I'm a beginner in this field. I've just found an eight inch olive 'seedling' in an unexpected place in my garden. Can I turn this into a Bonsai, and if so, how should I begin?

SJHancock wrote: I'm a beginner in this field. I've just found an eight inch olive 'seedling' in an unexpected place in my garden. Can I turn this into a Bonsai, and if so, how should I begin?

You should begin by doing nothing.
Just leave it alone and let it grow.
Meanwhile, start studying the subject.
Google for Olive Bonsai, there are many good articles about it. Also learn about growing a trunk.
I just posted three links to good articles about it in another topic.

Start making a plan, what shape and how big you want the bonsai to become, and learn how and when to get the tree out of the ground.