.
Not forgetting the chicken stew cooked on the camp fire. It was lovely.

And what a fantastic setting.

Fantastic pair of teachers, stunning location and great chicken stew. All of that is on top of the most fun I’ve had in a while. Came away with a bow I could shoot and the knowledge of making another! I’ll be back for another course soon lads, thank you for an awesome weekend and going above and beyond, especially with your time!

I absolutely loved this experience! I'm a total novice - I've never picked up a tool in my life but Frank and Alex are brilliant teachers, and they're SUPER patient with people who have no idea what they're doing. The atmosphere was always relaxed and friendly, and the time absolutely flew by! I still can't believe I've made an axe 😅 I highly recommend SylvanKin.

Friendly, helpful, down to earth guys, clear instructions given, talked about history of the shields, only thing I'd say is lots of waiting around for help on what to do next, which was difficult for my son who has autism and adhd. Lovely chicken stew cooked over a campfire and beautiful surroundings. I highly
recommend this workshop.

Recently I attended a longbow making course which was bought as a gift. After being met at the gate by Alex and Frank we drove a short distance to a clearing in a large wood with a large open shelter. After some formal introductions and a concise health and safety brief Frank and Alex explained what the two days would entail starting with a detailed explanation of what a wood stave should consist of regarding grains. I honestly didn’t realise how much time and physical effort went into making a bow. At the end of the first day I looked at my lump of lumber and thought, this is never going to be a working longbow! However due to the skills imparted to us by both Alex and Frank, plus their patience, which was put to the test on several occasions, I ended up with an acceptable, for a first time, stringed bow. The food provided was excellent cooked over logs which complimented the setting perfectly.
The course offered great value for money and I can’t remember enjoying a weekend more in a long time!
I would thoroughly recommend attending one of these events, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!
Thank you Alex and Frank!

My wife booked this for me as a surprise and it was incredible.
Alex and Frank were both very knowledgeable, great teachers and a good laugh as well.
They made me feel very welcome and provided everything I could have asked for to help me build the bow.

Couldn't recommend highly enough and can't wait for the next time I book something with them... @Frank double headed axe forging needs to be done!

My 12yr old son thoroughly enjoyed the bow crafting workshop. It was a very positive experience for him as a novice, he was guided with expert knowledge and patience. The workshop leader was very attentive, a great teacher and enabled my son to create something he is truly proud of. The food provided was yummy and tailored to my sons dietary needs. It was great to camp in the woods, enjoy nature and work in a beautiful setting. I would highly reccomend this to anyone!

Alex and Frank put on a wonderful weekend in a beautiful woodland, with detailed comprehensive instruction which left me with a thorough enough understanding of bow making that I'm confident to go away and do this myself in the future.
They are warm and welcoming, the environment is friendly and inclusive.
They cooked for us all on both days and it was fantastic too.
I highly recommend and would love to join them again.

Awesome experience. I would highly recommend anyone interested in bows or archery to get in touch and give it a go

Spotted a Facebook advert for wood craft activity based in York. Booked & very smooth process. Great day with 2 experienced staff that gave guidance without being overly intrusive. Activity based indoors at York cafe ‘Drift’ with amazing food, and repeat drinks as part of the package. Materials and tools provided for a 5 hour workshop. Amazing value, great leading, a reasonable sized group to manage with all the right support and cracking refreshments. Would not hesitate to book any of their events.