LN o.47 ivinSPRING 2018 gWoods MAGAZINE

Growing a future for Britain’s forests

PLUS Harnessing hand-power: using a two-handed Taming the : bushcraft activities CONTENTS

ike a well-coppiced tree, Living Woods Magazine lives on in a new incarnation, available online Land available to download wherever you are. Thank you to everyone who wrote in to say how much they enjoy receiving the magazine – we intend to maintain the same mix of features and articles which makes the magazine so appealing. As spring approaches we look at hiring contractors – is it worth the cost and how to avoid the pitfalls. David Hunter describes his love of managing woodland without power tools and Rod Waterfield harnesses student power to build a sustainable shelter. In a cultural blast, we review the V&A’s Into the Woods Exhibition, John Lewis-Stempel’s latest book The , and muse upon the symbolism inherent in trees. We hope you enjoy it.

Judith Millidge Editor  [email protected] 12

3 News and updates from the woodland world 5 View through the Trees by Julia Goodfellow-Smith 6 Growing a future for Britain’s forests 9 Woodlands Awards 2018 10 Getting Help Richard Hare deals with contractors  12 Into the Woods Grace Belben goes to the V&A exhibition 10 14 Building Woodland Skills by Rodney Waterfield 17 Events Round-up: Woodfairs and festivals in 2018 18 Two-handed David Hunter manages without power tools 21 Bushcraft Olivia Beardsmore explains all 24 Review: The Wood by John Lewis-Stempel 25 Woodnote Clare Haworth-Maden sees the symbolism in willow trees 26 Spring courses and Acknowledgements 18

COVER Designer and craftsman Alice Blogg carves the Grown in Britain Hero Award bowl. (Photo courtesy Alice Blogg) LivingWoodsMagazine.co.uk

Published by Woodlands Investment Management Ltd, 19 Half Moon Lane, London, SE24 9JU

2 Living Woods SPRING UPDATE

@Woodland News

THE NORTHERN FOREST – GOOD OR BAD? You can almost feel sorry for the government, who may have expected cries of unalloyed joy in January with the announcement that a whole new forest of some 50 million trees COMMISSION COPYRIGHT FORESTRY © CROWN will be planted across the north of England from Liverpool to Hull, with the M62 as its spine. While welcoming the whole proposal, Austin Brady, director of conservation at the Woodland Trust was quick to remind the public that a new forest could not compensate for the loss of ancient woodland which may result from other infrastructure FOREST LIVE 2018 schemes such as HS2. Derbyshire, Somerset and The Forestry Commission’s Forest Live concerts are And in the words of Oliver Dorset, and the South West back with an even better line-up this year. Artists Rackham, ‘Tree-planting (Devon and Cornwall) have include UB40, Paloma Faith, George Ezra, Kasabian is not synonymous with until 6 March to enter the anad Gary Barlow. They are all outdoor at venues conservation; it is an RFS Excellence in Forestry around the country: Bedgebury, Thetford, Delamere admission that conservation Awards 2018. Details are at Forest, Sherwood Forest, Dalby Forest, Cannock has failed’. Brady went on to www.rfs.org.uk/awards/. Chase, and Westonbirt Arboretum. A full list of dates say, ‘England is losing tree Award-winning architect, and tickets are here: www.forestry.gov.uk/music cover. We need to make broadcaster and academic sure we are protecting our Piers Taylor, who himself most important habitats lives in a self-built house in such as ancient woodland a working woodland, will Homes, three series of The Join the Royal Forestry as well as investing in new be presenting the awards at House that £100k Built and Society (RFS) major woodland creation the National Arboretum at Britain’s Most Spectacular From £4.54 a month schemes.’ Westonbirt in July. Backyard Builds for BBC Two. Piers has co-presented The RFS Excellence in • A free mentor visit by ROYAL FORESTRY World’s Most Extraordinary Forestry Co-ordinator a woodland management SOCIETY EXCELLENCE Rachel Thomas says: ‘We expert AWARDS 2018 are delighted that Piers • Visits to private woodlands and other exclusive venues Woodland owners has agreed to present the • QJF magazine and a and managers and awards. He has inspired fortnightly e-news forestry education many to look at how home- • Discounts on RFS courses, and skills organisations grown timber can contribute lectures, products & services in Gloucestershire, to modern design with Herefordshire, all the benefits for See what RFS members say Worcestershire, Cheshire, sustainable woodland in this video Shropshire, Staffordshire, management that brings.’

Living Woods 3 SPRING UPDATE

@Woodland News

REACHING FOR THE resistant glue, CLT is an SKY engineered wooden material Sumitomo Forestry has that is light, as strong as steel announced plans for a 350- and fire-resistant. m high skyscraper building. The 70-storey building will In 2010, the Japanese have a hybrid wood and government passed an steel structure, using 90% Act for the Promotion of wooden materials. A braced Use of Wood in Public steel structure will help Buildings – an admirable protect against earthquakes. commitment for a country It will incorporate 8,000 where woodland cover is a homes and include trees and mighty 67% (compared to foliage on balconies at every just 12% in the UK). Perhaps level. The visible interior better known for the will be all wood and in the concept of ‘Shinrin-yoku’, or words of the manufacturer, HERITAGE CRAFTS forest bathing, the Japanese who is committed to CONFERENCE: are also investing heavily in building high-rise wooden 10% CRAFTS FOR THE research into timber and buildings, ‘These structures of the world’s forests FUTURE wood technology, and this are like a forest, a habitat are protected areas Saturday 24 March 2018 building will utilise cross- for living things.’ Read more – an area the size Royal Society of Medicine, laminated timber (CLT). about high rise timber of India. Wimpole Street, London Made of layers of timber buildings, or ‘Plyscrapers’ on glued together with fire- BBC Future here. Speakers include Jojo Wood, apprentice clog-maker and wood-worker. JoJo is one of OLD-GROWTH FORESTS the world’s leading spoon- PROTECT BIRDS FROM carvers, and is training under RISING HEAT the last of the English clog- makers, Jeremy Atkinson. ncient woodlands More details here. Aare rightly valued for their unique ecosystems. Scientific American Magazine reports that the majestic old-growth Dropping big trees forests of the Pacific North- “ in the wood brings West protect birds from the rising heat caused by out the primeval climate change. Scientists man in you. Get it at Oregon University have analysed how the wrong and it populations of 13 different will kill you. bird species have changed Forester in BBC’s The Forest in the past 30 years. Essentially, populations within old-growth forests are weathering climate change better than birds elsewhere. To read the report, click here. ”

4 Living Woods VIEW THROUGH THE TREES

VIEW THROUGH THE TREES Julia Goodfellow-Smith meets up with the neighbours

plitting a woodland into several smaller plots creates a community Sof woodland owners. So, I have asked our community what the experience has been like in their first 12 to 18 months of ownership. Nicola and James have been using ponies to supplement power tools in controlling bracken and brambles.Their woodland is unrecognisable from the thicket they bought. They are delighted to see the return of wildlife and are looking forward to seeing their meadow bloom. Nicola says, ‘The woodland is my happy place where I can breathe clean air, exercise and build conservation value.’ For James, it is a retreat from his previous work environments and a place where he can develop useful skills for their next ambition – to be smallholders. Richard bought his woodland as a place for his children to experience and explore nature. He initially thought it would be an extension of his home. Now he also thinks of home as an extension of the woodland, even building a den from woodland branches in the garden. He is pleased that the novelty of spending time in the woods JULA GOODFELLOW-SMITH has not worn off for his children, and that they are spending less time on screens at looking at a hole, so we all love to see home now too. the photos.’ Gemma wanted somewhere for herself My husband Mike has always loved and her family that would always be there. The woodland is my being in woodlands, planting trees, Until they discovered that their plot is “ chopping them down and making things ancient woodland, complete with dormice, happy place where I from them. He loves the beauty of our they had plans to clear the brambles and can breathe clean air, woodland. ‘We have stately trees, create some flat areas. Instead, they have exercise and build Scots around our camp and daffodils made a few small paths for the children followed by bluebells from one end to the to run around, and are very careful not conservation value. other.’ He has been amazed by the variety to disturb the dormice or mycorrhizal of fungi we have, and at our reaction, fungi. There are times when the children accepting a slower pace of life there. are reluctant to go to the woods, but once All of our neighbours have said that there, they never want to leave. they enjoy being part of a community. For Tessa, who is renovating her house, ” Richard sums it up nicely. ‘I wasn’t the fact that the woodland does not need expecting us to make friends in the urgent attention is important. She feels woodland. The fact that we’re amongst a that part of the fun will be developing community of owners has made it more the woodland over time, to accommodate enjoyable than buying a stand-alone the changing needs of her children. For wood. I have enjoyed the social side, and now, there’s excitement in discovery.‘Our the children just run around playing with woodland camera is awesome. It’s hard each other. This is in such contrast to for the children to imagine a badger when modern-day life.’

Living Woods 5 MARKETING YOUR WOOD

GROWING A FUTURE FOR BRITAIN’S FORESTS

All woodland owners are concerned with the future of their wood. Camilla Hair explains how the Grown in Britain campaign is connecting supply chains to Britain’s forests and woodlands.

n its first four years, Grown in Britain which is benefiting from, and returning has established that some major economic value to, its local community. Iconstruction contractors would prefer to With a 10-year restoration management use British-grown timber. Grown in Britain plan in place to revive the woodland There is still a lot of has set up a licensing scheme covering and maximise its value to biodiversity, “ work to be done in all parts of the supply chain, from forest Woodruff’s other aims include conversion owner to wood-user. This means that end- of sustainably-grown and harvested bringing woodlands users can be assured of the British origins timber into resources available to the back into active of products from wood fuel to construction local community; removing invasive and joinery timber. rhododendrons and re-planting trees, management. To begin at the beginning, Grown in to generate a sustainable future; and to Britain has now licensed enough timber extend wildlife corridors and monitor to fill the Elizabeth Tower that houses wildlife populations through surveys. Big Ben around 400 times, and enough forest area to cover the equivalent of Social enterprises ” 345,000 football pitches. Its 80 licence- holders include woodlands of 20 hectares Julia Meldrum, who runs Woodruff and under, right up to Britain’s biggest Wood, has been a Grown in Britain manufacturer of wood products, BSW forest licence-holder for almost three Timber and its , and every stage years. ‘We have a full complement of along the supply chain in between. ‘There customers at the moment as we can only is still a lot of work to be done in bringing produce a limited amount of wood fuel woodlands back into active management,’ each year from our small forest. Repeat says Grown in Britain CEO Dougal customers come back because the wood is Driver. ‘There are potentially several guaranteed British, and because they like million more tonnes of wood which could being connected with a local business. The be brought into the supply chain, and Grown in Britain messaging reinforces there’s increasing demand for wood which the sustainability and local provenance of is demonstrably British in origin.’ the wood we produce, and helps people Woodruff Woodland, near Morpeth understand that, as well as producing in Northumberland, is one example of wood fuel, we are simultaneously a Grown in Britain-licensed woodland managing the woodland for wildlife.’

6 Living Woods MARKETING YOUR WOOD

ABOVE & BELOW: Hill Holt Wood in Lincolnshire is run as a social enterprise, with the profits reinvested for the good of the woodland.

A Grown in Britain forest licence-holder since the start of the campaign in 2013, Hill Holt Wood in Lincolnshire is a woodland social enterprise, and the profits from its now extensive portfolio of activities are reinvested for the good of the woodland and the community. CEO Steve Donagain explains why they became involved with the campaign: ‘We were already very active when Grown in Britain was formed, but the campaign fitted our ethos. We joined because we wanted to demonstrate further the value of British woodland to the community. In common with Grown in Britain, we have always been engaged with educating the public about woods and their benefits. Today we run health programmes on adult mental health, and with the elderly on reducing isolation. We work welcome enquiries from all round the country. Woodland with teens-to-twenties expanding their world views and owners tend to send us photos of the material they have even rebuilt and refurbished five houses using our have for sale and we need details including the species, own timber. We’ve also learned to diversify our income diameters and lengths, any information on grade, whether streams, such as running forest weddings and events. the timber is still standing or is already felled, and if so This way we can keep the value in the business, and truly when it was felled. create a sustainable future for our forests and our staff.’ ‘Popular timbers at the moment include English ash, , Douglas (all popular with architects for its bigger Seeing the wood for the trees section sizes), and also , , and Western red cedar for cladding. We’re particularly interested in specimen- During Grown in Britain Week 2017, the campaign held grade material such as ripple logs. There’s no yearly cycle a joint conference with the Country Land & Business of demand, but we tend to saw sycamore and oak during Association (CLA) and the Forestry Commission to help the winter, so perhaps we purchase more of those species owners understand the commercial benefits of managing at that time of year.’ woodlands for both income and the environment. The first stage of realising value from a woodland is finding an Making a mark outlet for harvested material, and that is where sawmills like Tyler come in. Moving on through the supply chain, end-users of wood Geoff Tyler looks after procurement at Tyler are also taking up Grown in Britain licensing to prove the Hardwoods, a Grown in Britain licence-holder. ‘We provenance of the materials they use, and thus boost the

Living Woods 7 MARKETING YOUR WOOD reputation of their businesses. Designer- LEFT & BELOW: Designer-maker Alice Blogg maker Alice Blogg is a Grown in Britain worked in ash to produce the 2017 Grown in Britain Hero licence-holder and produced the 2017 ©ALICE BLOGG Grown in Britain Hero Award trophy from Award Trophy. a piece of British ash, specifically chosen BOTTOM: for its colouring and grain. Alice uses Brimstone timber cladding uses locally-sourced British wood in her wide- under-utilised species which can be thermally modified to produce ranging work which includes interiors, a higher-value product. high-end bespoke furniture and Grown in Britain-labelled products for design- centred retailers such as Heal’s in central London. ‘Using wood that’s locally-grown here in Britain means I am using minimal “timber miles” and carbon footprint, as well as working in harmony with nature and the local environment,’ Alice says. ‘With a variety of commissions on at any one time, I need regular access to timber from business which, like mine, are Grown in Britain-licensed’.

Right tree, right job Ash, sycamore and poplar are some of the most plentiful British-grown timbers. A research project undertaken a few years ago under Grown in Britain’s auspices has established potential markets for these under-utilised species, by converting them to a higher-value product through thermal modification. Tom Barnes, Managing Director at Grown in Britain licence-holder, Vastern Timber explains: ‘We have based our Brimstone timber cladding products on utilising these three readily-available white hardwoods. The thermal modification process involves no chemicals, and the heat treatment removes from the wood the elements that would otherwise attract mechanisms of decay, making it much more durable for exterior cladding. The product won the timber industry’s innovation award in 2016, and continues to go from strength to strength with architects, specifiers and self-builders. It proves that even the most How to become a common British timbers can find a market with some innovative thinking.’ GROWN IN BRITAIN Grown in Britain has a variety of licensed wood resources for woodland owners, including a video about valuing hardwood and a To obtain a Grown in Britain licence, woodlands must be price indicator for hardwood logs, which covered by a management plan consistent with the UK Forestry will be updated annually. ‘Whether you’re a novice or an experienced woodland Standard. The GiB team can talk applicants through the owner, Grown in Britain is here to help process, which is very straighforward. To find out more, contact you realise the environmental, economic [email protected] and social value of your woodlands. As or visit the website we expand markets for British-grown timber, it’s a good time to get involved,’ www.growninbritain.org concludes Dougal Driver.

8 Living Woods WOODLANDS AWARDS WOODLANDS AWARDS 2018 The Woodlands Awards are back for their second year. Antony Mason of Woodlands.co.uk sets the scene.

Very pleased“ with the citation and the award gifts. There are obviously a lot of very talented wood owners out there. ” The whole idea of the Woodlands Awards is Deadline for submissions: to celebrate – and give due recognition to – 31 July 2018. THE WOODLANDS the wonderful and innovative things that are AWARDS taking place in the woodlands sector year A note to past winners: the competition rules SPONSORED BY on year. say that winners cannot win an award in the Woodlands.co.uk For 2018 we are introducing two new same category two years in a row, but there awards: is nothing to stop them entering (or being Prizes will be awarded to the • Best Woodland Sculpture entered) in another category. best in each of the following • Best Woodland Hair and/or Beard (just for categories: fun) Winners Awards for individuals Awards categories A panel of judges will draw up shortlists Woodland Blogs of the best entries, and then award the Small Woodland Websites There are 14 awards categories, divided prizes. There may be a number of winners Woodland Photography into two groups: awards for individuals in each category (last year there were 49 Woodland Sculpture (woodland owners and users) and awards winners altogether): all entries judged to be Woodland Tool for enterprises (woodland organisations, of equally high merit will be awarded a First Recommendations businesses, educational programmes). Prize (i.e. no Second, Third etc). Whole Wood Owners’ Broadly, the categories of the awards have The 2018 award winners will be Coordinators been chosen to promote best practice, to announced in late August 2018. Woodland Hair reward good work and innovation, and to Please email [email protected] if (and/or Beard) inspire others. you know a candidate (it can be you!) for any of the awards. Awards for enterprises How to enter Woodland Contractors Prizes Forest Schools Each of the categories has its own criteria Woodland Courses for entry. Some (such as the Woodland The prizes will be a mixture of award Community Woods Photography Award) depend on individuals certificates, woodland books and woodland Woodfair Trade Stands submitting their own entries. Others (such equipment and/or tools – and recognition! Woodland Books of the as Woodland Courses) depend on personal Full details about the awards, how to enter Year recommendations. Others still (such as or how to recommend a winner, and the Regional and National Woodland Blogs) depend on a mixture basis on which the award will be judged are Woodland Organisations of these. on the Woodlands.co.uk website.

Living Woods 9 MANAGEMENT GETTING HELP

At what point do woodland owners need to call in professional help? Richard Hare offers a few tips.

ery few owners come by their will overwhelm you, it’s probably time to woodland in a perfectly ‘well summon help. Vmanaged’ state and with nothing There are many reasons to carry out to do. True, many new owners don’t know woodland management work yourself, quite what to do and good advice has not least the feeling of satisfaction and always been to ‘do nothing’ for a while well-being gained from being out in the TRAINING VALLEY ;BRAMPTON – well, for the first few seasons or a year woods in the ‘green gym’. Countless anyway. It’s a good time to survey the studies have pointed to the health benefits, species in the woodland, read up about both physical and psychological, of what effects coppicing or thinning will working in a natural environment, and have, how fast it will grow back, how woodlands really tick all the boxes here. quickly the natural regeneration might take Doing it yourself can be cost effective, and whether you should be planting other but make sure that you value your time. species, either as whips or small trees. If you enjoy the task then that is part of Try to remember why you bought the the value, but if you are grimacing and wood in the first place. Was it for the cursing throughout the whole experience, wildlife or for harvesting craft or fire resentful of the time it’s taken, then it’s wood? Maybe you simply bought it for probably not a task for you. Likewise, if recreation or amenity you don’t have the skills, purposes? In a survey the tools, the experience entitled What do owners or confidence to do it do with their woods? yourself, it may be time Woodlands.co.uk If you don’t have the to think about getting in discovered that owners skills, the“ tools, the some paid help. It can of all ages purchase experience or the be dangerous too, so woodlands for myriad always err on the side reasons. One common confidence, it might of caution and don’t theme that ran through be time to think attempt anything you are the responses was the unqualified for. desire to manage the about getting paid woodland effectively, and help Contracting in owners acknowledged that intervention could require Hiring a contractor can be anything from the use of daunting if you have no a few simple hand tools experience, so ask around. and bit of training, to some serious and Talk to other woodland owners, land expensive equipment and many years’ ”managers and local people. Who have they experience. used in the past? Was the work carried Mature broadleaved trees are out as expected? Did the contractors’ wonderful, but may require attention, vehicles damage the woodland floor? Be especially if they overhang roads or Lofty ambitions public paths. A good tree surgeon prepared to get several quotes and check business will have skilled teams and At some point, you may find yourself carefully what the contractor is offering the right equipment to deal with this considering a big project – perhaps a large to do for you. Are you both clear about kind of work (Photo credits: amount of coppicing, or the thinning of the monetary arrangement? Most trees Brampton Valley Training.) a substantial area – and you may come have got some value to them even if it’s to realise that you simply don’t have the just as firewood, but whether you see any time or expertise to do the work as well of the cash value is another thing. On as you’d like. It’s important to find out small-scale operations, the economies exactly what the job involves and to make of scale usually mean that you will be a realistic estimate of what you can safely paying the contractor. You may want the achieve yourself. If you feel that the job trees left ride-side for you to process

10 Living Woods MANAGEMENT

later, or the contractor may be able to offset the cost of the operation and take some of the timber with a resale value. Just be prepared to be disappointed that that prize 150-year-old oak or perfectly formed cherry tree in the middle of your wood is not fetching the viable return you thought you’d get. Contractors have a lot of expensive overheads and their costs will be determined by how easy is to get to the trees for extraction. Also bear in mind the effect of heavy lifting equipment on the woodland floor. Extracting prize oak butts from a remote part of the wood could mean a lot of ground disturbance ;BRAMPTON VALLEY TRAINING VALLEY ;BRAMPTON and it may be better to consider a lighter approach. For example, call in a contractor who can mill the trees in situ and carry out the timber by hand. Or think about employing a horse logger who will be able to extract timber with minimal damage to the ground and understorey. Mission control Long-term investment Five tips for hiring a contractor Whichever way you go, always check 1 USE SOMEONE LOCAL. Contractors on the doorstep usually do a good the credentials and insurance of the job and can access more kit or staff quickly if need be. contractor. If he or she does what you are looking for you may find you use him 2 GET A WRITTEN CONTRACT QUOTE/ESTIMATE. or her many more times. Make sure you Be clear about this and if it’s a quote, that should be what you pay. An visit your woodland with the contractor estimate is just that, it could be more or less – be aware of this. before the work starts. You will be able to show them exactly what you want and 3 ASK ABOUT WHEN THEY WILL CARRY OUT THE WORK. are likely to acquire new information from Think about the effects on the ground and environment according to the a skilled professional who will examine time of year. your woodland with an experienced eye. A good contractor with the right equipment 4 IF THEY ARE LEAVING TIMBER IN THE WOOD FOR SUMMER who can listen to your requirements and EXTRACTION, ASK WHEN WILL IT BE REMOVED. This may be at the advise you well, might achieve more in a mercy of the weather, but make sure there is a plan in place to get it moved. season than many people would in their entire period of ownership. Taking this 5 CHECK INSURANCE AND QUALIFICATIONS. into account might start making the costs Get references from previous customers. involved look very good value.

OWNERS’ EXPERIENCE e took over a small parcel of Wroadside woodland without any knowledge of what it entailed. First, we hired a contractor with a lift who was able to take down all the potentially hazardous limbs overhanging the footpaths and roads. The following year we found two amazing hedge-layers who came in to lay the roadside hedge, but ended up teaching us how to do it. Now we are enjoying laying the rest of the neglected hedge boundaries ourselves! It’s therapeutic and we enjoy blissful winter days in a wet ditch together. DENMARK FARM

Living Woods 11 PHOTOGRAPHY

INTO THE WOODS Grace Belben visits the V&A’s Trees in Photography exhibition.

ABOVE: Tal Shochat, Rimon trip to the V & A is always one the USA and Canada. Contrasting this (Pomegranate), 2011. of unlimited discovery, and the historic image is Tokihiro Sato’s magical © Tal Shochat. Aexhibition Into the Woods: Trees in forest, Hakkoda #2. Sato uses long Photography is no exception. The room is exposure to create an other-worldly small, but the presence of trees provides a mystical scene. calming, reflective atmosphere that creates The black and white photographs of an illusion of spaciousness. Alfred Stieglitz and Awoiska van der Trees have been a favourite subject of Molen make you believe that trees were photography since its invention in the 19th made to be photographed. The tonal century. In this exhibition the photograph intricacy created by light and shade on takes many roles, from documenting every leaf works together to create a dense a historic event, to being a scientific detailed silver forest. Amongst these black study, to a form of expression. It is the and white forests, the rich greens and INTO THE WOODS subtle, non-invasive nature of trees that reds of a pomegranate tree appear even continues at the V&A encourages this variety of interpretations more luscious and fertile than usual in Tal until 22 April. Entrance and uses. Shochat’s Rimon. is free. Many of the The oldest photograph in the collection The range of work in this exhibition images can be viewed is from 1860, and captures a significant shows just how much trees have to offer via the V&A website moment in America’s history. It shows us. It is a celebration of the importance of here: www.vam.ac.uk/ soldiers from the Royal Engineers cutting trees to artists and to society, as it marked exhibitions down trees to create the border between the launch of the 2017 Tree Charter.

12 Living Woods PHOTOGRAPHY

LEFT: Royal Engineers, Cutting on the 49th Parallel, on the Right Bank of the Mooyie River Looking West, about 1860. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

BELOW LEFT: Ansel Adams, , Northern New Mexico,1958. Standfirst here, BELOW: Writer in Regular centred Tokihiro Sato, Hakkoda #2, 2009 Tokihiro Sato, Courtesy Leslie orem ipsum dolor sit amet, Tonkonow Artworks + Projects 58. consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation

Living Woods 13 BUILDING

Staff and students from the University of Liverpool in the finished shelter. BUILDING WOODLAND SKILLS If you‘re an award-winning woodland skills centre and one of your shelters needs replacing, any old shed simply won’t do the job. Rodney Waterfield called in the experts.

he Woodland Skills Centre in north parties, family events, bushcraft courses Wales is located on a 50-acre site and by volunteer groups. There are three Tin the heart of the Clwydian Range sites in the woods with permanent timber- We had to make Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It framed shelters, fire circles and compost “ is not only renowned for offering a wide toilets. them think about the range of more than 50 courses in practical The shelter at one of these sites had various ways you can skills and crafts, but it is run by Rodney outlived its time and needed to be join pieces of wood Waterfield and his family with three replaced – a job Rod and his team had management objectives at its heart: social, been meaning to do for several years. together, recognising environmental and economic. All three are The old building was constructed from that it is green and given equal weight. roundwood larch posts, with sawn timber Most of the site is woodland and it roof joists, coroline roof sheets and will shrink. includes a number of timber-framed tarpaulin sides. Centre buildings, as well as workshops, As luck would have it, one of the staff polytunnels, a tree nursery, an arboretum, at the University of Liverpool School of a heritage orchard, a wildflower meadow, Architecture knew about the woodland an apiary, allotments and a vineyard. and realised that the Centre would make ” The woodlands are used by the Centre a perfect site for a practical project for for a wide range of activities – courses first-year architectural students. Early in in woodland management, coppice work 2017, the university asked if the students and hedgelaying, forest school, birthday could design and build a structure in

14 Living Woods BUILDING

Rod’s woods. With the prospect of an imaginative, bespoke building appearing as a replacement for the old shelter, Rod agreed almost immediately, with just one proviso. ‘We said that we would need to be involved at all stages to ensure that the building would fit into the woodland and serve the needs we have.’ Scorched larch policy

Rod continues, ‘There are over 100 first- year architecture students and they were all invited to draw up a plan for a 4-metre by 4-metre timber building constructed from green larch. Many of the students got involved and five designs emerged from a collaborative project, which they sent to us to examine. They all showed great flair and creativity but a couple of Scorched larch is designs were more suitable for a public a thermowood,“ park than a woodland. We told them what we liked and why, and the students then resistant to fading came up with a detailed design. They were keen to try scorching the larch with and very durable. a blow torch to increase its durability. We said yes rather nervously and agreed that they would only use one blowtorch on- site near to the build where there was bare earth and no overhanging trees!’ ” Fixing the frame and Once the design stage was complete, uprights in place. two members of staff and a small group

of students came to visit the centre and view the site. Rod recalls, ‘We went into the woodland to look at the site and then had a session in the office to talk about how we were going to go from a drawing to a building in just 48 hours. It was really interesting watching the students work. They were amazing with a CAD programme on a computer, but lacked experience in the practicalities of actually making something. We had to make them think about the various ways you can join pieces of wood together, recognising that it is green and will shrink. Working in the woodland is also very different from working in a university workshop. ‘We agreed the final design and a cutting list. We were to provide all the timber and the fixings but the university would pay for them. The timber was sourced from a local woodland, was milled and delivered. We got all the fixings: 10 mm bolts, nail plates, joist hangers, nails and screws. We

Scorching the larch cladding checked that we had sufficient tools: hand to make it more durable. saws, hammers, battery , etc. When the weekend date was fixed for the build,

Living Woods 15 BUILDING over 100 students expressed an interest in coming. It was a really popular project, but we had to limit numbers to 20. ‘The students and staff all arrived on the Friday evening. On Saturday morning we had a clear site, a large stack of larch, lots of hand tools and some scaffolding. There were two members of the Woodland Skills Centre staff, four university staff and 20 students. We wanted the students to manage the project and to work out what needed doing when. We just tried to be on hand with technical assistance. ‘It quickly became apparent that we needed to be more involved – half the students had never used a handsaw or a hammer! We understood why the staff had been so keen to get their students to do some practical work, to think about The students worked well together to erect the the logistics of getting materials to site, building in just 48 hours. sequencing the work, understanding the properties of the material and how to work with the materials. We were impressed with the vision of ‘It was a real learning experience for the Liverpool University and the commitment students, but they rose to the challenge, of the staff in realising what a valuable managed the project, worked well together experience it would be for the students. and learned a wide range of practical We ended up with a great building at Rodney Waterfield and his family run skills. Apparently, they are still talking virtually no cost and we hope they will the Woodland Skills Centre in north Wales. Visit their website for details about their 48-hour build in the woods and return this year to undertake a similar of courses, workshops and camping several have come back to look at it again. project for a neighbouring business. options.

The scorched larch cladding is fixed to the frame and the shelter takes shape.

16 Living Woods EVENTS AND SHOWS EVENTS ROUND-UP In spring, a woody person’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of wood fairs . . .

East Dean, Chichester, West STOCK GAYLARD OAK MAY Sussex FAIR 25–26 August 2018 Sturminster THE ARB SHOW ROYAL HIGHLAND Newton, Dorset 11–12 May 2018 SHOW Westonbirt Arboretum, 21–24 June 2018 SEPTEMBER Gloucestershire Edinburgh, Scotland WYCHWOOD WEIRD AND WONDERFUL FOREST FAIR WOOD JULY 2 September 2018 Charlbury, 19–20 May 2018 Stowmarket, Oxfordshire Suffolk TIMBER FESTIVAL 6–8 July 2018, BELMONT WOODFEST Feanedock, National Forest & COUNTRY FAIR 9–10 September 2018 GREAT YORKSHIRE WOODFEST WALES Faversham, Kent SHOW 28–29 July 2018 10–12 July 2018 St Asaph, Denbighshire APF SHOW Great Yorkshire Showground, 20–22 September 2018, Ragley Harrogate Estate, Warwickshire AUGUST ROYAL WELSH SHOW BENTLEY WEALD 23–26 July 2018 SOUTH DOWNS SHOW WOOD FAIR Builth Wells, Wales 8–19 August 2018 28–30 September 2018 Lewes, Queen Elizabeth Country Park, East Sussex NEW FOREST AND Petersfield, Hampshire THE BUSHCRAFT HAMPSHIRE COUNTY SURREY HILLS SHOW SHOW WILDERNESS GATHERING WOOD FAIR 26–28 May 2018 24–26 July 2018 Brockenhurst, 16–19 August TBC 2018 Birtley House, Beehive Farm, Rosliston, Hampshire West Knoyle, Wiltshire Guildford Derbyshire

DEVON COUNTY SHOW 17–19 May 2018 Clyst St Mary, Exeter, Devon

WOOD FESTIVAL 18-20 May 2018 Brazier’s Park, Ipsden, Oxfordshire

ROYAL BATH & WEST SHOW 30 May–2 June 2018 Shepton , Somerset

JUNE

WEST’S WOOD FAIR 8–10 June 2018

Living Woods 17 TOOLS

TWO-HANDED SAWS are noisy and have a habit of stalling at inconvenient moments. David Hunter suggests a hand-powered alternative.

was working in the coppice last they have many advantages. They quiet, and hence allow you to talk week with a good friend who are relatively safe, start first time and to your fellow woodland workers I had kindly agreed to help me do not require any fuel beyond the and enjoy the sounds of nature for the day. I had introduced him to energies of the sawyers. Furthermore, around you. Now, for the sake of the two-man cross-cut saw and we they have the great benefit of being transparency I must admit that I use were bucking (cross-cutting) a fallen a for particular tasks. It cherry stem. Half way through the Top sawing tips is, for example, a brilliant tool for cut he looked across at me, shook processing larger poles ready for his head, smiled, and said ‘David – I 1. Keep your saw sharp and in good making charcoal. However, I do all think you are mad.’ condition. the felling and general sawing in He was referring not just to my 2. When sawing with a person on the coppice with and two-man general mental health but to the fact either end of the saw, never push, cross-cut saw. I’m sure I take longer that I elect to use a two-man saw only pull. Pushing can cause the saw cutting as a result, but I’ve yet to instead of a chainsaw. He may well to bend and then jam in the cut, hear anyone complain that they have have a point. You can probably count slowing down the process. simply spent too much time in the on one hand the number of people 3. Find a good sustainable rhythm woods. who use two-man cross-cut saws in that is comfortable for both cutters. The two-man cross-cut saw is very a coppice business. I imagine this is 4. Work at a comfortable height user-friendly, and a total beginner due to their speed, for they are no if possible (though this can be a can be sawing wood happily within doubt slower than their motorised challenge with larger poles). minutes of picking up one end of a cousins. However, I would argue that well-sharpened and set saw.

18 Living Woods TOOLS FELLING A TREE 1

1. Starting the directional cut with a match cut The axe is used to take two ‘wedges’ out of the side of the tree to be felled. By working on the sides like this, you are cutting into less wood with each blow, making life a little easier on yourself by making the process considerably more efficient. It is very important to make sure that both your ‘wedges’ match up (hence ‘match cut’). If they don’t, you risk losing control of the fell and increase the chances of the tree not going where you want it to. Done well, the two cuts will form a point, which usefully indicates the direction the tree should fall in. 2 2. Finishing the directional cut with the axe It is now necessary to remove the wood from between the match cuts. with the axe You need to make sure that you create a clean and even cut here to ensure that the tree falls where you want it to.

3. Felling cut With the directional cut in, you can now put in the felling cut with the two- man saw. It is really important that both sawyers have a clear route of retreat that they can take once the tree starts to fall. Sawing together, make sure that you are sawing evenly until you make the cut about 1– 1½ inches from the directional cut. 3 4

4. Wedges Once happy with the felling cut, you remove the saw and bang in wedges to fell 5 – hopefully. Then stand back, smile, wipe your brow, and have a cup of tea.

5. Stump The finished stump. You can see clearly all the elements of a safe fell – the gob cut for direction, the felling cut and the ‘hinge’, which is where the tree folded over to fall.

Living Woods 19 TOOLS

As the photos on the previous page If this article has piqued your interest show, the capabilities of the two-man saw and you would like to get hold of a saw do not stop at bucking (sawing-up trees for use in your own woods then there are already on the ground to a desired length). a couple of options, and it may be easier For those without a chainsaw, they can and cheaper than you think. also be used to make the felling process a Old two-man saws can often be found little easier and more efficient. hiding out in sheds, on pub walls and at markets around the country (Take a look Cutting up rough at this Woodlands blog on the subject of old tools). Tool sellers at woodfairs will nce trees get over a certain size often be a useful source of both saws and David Hunter is a coppice it becomes more difficult to fell knowledge. Old saws may be neglected worker in Pembrokeshire, West them in a controlled manner with and in need of some attention, but with a Wales. He is also an instructor O at Coppicewood College, a the axe alone. The saw makes the process bit of effort they can be brought back to woodlands skill centre teaching more efficient, as well as considerably life and back to the woods. Online sites traditional woodland management safer. The series of photos shows the such as e-Bay are also a good place to find methods. Thanks to his colleagues process we used, but felling large trees them (priced anything from £5 to £50, Nick Barnes and Barbara Goodwin for their help with the sawing and safely requires experience and skill and depending on condition). to Flinn-Garlick Saws for suplying I would strongly advise that you seek Alternatively, you can buy them new the two-man saw. training before attempting something like from the Sheffield company Flinn-Garlick For more information please visit: in www.coppicewoodcollege.co.uk this yourself. There are no doubt many Saws, the only company in the UK that and David’s website, ways of achieving the same outcome. makes new two-handed saws. www.thecoppiceplot.com

20 Living Woods BUSHCRAFT BUSHCRAFT TAMING THE WOODLAND WILDERNESS Olivia Beardsmore offers a taste of a fast-growing woodland hobby.

here are probably as fungi and building shelters are just many reasons for buying a few skills to acquire, but it’s not Ta woodland as there are all about crawling about in damp owners, but one common thread undergrowth and struggling to light often runs through: owners would a fire – learning how to be still and like a place where they can do observe the natural environment exactly what they want and where maybe the place to start. their children can roam reasonably Once described as ‘wilderness freely. There’s a lot to learn and skills’, the bushcraft movement once you immerse yourself in your is rapidly expanding throughout wood, it’s easy to be overwhelmed the UK and globally. It’s a hobby by real and perceived dangers. which will teach you the skills Olivia Beardsmore was editor- in-chief of Bushcraft and Survival Acquiring a few bushcraft skills not just to survive in the woods, Skills Magazine and organised the can help you use the woodland to but to positively thrive. Your Bushcraft and Survival Skills Show, your advantage and at its heart, own woodland is the perfect to be held on 26-28 May 2018 in Rosliston, Derbyshire. Visit the bushcraft offers an understanding of environment to develop an array of website for more details: the natural world. Foraging, fires, bushcraft skills. www.thebushcraftshow.co.uk

Living Woods 21 BUSHCRAFT

Fire-lighting to eat, however, and although one can ABOVE: Marshmallows speared on learn a great deal from books and online whittled green wood melt over a well-tended fire. One anthropologist claims that our love instruction, there is no substitute for for a campfire stems back to prehistoric identifying edible and inedible plants in ABOVE LEFT: Insulate shelters times when Stone Age people would situ. Wood sorrel, berries, crab apples and with brash and leaves to keep out draughts. socialise around the fire, feeling safe from fungi are abundant in the early autumn (Photo credit: Bushcraft Magazine) predators while keeping warm. and carnivores might like to learn about In a study published in the Journal of trapping and preparing rabbits or squirrels. Evolutionary Psychology, Christopher Lynn of the University of Alabama stated Camp-fire cooking that the natural response of modern humans to relax in front of fire is an Once you’ve learnt how to light the evolutionary reflex. In an experiment, fire and gathered some ingredients, try participants watched a fire; the results cooking. There’s nothing like a hot meal showed that their blood pressure dropped cooked over an open fire. Dutch oven and they became more sociable. cooking is now hugely popular and there Bushcraft teaches many methods of fire- are numerous books and recipes available lighting using traditional techniques such for camp cooking. as a flint-and-steel, a bow-, hand-drill and a fire steel among others. There is Shelter building something very satisfying about knowing you can do this without matches and Although den-building is something copious amounts of artificial accelerants. you may have done as a child, creating a sturdy shelter is a core survival skill. Foraging and plant ID Using the resources found in your woodland, you could build a debris shelter Food for free – how about that? Your or a lean-to shelter and test it by spending woodland could provide the ingredients or a night in it. Arrange and secure branches even the full recipe for a number of meals into an A-frame, cover with insulating from berries to fungi and the selection bracken or brash for a warm shelter, or will vary depending on the season. It build a lean-to arrangement and site a fire is critical to know exactly what is safe nearby to keep you snug. LEFT: Building an A-frame shelter in the woods using sticks from the woodland floor. (Photo credit: SWOG)

22 Living Woods BUSHCRAFT Nature watching Wildlife watching is like Lending your woodland to a form of meditation. bushcraft practitioners You need to sit very still, monitor your movements, oodland forums and threads are control your breathing and Woften peppered with requests pay close attention to the from bushcrafters who would like to sights and sounds which use a woodland for a couple of days surround you. You may have to practise their techniques. Hiring out experienced just watching your woodland is very much a personal the grass whilst sunbathing decision, but what should you consider if and soon you notice that the you are thinking about doing this? grass is actually moving, with lots of little creatures 1. Payment – you could ask for a small going about their business. fee. Some bushcrafters are happy to Over time, you will become work in the woodland in exchange for familiar with where to a couple of night’s use, so you could ask locate certain species in them to come along and help process your woodland and you some logs or fell a tree. In this way, you could even learn how to will get to know the individual first. track them. 2. Leave no trace – this is the bushcraft mantra, but a woodland owner needs to The Bushcraft Show 2018 be crystal clear about their expectations. It is reasonable to expect to find your If you would like to learn a little more, visit the Bushcraft Show, a jam- wood as you left it, right down to seeing packed, three-day event filled with all manner of bushcraft activities. very minimal traces of fire. It is also Whether you come for the day or stay for the weekend, you can try your worth designating areas that may be hand at woodland crafts, fire-lighting, shelter-building, tracking, foraging, off-limits. woodland games and much, much more… For more information visit www.thebushcraftshow.co.uk 3. Agree how much wood or brash can be foraged for shelters or fires. For example, you may wish to restrict wood gathering to fallen wood on the forest floor and may not wish to see any small trees cut down or trimmed. The same is true of forage foodstuffs – the bushcrafter should ask the owner’s permission before he harvests any plants and uprooting is specifically forbidden without permission.

4. If your woodland is ancient or within a SSSI (designated Site of Special Scientific Interest) it may be sensible to ask bushcrafters to use a different location.

Bushcraft instructor Paul Kirtley provides a useful set of guidelines in his blog: paulkirtley.co.uk/2014/

Living Woods 23 REVIEW

Judith Millidge settles down to read The Wood: the Life and Times of Cockshutt Wood Radio 4 by John Lewis-Stempel Book of the Week 19 March

THE WOOD: THE and it affords him the LIFE AND TIMES OF opportunity to reflect on COCKSHUTT WOOD the impact of his actions. He Doubleday notes, for example, that the Published 8 March 2018 resident brown owls have 304 pages hardback produced larger clutches RRP£14.99 of eggs over the course of four years and he attributes wice winner of the this to their improved food TWainwright Prize, the supply. This can be tracked writer John Lewis-Stempel back to the decimation of is a farmer in Herefordshire the brambles by his pigs and who, as he put it, followed sheep, leaving a woodland advice to diversify his floor of leaf litter and fallen farming business by writing. branches populated by small REVIEW

He has a distinguished body mammals. of work to his name and The He thins , plants whips Wood is the latest addition pigs and a few cows, to and saplings, and mourns to his canon. shoot the odd pheasant or when a storm fells an He is well known for his woodcock and to cull the ancient beech. thoughtful and lyrical prose, local squirrel population. ‘A storm in the morning which is well served by both He says that he manages and I’m intentionally in the the breadth and depth of the wood for wildlife and, centre of Cockshutt… his wide-ranging knowledge. an unashamed lover of Timbers splinter; surf Here is a man who truly field sports, doesn’t see pounds through the crows’ loves the land and has both why the wildlife shouldn’t nests, bines of honeysuckle the practical skills to nurture give something back. shriek. . . We hold on, me it and the literary talent to Pheasant and woodcock are and the exhilarated trees.’ write about it. sometimes shot for the table Lewis-Stempel’s love of The Wood describes a year and he blasts squirrel dreys his woodland will be a in Cockshutt Wood, a small, because he loves song birds sensation familiar to many three-and-a-half acre mixed and the squirrels eat their readers of this magazine. His woodland Lewis-Stempel eggs. descriptions of the changing

BOOK managed for four years The pigs and cows graze seasons are poetic and near his Herefordshire farm. the understorey and fertilise his knowledge of folklore, Beginning in December the soil of this ancient traditional remedies and when the days are short and woodland. He harvests recipes, together with the trees skeletal, Lewis- holly and young beech to modern arboricultural issues The to-fro of Stempel describes his daily feed his sheep and pigs, are a joy to read. He lists the “ visits to the wood, noting a reminder of medieval etymology of all manner of a saw in woodland the bird and animal life, farming methods which arboreal and rural terms and seems profane, as the seasonal changes and are now almost completely the text is peppered with the minute alterations that forgotten. He works, above prose and poems by earlier though sanctity is would only be obvious to a all, to provide balanced writers such as John Evelyn, being violated; but it manager or owner. management, fully aware Edward Thomas and John ‘Cockshutt was a sanctuary that he is simply a custodian, Clare. is rather the music for me too; a place of the latest in a long line of Informative and beautifully of consideration, of a ceaseless, seasonal wonder woodland managers. written, this is a book to wood being cared for. where I withdrew into The observations about inspire woodland owners tranquillity.’ Cockshutt Wood were and guaranteed to appeal He uses his wood to graze written in Lewis-Stempel’s to woodland enthusiasts small flocks of sheep, some last year of management everywhere. 24 Living Woods” WOODNOTE SYMBOLS IN TREES Native to countries around the world, play an important part in the mythology of many cultures. Clare Haworth-Maden shines a light on the species Salix.

he sight of catkins, the silken, fluffy flowers of the various willow species T(Salix) are a sure sign of spring. Palm Sunday (25 March this year) is looming, and, improvisation being necessary when palm trees are lacking, willow twigs have long been used in many northern and eastern European Palm Sunday church services to represent the palm branches that were strewn in Jesus’s path as he entered Jerusalem. Willow withies blessed in church may still be taken home in the belief that they will bestow protection and well-being on those who live there. The willow’s symbolism stretches far further back than the great world religions, however. Its preference for watery habitats symbolically links it to the moon, night and the feminine principle in folk beliefs Willow in Bushy Park. Gary Knight Flickr the world over. The ancient Greeks The willow’s astonishingly fast and considered the willow sacred to the moon vigorous growth additionally made it a goddess Artemis, one of whose names was symbol of life, fertility and birth – human, Lygodesma (‘willow-bound’) because her as well as vegetal. This is also why the image was discovered in Sparta surrounded Chinese associate the willow with spring, by willows. Hera, goddess of women and nature’s annual ‘rebirth’, and display willow marriage, was supposedly born under a twigs with jade-green shoots (symbolising willow at Samos, and the willow was also growing prosperity) in their homes during associated with the underworld goddesses New Year celebrations. The willow was, Persephone and Hecate. by contrast, linked in ancient times with In Buddhism willow often represents infertility because the male willow (willows meekness and as the attribute of are dioecious) seems to shed its fruit before Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of it has ripened. In the Middle Ages this came compassion, it represents healing, as it does to be associated with the virtue of chastity. in the hand of his Chinese counterpart, And they shall The willow’s symbolism is not all positive. Kwan-yin, who is said to sprinkle the “ The weeping willow (S. x.sepulcralis) is a purifying water of life over her worshippers spring up as symbol of mourning, partly on account of with a willow branch. It is no coincidence among the grass, its drooping branches, which recall streams that the willow should represent healing, for of tears.Weeping willows are depicted the salicylic acid that its bark contains can as willows by the on Georgian mourning jewellery and in lower fevers and ease pain and inflammation. water courses. the same era, on willow-pattern china. This knowledge led to Bayer’s development (Isaiah 44:4) And the expression ‘to wear the willow’ of aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid, in 1899. means to grieve or mourn. No wonder The strength and flexibility of its that Shakespeare chose the spot where ‘a branches and twigs, notably those of osier willow grows aslant a brook’ as the place of willow (Salix viminalis), make it ideal for Ophelia’s drowning in Hamlet. basket-making and weaving. This flexible Today, cricket bats are traditionally made characteristic connected the willow in ” from willow, which is why the ‘sound of Chinese minds with yielding feminine leather on willow’ symbolises a sporting grace and beauty (echoed in English by the summer to many. Whether you’re watching adjective ‘willowy’) and, in Taoism, with a cricket match, taking an aspirin, using a strength in weakness, in that willow boughs willow-pattern plate or weaving a wicker bend in the wind rather than resisting and basket, it’s worth reflecting on the willow’s then breaking. rich and varied symbolism.

Living Woods 25 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

SPRING COURSES AND WORKSHOPS ROYAL FORESTRY SOCIETY IGNITE WOODFUEL PLANTLIFE

Prices are for members/non- The Ignite programme of training Plantlife is a British conservation members. For full details please visit courses is aimed at woodfuel charity working nationally and the RFS website. producers, suppliers and users. internationally to save threatened wild flowers, plants and fungi. Tree Health Pests and Diseases One day courses cost £150+VAT 6 April Bucks £55/£65 per day which includes the LANTRA Looking Out for Small Things: Awards certification fee, course Atlantic woodlands and their Woodland Archaeology materials, lunch and refreshments. lichens and bryophytes 16 April Bucks £55/£65 More details are on the RDI website. 16 April Glaramara Lodge in Borrowdale, Cumbria. Free. Grading and Measuring your Woodfuel Supply Chain Training Timber 13 March Livius Training Centre, 11 May Hereford £60/£80 Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire

Essential Guide for Caring for 22 March The Forest Centre, your Wood Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire 13 June Hampshire £55/£65 28 March Strathearn Community Tree Identification Centre, Crieff, Scotland 29 June Bucks £55/£65

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We are grateful to the following who have contributed to this edition of Living Woods Magazine.

Olivia Beardsmore Grown in Britain Bushcraft and Survival Skills Magazine Richard Hare Grace Belben Keeper’s Coppicing

Alice Blogg, maker Clare Haworth-Maden, aka www.aliceblogg.co.uk @MrsSymbols

Brampton Valley Training David Hunter Coppice Plot and Coppicewood College Denmark Farm, Lampeter, Wales www denmarkfarm.org.uk/ Rodney Waterfield Woodland Skills Centre Katie Ellis Thomas Flinn & Co Royal Forestry Society

Jullia Goodfellow-Smith Antony Mason, Johnny Morris and the www.questforfuturesolutions.co.uk Woodlands.co.uk editorial team

26 Living Woods