Join us for a two-day workshop, led by Jeremy Ralph with the Material Cultures team and Oxfordshire Community Land Trust, exploring both the theory and hands-on practice of building with timber.
THE WORKSHOP: This workshop will explore the use of local timber to construct housing. The first day will consist of guided visits to local sites where timber is grown and processed, focusing on how it can be produced regeneratively in local landscapes. On the second day, participants will learn about timber construction through the making and application of wooden shingles. Participants will work with shallow-cut logs and learn techniques from a shingles specialist, using specialised tools to split and shape the wood. These workshops welcome people of all building abilities, beginners as well as experienced practitioners. All materials and equipment are provided.
Jeremy Ralph has been working in forestry and timber for over twenty years. Starting out in Cumbria working on forest operations, Jez went onto study forestry at Aberdeen leading to management of the Architectural Association's forest campus at Hooke Park. After a travel scholarship in 2012 to study timber architecture and localised supply-chains Jez formed what is now Evolving Forests to use his specialist knowledge of timber growing & timber properties to create modern bio-based solutions for the built environment. Evolving Forests is now involved in creating direct connections between live builds and local materials as well as media creation to build a deeper cultural connection with our forests and trees.
Oxfordshire Community Land Trust (OCLT): is a non-profit organisation that brings land into community ownership across Oxfordshire for the benefit of local people. Its main focus at the moment is creating genuinely and permanently affordable, community-led housing. Rooted in the values of sustainability, cooperation, and local empowerment, OCLT partners with individuals, groups, and organisations to build homes and places that meet real community needs.
ACCESS: Some of the site visits on day 1 of each workshop will be held on rough terrain and may pose issues for those in wheelchairs or with reduced mobility. Reach out to us (josh@oclt.org.uk) if you would like more information and photos in order to assess together whether you would be able to access these sites. There is a wheelchair-accessible toilet at the main workshop site at Makespace, Aristotle Lane.
TRANSPORTATION: Material Cultures and OCLT are rooted in a low-carbon approach so please travel to the main workshop site (Makespace Oxford on Aristotle Lane, OX2 6TP) by public or shared transport if you can. We will be trying to do the same. We will provide transportation by minibus from Makespace to all sites we visit on day 1 of the workshop.
RESEARCH: OCLT will be working with researchers from Oxford and Oxford Brookes Universities to assess the impact of these workshops. Participants will be asked to complete pre-attendance and post-attendance questionnaires, and participate in a brief reflection session as part of the workshop.
PRICE: Many people are under-represented in land work and construction and we want to do all we can to help respond to this. Material Cultures and Oxfordshire Community Land Trust are both not-for-profit and we have tried to keep the price as low as possible. Before booking, we encourage all our learners to read the booking guidelines linked below. Price includes tuition, materials, tools, lunch and refreshments.
If you have any questions regarding the workshop, please email info@materialcultures.org
£340/person Solidarity fee
£240/person Standard fee
£0-180/person Concession fee (sliding scale)
BOOKING: There is a limited number of places in the workshop and booking is essential. Please read the BOOKING GUIDELINES before buying your ticket.
CONCESSION FEE: If you wish to apply for the concession fee, please fill in the FORM and explain your circumstances, based on the eligibility criteria listed.
Oxfordshire Community Land Trust manages the concession tickets. If you have any questions, please email josh@oclt.org.uk with subject line format: Workshop Name_concession tickets
Example: Timber Cladding with Jeremy Ralph, 2025_concession tickets