Nick and Sophie Gosman are carving wooden spoons to improve their mental health

A father and daughter have taken up an unusual hobby to improve their mental health.

Nick and Sophie Gosman of Fersfield took to carving wooden spoons last October, after Nick gave his daughter wood carving tools for her 23rd birthday.

They both believe the hobby has significantly improved their mental health and helped them cope with and overcome recent setbacks.

“We have both suffered some setbacks recently,” said dad Nick, 58.

“I lost my job and I’m finding it difficult to find employment, and Sophie has really been feeling the isolation and lack of opportunities of living in a village after she returned from university.”

The pair started carving in the back garden and, as the weather turned colder, they moved into the conservatory ... spreading wood chippings throughout the house.

This is Nick’s first foray into arts and crafts, having spent more than 30 years as a crop scientist, at one time working at the John Innes Centre in Norwich.

Sophie has an artistic temperament and has just completed training as a film director at Bournemouth Arts University.

She said: “I find that it is so absolutely absorbing and satisfying, literally hours can pass without you noticing.”

The pair only use ancient tools that would be recognised by woodcarvers from hundreds of years ago, such as an axe, spoke shave and a straight and crooked knife – no power tools are used.

Each spoon starts out as a piece of wood that has either been pruned, or has fallen naturally.

“We would both definitely recommend spoon-carving to anyone who is feeling low, or needs an absorbing hobby to help them get through life’s setbacks,” said Sophie.

“We are certainly living proof as we always feel much happier when we are carving our spoons. We call it feeling ‘spooniful’.”

To find out more about Nick and Sophie’s creations, go to their website.