Stone carving in a woodland on the Birtley Estate under the expert tutelage of Simon Keeley was a very special day. My first time holding a chisel and working stone was a joy. Simon's friendly, relaxed and helpful guidance throughout the day made the experience empowering and fascinating. I learnt a number of techniques to create lines and textures and had the opportunity to experiment with a range of tools. I was thrilled with the end result, which was a lovely keepsake of the day. Working alongside other stone carving regulars was inspiring; they were very friendly sharing helpful tips and talking about their projects. I would thoroughly recommend this stone carving class to anyone wanting to try something new. You will be truly inspired by this talented teacher.