Crafted by experience, inspired by nature.
Our Story
What’s in a name?
Our name is inspired by nature and storytelling. A yaffle is an old English nickname for the green woodpecker, known for its distinctive laughing call — a symbol of curiosity and energy. A bosk is a small, sheltered grove of trees — a place of growth, creativity, and quiet inspiration.
We’re among a rare group of artisan woodsmiths working exclusively with native British hardwoods chosen not for uniformity, but for character. Unlike imported timbers, our native species grow wild, resulting in richly figured grain and striking natural variation.
Every board is handpicked for its beauty, provenance, and story, traceable from woodland to country estate. This is more than sourcing, it’s stewardship. And by working with local, sustainably sourced timber, we honour the landscape and minimise our environmental footprint.
The result: furniture with a story as rich as its design, each piece stunningly unique, and made to last.
Together, Yaffle & Bosk represents the balance we bring to our work: lively ideas rooted in thoughtful design.
Rob Williams, Founder
Yaffle & Bosk was founded in 2021 by Rob Williams, a highly skilled and imaginative craftsman with over 15 years of experience in bespoke carpentry and traditional joinery. Prior to launching Yaffle & Bosk, Rob ran a successful independent business, delivering a wide range of custom projects from high-end handcrafted kitchens and fitted hardwood furniture to unique festival seating installations and bespoke timber interiors. His work has always been rooted in precision, creativity, and a deep respect for the natural materials he uses.
When the COVID-19 pandemic brought a rare pause to his usually fast-paced workshop, Rob found the time to reflect, refine his passion, and reimagine his next chapter. It was during this time that Yaffle & Bosk was born—a brand focused on crafting luxury Devon-made furniture that is sustainable, characterful, and entirely unique.
Terry Gorst, Director
Terry’s journey to Yaffle & Bosk has been anything but conventional. After winning a national design award at 18 for an adjustable wooden table built for wheelchair users, his path led away from the workshop and into careers in advertising and the NHS.
Over two decades as a neurological physiotherapist, and a PhD in neuroscience later, his passion for craftsmanship remained quietly persistent. In January 2025, he joined Yaffle & Bosk to finally pursue that long-held love of wood, design and skilled joinery. Now business partner with founder Rob Williams, Terry is helping to grow the business while honing his craft. He’s proud to work with beautiful, ethically sourced timber to create pieces that are thoughtful, practical and made to last.
Drawing on years of experience and a lifelong love for woodwork, Rob, Terry and the team handcraft a portfolio of designs and can make everything from live-edge dining tables to bespoke commissions – all from handpicked, responsibly sourced British hardwoods.
Each piece tells a story, not just of craftsmanship and timeless design, but of nature, and provenance. Understanding the provenance (origin) and story of every tree we use matters to us. We ensure we know the country estate, National Trust estate or woodland from whence it came. We only work with trusted sawmills, with Grown in Britain accreditation; a guarantee of quality, provenance and sustainable practices.
Whether you’re seeking a statement table or a one-of-a-kind interior feature, Yaffle & Bosk brings together UK furniture-making tradition with modern creativity, all from the heart of Devon.
At Yaffle & Bosk, sustainability is more than a principle, it’s built into every stage of our process. We use only British-grown hardwoods sourced from Grown in Britain–certified sawmills, often from storm-felled trees or managed woodland across the South West. This local, low-impact approach not only reduces transport emissions but also supports biodiversity, the British economy and regional forestry.
Every offcut is reused or repurposed, and our finishes are plant-based, low-VOC, and safe for both people and planet. We use intentionally low energy processes in our workshop, favouring smaller hand tools, to large high energy usage machines. Even our packaging is plastic-free and recyclable.
We believe sustainability is about longevity too, designing and crafting furniture that will last a lifetime, with materials that tell a story.
We've Worked With...
Kind Words.
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