Welcome to the Articles page, here you will find articles written by various members and friends of the group, if you have an article of interest we would love to hear from you, just get in contact with the Website team HERE.
An endangered craft; Bessom broom making workshop
One of the Group's objectives is to ensure coppice and woodland based skills and knowledge is passed on from generation to generation. Last Saturday, 31st August 2024, Group members where fortunate enough to take part in a skills sharing workshop of Bessom Broom making at the Group's headquarters in Sussex, led by Chris Letchford. Bessom Broom making is on the Heritage Craft Association's "Red List" [...]
An obituary (Click here to read full article)
Alan Waters A legend! A true countryman! Inspirational! Innovative! Unrivalled coppicing and charcoal making knowledge! Alan Waters passed away on 6th Feb 2024. Alan’s knowledge of coppicing was second to none. He started coppicing at 14 years of age continuing until the week before his passing at 78. His 42 plus years of knowledge and understanding of Charcoal making was probably the greatest in the [...]
Article: School Theater Project Updated
By Clive Cobie 8th November 2019 I have recently started a project that I would like to share with you. The school woodland theatre project. The idea came in a breeze of inspiration as do so many. I was pondering how to connect people with nature to help communities grow and work together. The school woodland theatre project, is going to be a means of [...]
Ash dieback honeycomb effect
Ash dieback honeycomb effect By Clive Cobie I am interested to know if anyone has noticed when cutting ash trees with dieback, if at the base there is a honeycomb effect, this I believe is when the tree is in the advanced stages of die back where the mycelium has reached the roots. What I have noticed in one of the trees is an ant [...]
A GUIDE TO HAZEL COPPICE ASSESSMENT
A GUIDE TO HAZEL COPPICE ASSESSMENT By Jonathan Howe The following notes are meant as a beginners guide to gauging the potential commercial worth of coppice offered in standing sales. There is nothing more daunting than walking into an acre of densely stocked 8-year old hazel and trying to decide if it is good enough for you to make a living on. If you are [...]
Burning logs legally and storing them properly
Burning logs legally and storing them properly: Log moisture content is important if you are going to be burning it, if you are not intending to burn it then it's fine, please enjoy all the wet logs you like and make wonderful things with them, but if you are going to be burning it, please read on. Moisture comes from two places when it comes [...]
Article: Woodfuel and the future sale of logs
Woodfuel and the future sale of logs.... You will no doubt have seen and heard press reports about the Government banning the sale of logs (woodfuel). If you heard the discussion that took place on Friday 21 st on the Jeremy Vine show on BBC Radio2 you would think there is going to be a total ban on burning logs in the future. That is [...]
Pests: What are we looking out for?
Pests: What are we looking out for? The following is from the Observatree website as there have been more calls recently to look out for, and report trees in trouble, particularly with the growing push to plant more trees, as planting near infected areas may be a pointless exercise. For more information and details on each of the pests below, please visit their website HERE [...]
Article: HEDGELAYING AND COPPICING
HEDGELAYING AND COPPICING By Frank Wright There are about 35 different hedgelaying styles across the country, nearly all of which use stakes and many use binders. The two that I know of that don’t use either are two West Country styles, Dorset, and Devon and Cornwall. Both these styles are laid very low and are atop a steep, small bank and are the final bit [...]
Article: Steve’s Seat
Steve's Seat By John Waller I was asked to make a seat to go around a tree at the Kent Showground in Detling. The tree itself was planted in remembrance of Steve Wright, in a lovely spot in Murrain Wood - the hub of the forest section at the Kent Show. Steve, amongst many other things, was on the Forestry Committee at the Showground. [...]