Events at the World Stick Museum

photograph of children participating in an archery session at an outdoor range. In the foreground, a young girl with braided hair, wearing a green tunic and a quiver at her waist, holds a tall wooden longbow at full draw, aiming at a target. Beside her, a young boy with curly hair also holds a bow, preparing his shot, while two other children wait their turn in the background. A man in traditional waistcoat and trousers stands nearby, supervising the group, and a golden retriever sits calmly on the grass. To the right, a large straw target features several arrows already clustered near the bullseye.

We run a wide range of events throughout the year, from hands‑on workshops to guided tours and family activities. Use the filters below to find events that interest you.

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A wide-angle photograph of an outdoor woodworking workshop in a sun-dappled forest. In the foreground, an older man with a grey beard and a tan apron sits on a wooden bench, meticulously carving a dark, twisted wooden walking stick with a small knife. Beside him, a young woman with braids and glasses is focused on detailing a lighter wooden staff. In the background, another man and woman are also engaged in carving and sanding various sticks. The scene is filled with wood shavings, traditional hand tools, and a rustic wooden rack holding several finished walking sticks and canes against a stone wall.

Carve Your First Walking Stick

14 March – A hands‑on workshop for beginners that takes you through the basics of creating a practical walking stick for you or someone you love.
photograph of a woman and a young girl in a modern museum gallery. The woman, with short curly hair and a green utility jacket, is carefully holding a long, ornate red velvet and gold ceremonial baton, presenting it to the girl. The girl, wearing a yellow jumper and dark braids, reaches out to touch the baton with a delighted and curious expression. In the background, a large glass display case titled ARMY BATONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD houses several other decorated batons, and a separate lit case features a life-sized figure of an Nguni warrior in traditional attire holding a staff. Other museum visitors and a map are visible in the soft, ambient lighting of the hall.

Guided Tour: Sticks Through History

2 April – A curator‑led tour of the main galleries that delves into the history and evolution of the way sticks have shaped human culture.
photograph of a family of four working together on a large lawn to build a den from long wooden branches. A man in a blue plaid shirt and a woman in a green t-shirt are leaning against the structure, while two young children help lean smaller sticks against the frame. The den is partially covered with leafy oak branches. A golden retriever sits patiently on the grass nearby next to a coil of twine and a metal bucket. The background features a dense line of lush green trees under a slightly overcast sky.

Family Den‑Building Challenge

20 April – Build a shelter out of sticks that you can sleep in. Great fun for all the family.
photograph of an indoor workshop with a high, vaulted wooden-beamed ceiling and exposed brick walls. A man in a blue blazer and brown trousers stands in the centre, holding a large, thick cross-section of a tree trunk with visible rings. He is smiling and giving a presentation to a group of about a dozen people of various ages who are seated in a semi-circle on wooden benches. The participants are dressed in casual outdoor clothing, some holding notebooks and pens, listening intently. Large arched windows at the back look out onto a forest, and warm Edison-style bulbs hang from the rafters.

The Science of Wood

8 May – A talk by Dr. Rowan Birch on the properties of wood. Dr Birch's talks are always informative and fun.
photograph capturing the weathered hands of an experienced craftsman as he meticulously cars a complex Welsh love spoon from a block of sycamore wood. The close-up view focuses on his calloused, dust-covered fingers, which carefully hold a small, fine-bladed sloyd knife, its point precisely defining the intricate Celtic knotwork and heart-shaped patterns already partially formed in the wood grain. Fresh wood shavings accumulate on his leather apron and the rustic, cluttered wooden workbench, which is covered in other carving tools—chisels, files, and finished spoons—under soft, natural daylight. The craftsman's focused eyes, stubbled grey beard, and furrowed brow are softly blurred in the background, adding to the feeling of deep concentration.

Advanced Carving Techniques

12 June – A workshop for experienced carvers that will teach you how to apply advanced techniques of carving.