About Us and Ty'r Philip Evan Farm
Tanya - Toolboxtan
Channel 4 - Britains Best Woodworker
Channel 4 - Britains Best Woodworker
Living my dream is the simplest way to describe life on the farm. After nearly twenty-five years as Head of Product Design, specialising in woodwork, I followed a long-held calling toward a more hands-on, land-led life.
I first fell in love with the Usk valley while filming Britain’s Best Woodworker in 2022 at the Glanusk Estate. Just a f
Living my dream is the simplest way to describe life on the farm. After nearly twenty-five years as Head of Product Design, specialising in woodwork, I followed a long-held calling toward a more hands-on, land-led life.
I first fell in love with the Usk valley while filming Britain’s Best Woodworker in 2022 at the Glanusk Estate. Just a few months later, a farm came up for sale only two miles away, above the town of Crickhowell on the Llangattock Escarpment — it felt like fate. From the farmyard you can see straight across the valley to where the programme was filmed.
Since arriving, I’ve built everything here by hand. The workshop barn and the cabin have been created using traditional craft skills and sustainable methods wherever possible, always with deep respect for the land. The workshop barn is a place for adults to come and learn, to slow down and make with their hands. The hand-built cabin is a place to stay — designed for switching off and becoming fully immersed in the landscape.
Channel 4 - Britains Best Woodworker
Channel 4 - Britains Best Woodworker
Channel 4 - Britains Best Woodworker
Our Story
Our Story
Our Story
We’ve been on the farm since 2023, but the road that led us here was a long one. It took years to find this place, and many miles driving the back roads of Wales. Then came the day we turned up the lane, the kind of drive that makes you slow down without meaning to. As soon as we stepped out of the camper van, we knew. Truly knew.
That old
We’ve been on the farm since 2023, but the road that led us here was a long one. It took years to find this place, and many miles driving the back roads of Wales. Then came the day we turned up the lane, the kind of drive that makes you slow down without meaning to. As soon as we stepped out of the camper van, we knew. Truly knew.
That old saying—when you know, you know—rang true in a way we’d never felt before. The farm felt ready for us, and we were ready for it. Since then, we’ve given this place our time, our hands, and our hearts, working with the land to build something lasting. A farm with stories in its bones, and a future worthy of the life it’s always held.
Lucy
Our Story
Our Story
An engineer living in London and working largely in urban energy system decarbonisation, the last thing my friends and family thought I’d do is sell up and move to the country, but a growing awareness of our impact on nature left me with an overwhelming desire to up-sticks, buy a bit of land and try to make what difference I could. I’d ne
An engineer living in London and working largely in urban energy system decarbonisation, the last thing my friends and family thought I’d do is sell up and move to the country, but a growing awareness of our impact on nature left me with an overwhelming desire to up-sticks, buy a bit of land and try to make what difference I could. I’d never imagined we could strike so lucky: a slice of the beautiful but still-rough-round-the-edges Bannau Brycheiniog National Park with seven fields of unimproved grazing and even an acre of ancient woodland. Since we became the latest guardians of the land I’ve been learning as much as I can about how to enhance the agricultural and biodiversity value of the holding (which has been the best and biggest surprise of our move to be honest) as I believe the two can and must work together for our flora, fauna and food production to be sustainable and flourish. When not roaming our fields you can also find me up to my elbows in lime mortar, repointing our longhouse, or wielding a scythe, which will both keep me busy for a few years to come!
Book an experience at Ty'r Philip Evan Farm
Book a workshop.
An open Dutch barn once used for tractors and hay, now hand-crafted and restored by Toolboxtan to host bespoke workshops.
Book Cabán Tarren.
Cabán Tarren has been thoughtfully handcrafted by Toolboxtan, with sustainability and environmental responsibility at its core.
To book your stay, please use the link via Unique Hideaways. Alternatively, if you prefer to book directly, explore our workshops to design your own bespoke weekend experience, then get in touch through the “Contact Us” section.
The journey of how the spaces have been on at Ty'r Philip Ev
Some sneeky peeks of inside the Cabán.
Workshops at Ty'r Philip Evan Farm
BOOK A WORKSHOP!!
I’ve simplified and slowed down the booking process so you can explore the workshops at your own pace.
Simply choose your workshop and preferred date, then send me a message to begin creating a bespoke experience , carefully designed to be skill-packed, hands-on, and memorable.
Each month I also celebrate a featured “Workshop of the Month”, highlighting a particular craft, material, or meaningful theme.
If you’d like to make the most of your time here on the farm, you can also extend your stay by booking Cabán Tarren and fully immersing yourself in the experience.
Cabán Tarren & Create packages are also available.
Workshop of the Month for — June
Celebrating the Men Who Shape Our World
Each month, I dedicate the workshop to a particular project or theme. June’s workshop is inspired by Father’s Day, but it also explores the many meanings behind those words and relationships. This month is a celebration of all men, fathers, brothers, sons, mentors, friends, partners, and the people whose influence has helped shape our lives and our worlds.
This month’s project combines craftsmanship, restoration, and connection: creating a handcrafted butcher’s chopping block alongside restoring a vintage axe into a functional meat cleaver tool, perfect for BBQ days, food preparation, and gathering people together around good food.
The Workshop
Butcher’s Chopping Block & Vintage Axe Restoration
4 hours — £150
For this workshop, I have sourced four lengths of beautiful spalted beech, a timber long associated with kitchens, food preparation, and durability. Each plank is 50mm thick, and you will decide the final size of your chopping block yourself.
I have deliberately left the dimensions open because one of the joys of these workshops is allowing each student to choose the scale, character, and importance of the wood they work with. Each long plank can produce around six to eight boards depending on the chosen sizes.
What makes this especially meaningful is that every board made from the same plank remains connected through its grain and origin. The wood begins as one piece and becomes many individual objects, each carrying part of the same story.
The workshop can be booked individually or shared as a group experience:
- One person making a meaningful gift
- A father and daughter
- Father and son
- Brothers, sisters, friends, partners
- A stag party or group celebration
- Anyone wanting to honour someone who has shaped their life
One plank. One group. Shared roots, individual pieces.
Alongside crafting your chopping block, you will also restore a vintage axe: stripping it back, cleaning, sharpening, personalising, and transforming it into a beautiful and functional meat chopping tool worthy of splitting BBQ cuts and serving beside your handmade board.
So whether you book for one, for two, or for a larger group, let’s make June a month dedicated to celebrating the men who have shaped our world, whoever they may be.
I've no set dates for these workshops - so get planning and book it. Once these four planks are gone they will be gone.
Workshop 1: A quarter of the day at the bench - Hazel handle serving tray: 2.5 hours £100.
This short workshop experience is designed to be budget- and time-friendly. You’ll make a beautiful serving tray with hazel handles—a statement piece that adds a real wow factor, even if it’s just for breakfast in bed.
You’ll try some of the most enjoyable aspects of woodworking, including using a knife and a drawknife, hand block plane, impact driver, and basic finishing techniques.
The session is suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to experienced woodworkers, who can enjoy the relaxed pace and satisfying result.
The example shown features hazel handles and a reclaimed 15mm waney-edge oak plank. Tray base materials may vary, but you’ll be able to choose your board when you arrive at the workshop, all while enjoying the workshop and the view from the Giants Table.
Workshop 2: Half the skills at the bench: Hardwood Tabletop sliding shelf : 3 hours from £140.
Half Day at the Bench: Hardwood Table-Top Sliding Shelf This focused half-day course offers an introduction to traditional bench skills, with an emphasis on working hardwood and precise joinery. You’ll work primarily with hand tools, with thoughtful use of cordless drills and impact drivers where appropriate. Using sustainably sourced hardwood, you’ll design and build a sliding table-top shelf featuring a refined tenon-and-peg joint. An adjustable end book stop allows the shelf to hold a full row of books, a combination of books and objects, or a smaller curated display, making it both versatile and practical. Crafted from three contrasting hardwoods to create depth and visual interest, this compact project is rich in skill-building. The shelf is designed to be fully dismantled for flat-pack storage, with the strength coming from the carefully fitted slot joints and hardwood pegs rather than fixings, a celebration of traditional joinery and thoughtful design. Ideal for beginners seeking a strong foundation in woodworking, as well as for those looking to extend their bench skills, you’ll leave with a beautifully made, sustainably crafted piece designed to last a lifetime in your home. The example showcases cedar, oak and ebony pegs. The wood choice will vary but where possible will be reclaimed hardwood with stunning grain and figuration.
Workshop 3: Half a day: Forest to footpath walking stick: Woodland Craft Journey: 3/4 hours from £120.
Enjoy a guided walk across 26 acres of hay meadows and ancient woodland, discovering the seasonal highlights along the way. With expert guidance from Toolboxtan, you’ll hand-coppice hazel before returning to the workshop to shape, whittle, and carve your very own perfectly balanced hazel walking stick — choosing either a knob stick or a thumb stick.
The workshop costs £120 per finished stick, not per person, making it a perfect shared experience with a loved one. If you’d like to join the walk but not make a stick, there’s a stunning spot to relax and enjoy the view from the Giant's Table. Alternatively, you can add £30 to craft your own stick alongside your companion.
Workshop 4: A half-day course, rich in hands-on skill-building: Plank to Tool: Build Your Own Toolbox Caddy: 4 hours £150.
Plank to Tool: Build Your Own Toolbox Caddy
This half-day workshop is a great project for getting to grips with traditional woodworking hand tools and understanding the importance of design decisions. Your toolbox caddy will be constructed from a plank of your choice on the day, featuring a drawknife-shaped hazel handle and screws, all completed within the session. The example is in oak and really looks gorgeous.
Workshop 5: Half a day at the bench: Wooden chopping board & wooden butter knife: 4 hours from £140.
During this half-day workshop, you’ll create a beautiful kitchen chopping board alongside a hand-shaped beechwood butter knife.
Before the session, you’ll share the dimensions for your ideal chopping board, allowing the day to focus on shaping, refining, and finishing your piece. The addition of the butter knife provides an opportunity to explore design choices and showcase your hand skills.
Both items are finished with a high-quality, food-safe oil, resulting in practical, tactile heirlooms made for the heart of the home.
The cost is £130 per finished product, not per person, making this an ideal workshop to enjoy with a loved one. For an additional £20, you can share the workshop with a friend or loved one, creating two butter knives and one chopping board together.
The example chopping board is oak, though the timbers available will depend on what I have to offer on the day—there will always be options to choose from.
Workshop 6: One day at the bench: Planks to heirloom stool enhanced: 7 hours - Solid hardwood e.g Oak or Ash from £280
What a gorgeous project to walk away with after a day in the workshop. This beautifully proportioned high-back heirloom stool, complete with an additional rest for an instrument or a book, will truly be a showstopper in your home.
Under my guidance, you’ll build the piece from start to finish in a single day, working primarily with hand tools alongside an impact driver where appropriate. Throughout the process, you’ll develop essential woodworking and hand-tool skills that will stay with you long after the workshop ends — even if it’s simply to sit back on your finished stool, a book nestled behind you.
I’m happy to advise on wood choices at the time of booking and pricing based on stock. The example is in oak but the standard course will be in pine, please discuss when messaging me. If you want to book this project for a 1-2-1 bespoke day the cost will be £300 as will include more variations and varying skill levels can be tweaked to suit you.
Workshop 7: Shave horse weekend. 2.5 days: £750
Project Shave Horse – A 'Weekend' at the Bench
Spend a weekend (or equivalent days) immersed in traditional woodworking as you build your very own shave horse — a foot-operated bench designed to hold wood securely while you carve and shape using hand tools.
Working in my farm workshop barn, you’ll be guided step by step through the process. By the end of the course, you’ll take home a fully functional shave horse, along with the skills and confidence to use it for shaping chair legs, spindles, tool handles, and more.
The final day is dedicated to putting your shave horse straight to work: using locally sourced hazel, you’ll craft a finished product to take home, cementing both technique and understanding.
Small group: Limited to 4 students
Setting: Farm workshop barn
Tools: Full access provided
Schedule:
8 hours per day
Final day: 4 hours
Days can be arranged any time during the week
Craft a tool you’ll treasure for years, and leave with practical skills rooted in traditional craft. Accommodation is available. Please feel free to discuss this when you get in touch to arrange your experience.
Workshop 8: Bespoke bench workshop 1-2-1: 8 hours £300
Time at the bench with a difference!
BESPOKE BENCH Workshops. Have you a project you’ve been dreaming of but don’t know where to start? I’ll help you bring it to life. Workshops take place hands-on in the farm’s workshop barn, with the first consultation online to plan your project, timeline, and budget.
Banjo lessons: Have you ever wanted to learn the bluegrass banjo, Earl Scruggs style? : 1.5 hours £45
Have you ever wanted to learn the bluegrass banjo, Earl Scruggs style? Start at the beginning and unlock a life long love of the banjo, the music and the ability to play in a jam session or set up a band. Once you start its an epic journey of learning and banjo!
To enhance your experience
In the workshop I have tool walls of restored vintage tools that I have worked on. You can buy them from me, so if during the workshop you fall in love with that lovely little axe or hammer you can buy them to take home. It's definitely worth a look, especially if you are starting out and need some good tools for your own toolbox. Three tools for £20 or£10 each.
walking distance from the farm
Crickhowell
The Llangattock Escarpment
The Llangattock Escarpment
English
Set in the heart of the Usk Valley and at the gateway to the Black Mountains, Crickhowell is an ideal base for exploring Bannau Brycheiniog. With independent shops, local food, walking routes, and a vibrant community, the town and its surrounding villages offer something for every visitor.
Cymraeg
Wedi’i lleoli yng nghanol Dyffryn
English
Set in the heart of the Usk Valley and at the gateway to the Black Mountains, Crickhowell is an ideal base for exploring Bannau Brycheiniog. With independent shops, local food, walking routes, and a vibrant community, the town and its surrounding villages offer something for every visitor.
Cymraeg
Wedi’i lleoli yng nghanol Dyffryn Wysg ac wrth borth y Mynyddoedd Du, mae Crughywel yn fan delfrydol i archwilio Bannau Brycheiniog. Gyda siopau annibynnol, bwyd lleol, llwybrau cerdded a chymuned fywiog, mae’r dref a’i chyffiniau’n cynnig rhywbeth i bob ymwelydd.
The Llangattock Escarpment
The Llangattock Escarpment
The Llangattock Escarpment
The Llangattock Escarpment is a dramatic limestone cliff face within Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons), rising above the Usk Valley in south-east Wales. Shaped by centuries of quarrying, the escarpment is known for its striking rock faces, far-reaching views, and extensive underground cave systems, including Ogof y Daren Cilau and E
The Llangattock Escarpment is a dramatic limestone cliff face within Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons), rising above the Usk Valley in south-east Wales. Shaped by centuries of quarrying, the escarpment is known for its striking rock faces, far-reaching views, and extensive underground cave systems, including Ogof y Daren Cilau and Eglwys Faen.
Now designated a National Nature Reserve, the area offers rugged walking both along the plateau of Mynydd Llangattock and beneath the cliffs themselves. Paths reveal the remains of historic quarries, rare limestone flora, and a wild, challenging landscape that attracts walkers, cavers, and nature enthusiasts alike.
Key Features
Limestone Cliffs
Towering quarry-cut faces that support rare plants, including nationally important whitebeam species.
Quarry Heritage
Visible remains of 18th- and 19th-century limestone quarrying, with excavated cliffs, spoil mounds, and scattered boulders creating a stark, otherworldly terrain.
Cave Systems
Beneath the plateau lie some of Britain’s longest and most complex cave networks, with entrances such as Eglwys Faen(Stone Church) and Agen Allwedd.
Views
Extensive panoramic views across the Usk Valley to the Black Mountains.
Mynydd Llangattock
The rough, boggy gritstone plateau above the escarpment, offering remote walking and a true sense of exposure.
Contact Us
Do you have a question about booking the Cabán Tarren, attending a workshop or the land & woods. Send me a message, or give me a call to start arranging your time here on the farm.
