WOODLAND WHISPER’S - Sussex and Surrey Coppice … Newsletter Summer 2015 Welcome to the...

DCG Newsletter www.dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk Summer 2015

Welcome to the Spring/Summer 2015 edition of the Dorset Coppice Group’s Newsletter.

Chairmans Chippings

I"am"producing"the"newsle4er"as"a"one"off""and"if"anyone"is"

interested"in"taking"this"job"on"then"please"let"me"know.""Thank"

you"to"Dave"Ewers"who"has"been"the"editor"up"un@l"now."

There"have"been"a"few"changes"within"the"board"and"I"would"like"

to"welcome"on"board,"Trevor"Ball"and"Peter"Jameson."

Jim"Be4le"has"stepped"down"from"the"board;"he"was"one"of"the"

original"members"of"the"DCG,"helping"to"set"up"the"group"and"has"

par@cipated"in"a"huge"amount"of"work"to"get"the"group"to"where"

it"is"today."Huge"respect"and"thanks"to"Jim."

"Jilly"Snelson"has"also"stepped"down"as"a"board"member""but"she"

has"kindly"agreed"to"con@nue"as"Secretary"J"Jilly"has"put"in"an"

enormous"amount"of"hard"work"into"the"group"and"so"thank"you.""

Paul"Vodden"is"moving"to"woodlands"new."Paul"has"put"a"lot"of"his"

@me"and"effort"into"the"the"group"and"to"the"start"up"of"the"

NCFed,"thanks"Paul."

Thanks"to"all"three"J"the"DCG"is"in"a""much"be4er"group"for"their"

efforts"and"@me."And"a"personal"thanks"from"‘behind"the"scene’s’"

in"helping"me"in"the"Chairmanship"of"the"group."

Ken"Hilton"has"kindly"agreed"to"replace"Paul"Vodden"as"the"

Na@onal"Coppice"Federa@on"representa@ve"for"the"DCG."

We"have"now"set"a"date"for"the"next"members"mee@ng,"Sunday"

August"2nd."Rick"Smith"has"agreed"to"host"the"mee@ng."Rick"is"a"

very"fine"host"and"if"the"last"visit"to"Rick’s"is"anything"to"go"by"this"

should"be"a"good"day"out"for"all."Details"to"follow"shortly,"thanks"

for"the"invite"Rick."This"is"an"event"where"members"get"together"J"

hope"to"see"as"many"members"as"possible"to"a4end.""Everyone"is"

welcome.""

Dave"Partridge"

Chairman"DCG"

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Dates For Your Diary

14th June - Green Scythe Fair

14th June - Kingston Maurward Open Day and Country Fair

2nd August - Members Meeting - Venue - Rick Smith

3rd October 2015 - DCG Taster Day

Late October 2015 - NCFed Gathering and AGM

Living Classroom Hire

The Living Classroom is a great place to hold courses, meetings etc. Members rate is £15 for half a day and £30 for a full day. Please contact Hannah Worthington on 07547 060231 or by email [email protected]

Social Media

If you haven't already, please join us on Facebook and Twitter. Chat about what you have been making or where you have been and add pictures.

WOODLAND WHISPER’S DORSET COPPICE GROUP’S NEWSLETTER


Dorset"Coppice"Group"Open"Day"2015"

We"recently"held"the"Dorset"Coppice"Group’s"Open"Day"at"Bonsley"

Woods.""A"good"day"was"had"by"all"and"the"sun"did"shine"most"of"

the"day!""Its"great"to"see""the"members"ge\ng"together"doing"their"

thing","cha\ng"together"and"having"a"relaxing"day,"taking"new"

orders"as"well"as"selling"many""items"which"I"saw"being"walked"off"

back"to"the"car"park."A"very"worth"while"event"to"a4end"to"get"to"

know"other"members"of"the"group"and"to"forge"new"friendship."

Thanks"to"everyone"who"came"along"on"the"day"to"demo,"help"out"

or"just"for"a"visit"."Thanks"all"so"to"all"those"who"helped"with"se\ng"

up"for"the"day"and"a"special"thanks"to"Dave"Ewers"who"organised"

the"event."As"ever,"any"ideas"to"move"this"event"forward"are"more"

than"welcome."

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Congratulations to Toby and Janine on the birth of their beautiful son, Rowan.

Congratulations also to John Sweeney who will be getting married this weekend

For Sale or Wanted

Woodturning Classes - Pen making with David Ewers

Lesson in how to turn a pen. You will take the finished pen home. All bits and tools supplied and tea at my home in Poole £25.00 - Contact David on 01202 621508

If anyone has any items for sale or are wanted then you are free to advertise here

Dorset Coppice Group Website

The website is for all our members to use and is currently not being used to its full potential. If you have any news or wish to advertise an event, items for sale (coppice related) then please let me know. All members can be added to our interactive map. Take a look and send me your details and photos.


At"the"last"AGM,"held"on"5th"March,"I"resigned"from"the"Board"of"The"

Dorset"Coppice"Group.""Subsequently,"our"Chairman,"Dave"Partridge,"

asked"me"if"I"would"write"the"first"of"an"occasional"series"for"

Woodland"Whispers.""This"would"be"an"autobiographical"profile"of"

individual"DCG"members.""He"asked"me"as"I"am"about"to"move"away"

from"Dorset"to"follow"my"wife’s"work"as"a"Minister"of"the"United"

Reformed"Church"in"Essex."

This"where"I"say"“somewhat"reluctantly"I"agreed"to"do"so”"and"

everyone"thinks"“oh"yeah,"who"does"he"think"he"is"to"think"that"

anyone"would"be"interested”!!!""So"I"say"“nothing"venture,"nothing"

gain!"

I"usually"say"I"was"born"in"a"Nissen"hut"in"1949"in"the"small"East"Yorkshire"market"town"of"Great"Driffield""

(generally"known"simply"as"Driffield).""Actually,"the"reason"it"was"a"Nissen"hut"is"because"the"hospital"

u@lised"a"number"of"these"structures"that"had"been"built"in"its"grounds"during"the"2nd"World"War.""I"was"

born"a"twin"with"my"brother,"we"had"another"brother"three"years"later"and"seven"years"aher"that"my"

parents"decided"they"would"try"for"a"girl"and"low"and"behold"they"had"twins!""So,"two"sets"of"twins,"a"trifle"

unusual."

My"father"was"employed"by"the"Bri@sh"Council,"what"you"might"call"the"cultural"arm"of"the"foreign"office"

and"we"ended"up"in"India"when"I"was"about"six"years"old.""Both"my"brothers"and"I"return"to"the"UK"when"

we"were"11"to"go"to"secondary"school.""Aher"four"years"at"school"I"leh"at"the"age"of"15"and"became"a"zoo"

keeper.""The"next"few"years"saw"me"working"in"a"couple"of"different"zoos"and"for"a"short"@me"on"my"

uncle’s"farm"as"an"assistant"shepherd."

In"1968/9"and"suffering"from"the"inevitable"teenage"angst"I"and"a"friend"travelled"overland"to"India"where"I"

stayed"with"my"parents"in"Calcu4a"for"a"short"while"before"travelling"on"to"Australia,"again"overland"or"as"

overland"as"you"could"without"ge\ng"your"feet"wet,"the"odd"ferry"and"aircrah"being"pressed"into"service."""

When"the"countries"we"travelled"through"then"are"considered"it"is"not"surprising"to"realise"that"t"would"be"

virtually"impossible"to"do"this"trip"nowadays:"Turkey,"Iran,"Pakistan"to"name"but"a"few."""

Aher"about"six"months"of"travelling"I"landed"at"Darwin"airport"and"hitched"down"to"Sydney.""I"had"a"

wonderful"five"years"in"Oz"based"in"Sydney"but"visi@ng"other"parts"of"the"west"coast"during"my"stay.""It"was"

at"a"@me"when"good"money"could"be"earned"for"even"the"most"menial"job.""So"it"was"possible"to"work"

three"months"of"the"year"and"take"the"rest"of"the"year"off.""

I"had"entered"Australia"when"it"was"involved"in"the"war"in"Vietnam,"upon"arriving"in"Darwin"Permanent"

Resident"had"been"stamped"in"my"passport"which"meant"I"was"eligible"for"the"drah.""Luckily,"I"was"able"to"

keep"out"of"the"way"of"the"authori@es"and"when"Goff"Whitlam"was"elected"Prime"Minister"and"abolished"

the"drah"I"was"able"to"come"home."

I"went"back"to"being"a"zoo"keeper"for"a"short"while"aher"which"I"worked"in"the"voluntary"sector:""RSPCA,"

Greenpeace,"BTCV"and"as"administrator"for"the"Sea"Watch"Founda@on,"which"I"coJfounded.""This"is"a"

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Paul Vodden

We would like to say goodbye and good luck to Paul Vodden who will be going to pastures new. I would like to say a special thank you to him as he has been a valuable member of the board and will be sadly missed. In particular his input into the Dorset representative for the National Coppice Federation.


charity"using"effort"based"sigh@ngs"data"obtained"from"volunteer"observers"to"assess"the"status"and"

distribu@on"of"cetaceans"(whales,"dolphins"and"porpoises)"in"Bri@sh"waters."

Aher"doing"a"Level"1"NVQ"forestry"course"at"Plumpton"College"I"became"a"full"@me"coppice"worker"and"

charcoal"burner.""I"was"ini@ally"trained"by"Alan"Waters"whom"many"readers"will"know"and"it"was"with"his"

support"and"that"of"the"Sussex"and"Surrey"Coppice"Group"that"I"was"able"to"avoid"some"of"the"more"

glaring"mistakes"as"I"sought"to"make"my"way"in"this"difficult"but"absorbing"business.""I"eventually"joined"the"

Commi4ee"and"stayed"on"it"for"three"years."

I"worked"for"three"years"on"Holmebush"Farm"in"Faygate,"a"large"farm"on"the"edge"of"the"Sussex"Weald,"an"

Area"of"Outstanding"Natural"Beauty.""Over"this"period"I"coppiced"a"mixture"of"very"derelict"hazel,"small"

leaved"lime"and"hornbeam"with"some"ash"standards"that"I"thinned"

out.""I"used"a"two"part,"eight"foot,"kiln"and"produced"a"few"tons"of"

charcoal"each"year."sellng"firewood"in"the"winter.""It"was"hard"work"

but"the"office"was"great!"

We"moved"to"Dorset"some"7"years"ago"and"I"immediately"joined"

the"Dorset"Coppice"Group"and"was"asked"to"go"on"the"Board"in"

fairly"short"order,"li4le"did"they"know"what"they"were"ge\ng!"

I"started"cu\ng"on"Holton"Lee"near"the"Bakers"Arms"roundabout"

but"found"it"difficult"to"obtain"meaningful"commitment"from"the"organisa@on"as"to"how"much"@mber"I"

could"cut"so"I"eventually"found"a"private"landowner"who"wanted"three"acres"of"woodland"coppiced.""I"did"

this"for"a"couple"of"years"before"moving"to"a"farm"in"Hampreston"where"I"coppiced"an"oak"wood"for"two"

seasons."

Aher"that"I"moved"to"Hyde"farm"and"worked"with"Pete"Jameson"for"a"couple"of"years"coppicing"one"of"the"

many"woods"on"the"farm.""While"I"was"there,"the"farm"was"sold"to"the"Cranborne"estate"and"I"spent"part"of"

one"winter"thinning"the"under"storey"on"Bulsbury"Hill"not"far"away.""Throughout"this"@me"I"con@nued"to"

make"charcoal."

For"my"sins"the"Board"asked"me"to"represent"the"Group"on"

the"Board"of"the"recently"formed"Na@onal"Coppice"Federa@on"

and"I"have"done"so"for"the"last"18"months"but"will"be"handing"

over"to"someone"new"when"we"move"in"August.""The"NCFed"

is"exci@ng"in"that"this"is"a"new"a4empt"to"try"and"get"coppice"

workers"to"work"together"to"improve"condi@ons.""Every"other"

a4empt"and"there"have"been"more"than"one"has"failed"but"I"

am"hopeful"with"your"support"it"may"succeed"this"@me."

�4


Dorset'Coppice'Group'Show'List'2015""

Below"is"a"list"of"shows"that"Dorset"Coppice"Group"will"be"a4ending.""If"anyone"would"like"to"a4end"then"

please"contact"Mandy"Staple"for"further"details.""""""[email protected]"

Sunday 14th June Green Scythe Fair Thorney Lakes, Mulchelney, Somerset

Sunday 14th June Open Day & Country Fair Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester

Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st June

The Wood Show Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, Chichester, West Sussex

Saturday 27th June Hardington Village Street Fair Hardington, Mandeville, Somerset

Saturday 4th July Blackdown Hills Woodland Fair Wellington, Somerset

Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th July

Melbury Abbas Steam Abbas Woodfrys Farm, Melbury Abbas

Saturday 25th July Milton Abbas Street Fair Milton Abbas, Dorset

Saturday 1st August Dorset Food and Arts Festival Poundbury, Dorchester

Wednesday 19th August Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Show

Motcombe, Gillingham, Dorset

Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th August

Stock Gaylard Oak Fair Sturminster Newton

Saturday 5th September Ham Hill Country Park Woodland Fayre

Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset

3rd & 4th October Cranborne Woodfair Braemore House, Nr Fordingbridge

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Re#lections+on+the+2014+to+2015+season+at+Prime+Coppice+8+Kit+Vaughn

It’s"been"a"very"busy"season"down"at"Prime"coppice"having"cut"just"

over"2.5"acres"of"mixed"Ash"and"Willow"firewood"coppice"together"

with"some"smaller"stands"of"over"stood"Hazel"and"reducing"the"dense"Oak"canopy."We"have"only"just"now"

taken"a"short"break,"given"the"late"onset"of"winter"and"hardly"any"frosts"plus"the"advent"of"an"early"spring"

and"the"need"to"finish"grading"and"fencing"the"coppice"coupes"before"deer"browsed"the"buds."I"thought"it"

might"be"useful"to"share"a"few"reflec@ons"on"the"season"and"tasks"undertaken"for"members"to"share"their"

thoughts"and"ideas"in"the"hope"that"it"might"help"other"members"also"facing"similar"issues."

As"part"of"restoring"Prime"coppice"we"are"commi4ed"to"cu\ng"over"stood"hazel"and"to"regenerate"it"

through"reducing"crowded"canopy"from"mature"standard"trees,"suppor@ng"good"stool"health,"layering"and"

replan@ng."Some"of"the"Hazel"is"well"over"30"years"old"and"in"very"poor"form."The"objec@ve"of"doing"it"is"

overshadowed"by"the"high"labour"costs"and"a"limited"value"of"the"product"coming"out,"but"also"the"hope"

and"fear"value"of"wai@ng"another"7"J9"years"for"any"kind"of"return"on"the"following"crop."Following"advice"

from"coppice"group"members"we"cut"the"stools"very"low"and"as"flush"as"possible"to"the"ground"and"are"

now"no@cing"very"good"budding"right"down"at"the"stool"base,"strengthening"the"root"system"and"health"of"

the"coppice."We"tried"several"different"techniques"of"regenera@on"when"layering,"including"dropping"in"a"

whole"stem"and"also"leaving"some"uprights"plus"not"leaving"a"leader"at"all"and"also"plushing"in"the"sun"

shoots."Aher"some"prac@ce"this"became"a"useful"and"skilled"ac@vity"to"be"undertaken"by"the"new"working"

woodlanders"volunteer"group"and"its"amazing"how"many"a"group"of"5"people"can"do"in"a"day."So"far"all"the"

layered"stools"are"doing"well"and"its"as"yet"to"soon"to"see"what"technique"worked"best"but"we"will"keep"a"

watchful"eye.""

We"have"been"developing"new"ways"to"use"the"over"stood"and"ohen"wiggly"hazel,"sor@ng"poles"into"piles"

to"be"chopped"and"chunked"into"bags"in"the"summer"with"the"aid"of"a"rented"chunking"machine"from"eco"

energy"in"Hemyock.""The"machine"is"on"wheels"and"petrol"driven"and"made"by"Rojek."It"will"chunk"most"

wood"types"up"to"3J4"inches"diameter"into"short"3J6"inch"lengths"straight"into"net"bags"and"two"people"

working"together"at"speed"can"do"20J25"bags"an"hour"working"from"a"stack"and"pile."The"product"is"not"

tradi@onal"to"the"average"layperson"but"tests"with"customers"has"shown"a"strong"repeat"demand"for"use"in"

chimeras,"barbeques"and"even"kindling,"with"others"using"it"as"rocket"fuel"in"small"stoves."We"will"be"

working"on"new"bag"sizes,"storage"op@ons"and"marke@ng"in"the"months"ahead"and"hope"to"do"well"over"

400"bags"this"winter."We"are"also"looking"into"the"op@on"to"purchase"a"machine"to"hire"out."

A"key"highlight"of"the"season"has"been"establishing"and"working"closely"with"our"new"working"

woodlanders"group."We"have"a"very"dedicated"and"able"group"of"volunteers"with"over"50"on"the"mailing"

list"but"days"averaging"from"5"to"10"people."We"started"the"season"with"a"very"helpful"introductory"

training"day"on"coppice"crahs"and"coppice"management"by"Paul"Vodden,"which"was"well"a4ended"and"

enjoyed"by"all."During"the"season"the"group"has"been"involved"in"cu\ng"and"layering"blocks"of"over"stood"

coppice,"sor@ng"poles"and"s@cks"and"removing"and"piling"brash,"plus"fencing"with"chestnut"posts,"plas@c"

and"wire"mesh."Most"volunteers"where"keen"to"access"good"firewood"and"I"had"some"seasoned"stock"from"

the"years"before"which"at"the"end"of"the"working"day"we"would"run"the"saw"through,"split"and"bag"and"

load"up"peoples"cars"together."Working"together"was"enjoyable"and"fun"and"we"managed"to"get"a"huge"

�6

Kit Vaughn

Prime Coppice


amount"done"plus"heat"lots"of"homes"with"sustainable"and"locally"sourced"quality"wood"fuel."We"will"be"

working"with"the"group"through"the"summer"to"sort"and"grade"firewood,"clear"rides"and"get"ready"for"the"

winter"cu\ng"season."

Sadly"the"increase"in"deer"numbers"coupled"with"a"change"in"hun@ng"and"ea@ng"habits"of"the"bri@sh"

public"over"the"years"means"that"bambis"are"busy"chomping"their"way"through"Bri@sh"woods"at"an"

alarming"rate."Together"with"plant"diseases"and"lack"of"management"deer"browsing"is"having"a"massive"

impact"on"the"health"of"our"Bri@sh"na@ve"woodlands."We"are"now"working"closely"with"a"local"stalker"and"

enjoying"quality"venison"from"our"own"woods"cooked"with"our"own"wood"chunks.""Its"high"@me"we"started"

promo@ng"sustainable"local"venison"as"an"answer"to"all"the"poor"quality"and"expensive"foreign"meat"that’s"

in"our"supermarkets!"With"new"Zealand"Lamb"running"at"11"pounds"a"kilo"upwards,"local"Venison"is"able"to"

outcompete"on"price,"quality"and"sustainability,"few"people"understand"that"if"they"eat"quality"locally"

sourced"wild"venision"they"are"ea@ng"one"of"the"healthiest"meats"available"plus"helping"the"rural"economy"

and"biodiversity."I"look"forward"to"a"@me"when"wildlife"conserva@on"agencies"have"car"s@ckers"saying"save%trees%eat%a%deer!"But"even"with"the"stalker"in"place"we"need"to"fence"all"the"new"coppice"coupes"and"are"using"a"heavyJduty"180gram"per"square"inch"mesh"that"should"allow"us"to"reuse"it"several"@mes."We"have"

also"invested"in"sweet"chestnut"poles"from"Dorset"fencing"supplies"and"successfully"cleaved"the"large"poles"

into"3"ge\ng"the"original"3"for"1!"This"allows"us"to"reuse"the"poles"but"also"to"ensure"the"fences"can"be"in"

place"for"several"years"in"case"we"don’t"move"them"or"want"to"con@nue"to"replant"in"the"coupes."Also"

remember"that"Collins"nets"whilst"not"stocking"this"heavyJduty"mesh"does"give"a"10%"discount"to"coppice"

group"members"for"nets"and"other"countryside"wares"such"as"squirrel"traps"etc."We"had"have"tried"pu\ng"

the"brash"over"stools"but"note"that"the"deer"will"actually"wade"chest"high"through"thick"brash"to"get"to"the"

shoots!""

Its"interes@ng"how"many"enquiries"we"are"ge\ng"from"our"network"and"web"site"but"also"through"the"

Dorset"coppice"group"website"which"is"a"great"resource."But"what"never"seizes"to"amaze"me"is"just"how"

many"people"don’t"understand"the"product"or"where"it"comes"from"–"here"are"some"examples"can$I$have$250$green$hazel$poles$in$early$May!$Can$I$have$200$straight$poles$11:$long$but$only$2$inches$in$diameter$and$can$we$have$them$tomorrowJ"I"guess"our"Amazon"buy"it"now"fast"paced"consumer"lifestyle"have"a"lot"

to"answer"for"when"the"public"source"products."But"seriously"there"is"work"to"do"on"educa@ng"the"

consumer"on"the"right"product"for"the"right"job,"its"availability"and"@ming"and"that"it"is"a"local"and"crah"

based"product"with"a"long"history"and"substan@al"amount"of"investment."For"example"I"lost"an"order"of"

over"400"poles"to"someone"selling"beanpoles"for"just"25"p"per"pole"cut"and"bundled."In"my"mind"that"is"

just"to"cheap"and"undermines"the"value"of"the"productJ"personally"I"think"people"should"pay"more"for"a"

hand"picked,"well"managed,"sustainable"and"local"product"that’s"taken"8"years"to"nurture"and"grow!"

Perhaps"we"need"to"use"the"analogy"of"the"local"food"revolu@on,"buy"local"support"your"local"economy"

and"be"sustainable,"when"promo@ng"our"products"and"not"always"sell"for"the"bo4om"dollar."

Another"highlight"was"using"Crunchies"two"working"cobs"to"extract"

pole"length"ash"and"large"oak"bu4s"out"of"the"wood"to"the"ride"

side."I"was"skep@cal"at"first"of"the"speed"and"u@lity"of"the"horses"

but"aher"working"with"them"for"3"days"I"am"totally"convinced."An"

abiding"memory"was"watching"Crunchy"running"with"the"horses"

through"a"sea"of"mud"and"a"1.5"tonne"Oak"bu4"sliding"along"at"

speed."We"had"3"people"crosscu\ng"and"stacking"the"ash"at"

�7


trackside"and"couldn’t"keep"up"with"his"speed,"some@mes"bringing"2J3"logs"together"at"one"@me."The"

process"was"much"faster"than"using"a"tractor"and"winch"and"leh"almost"zero"damage"to"the"ground."They"

proved"to"be"the"perfect"quick,"sustainable"and"truly"renewable"energy"for"logging"in"the"wood."We"

topped"of"the"horse"work"with"a"2"day"horse"logging"course"with"just"four"people"and"2"horses"that"was"a"

great"success"and"Crunchie"was"a"fantas@c"tutor"with"lots"of"folks"ge\ng"really"stuck"in"working"singles"

and"pairs"on"pulling"out"pole"length"Ash,"Alder"and"some"big"Spruces."We"definitely"want"to"run"another"

course"and"have"had"many"folks"enquiring"already."

We"have"lots"to"do"in"the"months"ahead"including"chunking"and"extrac@ng"the"bags"of"coppice"chunks,"

extrac@ng"and"milling"up"the"big"oak"saw"logs,"extrac@ng"stacking"sor@ng"and"conver@ng"the"firewood"and"

mee@ng"orders"for"crah"ash"and"hazel"poles"and"mending"fences,"cu\ng"rides"and"ge\ng"ready"to"replant"

and"gap"up"areas"and"to"cut"again"in"the"next"season."What"give"me"strength"is"knowing"that"my"ancestors"

have"done"this"for"thousands"of"years"before"me"and"worked"with"the"same"natural"cycle"of"the"weather"

and"the"plants"themselves"and"it"will"go"on"well"past"my"short"@me.""

I"am"sorry"that"we"could"not"make"it"to"the"Dorset"coppice"group"open"day"we"where"on"our"way"back"

from"the"outer"Hebrides"islands"of"North"Uist"where"we"go"every"year"to"get"away"from"trees!"But"

seriously"it"is"bizarre"to"be"in"a"landscape"with"almost"no"trees"and"to"learn"that"fishermen"would"trade"

but"also"make"the"long,"arduous"and"dangerous"trip"across"the"open"sea"to"the"mainland"to"buy"hazel"

roads"to"make"lobster"traps"and"fish,"pots,"baskets"and"creelsJ"now"replaced"by"plas@c"and"steel!"Don’t"

forget"you"can"check"out"all"our"ac@vi@es"at"Prime"Coppice"on"our"website"and"face"book"page"and"look"

out"for"new"events"and"courses."I"would"like"to"thank"all"the"folks"so"much"for"their"advice"and"input"into"

our"work"at"Prime"Coppice"and"hope"to"see"you"down"in"the"woods"again"soon.""Please"check"the"website"

regular"and"do"let"us"know"if"you"want"to"use"the"venue"to"run"any"courses"or"have"ideas"on"trying"new"

coppice"products"and"wishing"you"a"sunny"and"dry"summer!"

Many"thanks,"Kit"and"Ruth"and"all"the"team"at"Prime"Coppice"

****************************************************"

Hambledon:"History"on"the"Hill,"Sunday"20"September,""

11"am"–"4"pm"

Hambledon"Hill"Na@onal"Nature"Reserve,"Child"Okeford,"

Dorset"

The"event"takes"place"on"SUNDAY"20"SEPTEMBER"and"we"

would"love"stall"holders"to"come"along"and"help"us"to"put"on"

a"special"event"to"let"people"know"about"the"fantas@c"history,"

wildlife"and"landscape"found"in"this"part"of"Dorset"and"to"provide"the"opportunity"for"some"hands"

on"experiences"of"how"peoples"of"the"past"lived."

Currently"we"have"some"organised"walks"on"the"archaeology"and"the"wildlife"of"the"hill,"plus"

handsJon"ac@vi@es"for"families"being"run"by"the"Trust’s"archaeology"team"and"a"@me"trail"for"

visitors"to"follow,"helping"put"the"hill’s"human"and"natural"history"into"context."We"will"also"have"

�8

Hannah Worthington

Please contact Hannah if you are interested in attending this event

[email protected]


some"themed"historical"ac@vi@es"taking"place"provided"by"Ancient"Technology"Centre,"Ancient"

Wessex"Network"and"more."

As"human"ac@vity"on/connected"with"the"hill"spans"from"Neolithic,"through"Iron"Age"to"the"Civil"

War"and"World"War"II"and"as"such"we"are"looking"for"groups/organisa@ons"that"can"run"ac@vi@es"

and/or"demonstra@ons"linked"with"these"par@cular"periods"of"human"history."Please"visit"the"

trust’s"website"for"more"informa@on"about"the"site:"h4p://[email protected]/hambledonJ

hill/"

Ac@vi@es"could"be"specifically"linked"with"archaeology,"demonstra@ons"of"skills"that"peoples"of"

the"past"would"have"possessed,"tradi@onal"countryside"crahs"or"reJenactments."

****************************************************"

I"have"a"lot"to"be"grateful"to"the"Dorset"Coppice"Group"for."It"

has"been"exclusively"becoming"a"member"and"mee@ng"other"

members"that"has"got"me"working"within"the"industry."

Becoming"an"appren@ce"was"more"a"process"than"a"single"

decision."A"few"years"ago"I"went"to"a"Dorset"Coppice"Group"

taster"day"where"I"experienced"charcoal"making,"coppicing,"

shrink"pot"making"and"green"wood"working."Aher"joining"the"

Dorset"Coppice"Group"last"summer,"I"contacted"Toby"and"

found"out"that"there"was"an"opportunity"for"an"

appren@ceship."I"was"already"in"contact"with"the"Small"Woods"

Associa@on,"and"soon"aher,"I"went"through"a"selec@on"day"

and"interview"and"was"fortunate"enough"to"get"it!"I"started"

the"appren@ceship"in"October"2014"and"the"funding"supports"

my"placement"with"Toby"for"one"year."Aher"this"@me,"I"hope"

to"con@nue"on"towards"managing"a"woodland"in"Dorset,"with"the"support"of"the"Small"Woods"

Associa@on"and"the"Dorset"Wildlife"Trust."

Being"environmentally"minded"is"probably"the"biggest"factor"that"brought"me"to"the"Coppice"

Group."Having"done"several"WWOOF"holidays"I've"seen"how"organic"growing"benefits"wildlife"and"

believe"we"can"work"with"nature"in"more"sustainable"and"mutually"beneficial"ways"that"require"

low"inputs."I"am"interested"in"sustainable"living"and"managing"land"in"a"way"that"promotes"

biodiversity"and"does"as"li4le"damage"as"possible."The"fact"that"a"coppice"actually"benefits"from"

human"input"is"a"great"opportunity"and"prac@ce"that"can't"be"underes@mated."This"is"why"I'm"

looking"forward"to"learning"as"much"as"possible,"promo@ng"coppicing"and"having"as"long"as"

career"within"coppicing"as"my"body"will"allow!"

�9

John Sweeney

John has been working as an apprentice with Toby Hoad.


Wood"Turning"in"Marrakech."

In"November"2012"my"wife"Lesley"decided"that"we"could"do"

with"some"winter"sunshine"so"booked"us"a"week"in"Marrakech"

in"the"Moroccan"House"Hotel,"a"quite"astounding"place"with"

every"room"decorated"in"tradi@onal"Moroccan"style."Check"it"

out"on"their"website"for"pictures."

On"our"first"day"aher"a"good"breakfast"on"the"

roof"terrace"complete"with"views"of"the"Atlas"

Mountains"we"decided"we"would"start"

exploring""this"fascina@ng"city"and"planned"

our"route"to"Jenna"al"Fna"Square"home"of"the"

souk"or"market"place."Along"our"way"we"

came"across"the"Ar@san"Centre"and"being"

interested"in"crahs"went"in"to"have"a"look."

There"were"various"crahspeople"working"

there"and"selling"their"wares."Leather"work,"

brass"ware,"silver"jewelery"and"woodwork"were"just"a"few."I"was"

interested"to"find"a"local"turner"making"chess"pieces"and"he"allowed"me"to"take"some"pictures"

unusually"for"free."He"was"using"a"'bow"lathe'"which"I"had"never"seen"before."The"bowstring"was"

wrapped"around"the"workJpiece""in"the"manner"of"the"pole"lathe"and"powered"by"moving"the"

bow"back"and"forth."His"only"tool"was"a"skew"chisel"held"in"his"

leh"hand"and"steadied"between"his"toes!!"Below"are"a"couple"

of"pictures"of"him"at"work"and""a"picture"of"a"necklace"which"

was"supposedly"a"good"luck"charm."The"charm"is"made"from"

green"oleander"wood"about"1/2”"diameter"and"has"shown"no"

signs"of"spli\ng.""

We"then"carried"on"to"Jenna"al"Fna"and"the"souk"where"we"got"

completely"lost"but"that"is"another"story."

Pete"Moors"

****************************************************"

Na@onal"Coppice"Federa@on"Seminar"

Deer"present"the"biggest"problem"faced"by"the"modernJday"coppicer,"

according"to"the"majority"of"the"audience"at"the"first"ever"Na@onal"

Coppice"Federa@on"seminar""Hazel"Coppice"Restora@on","held"at"

Westonbirt"Arboretum"on"the"13th"and"14th"of"May."

With"so"much"overstood"and"undermanaged"hazel"coppice"around"the"

country,"restora@on"is"a"subject"which"obviously"appealed"to"many"

coppicers"as"nearly"70"came"to"listen,"learn"and"discuss"the"issues"facing"today's"greenwood"sector"."

�10

Pete Moors

A report by Pete after a trip to Marrakech.

Hazel Coppice

Restoration Report by Dr Tean Mitchell, The Sustainable Coppice Partnership Project


Delegates"generously"shared"their"experience"and"knowledge"with"each"other"during"the"many"

opportuni@es"for"networking"between"the"formal"presenta@ons.""The"Forestry"Commission"donated"the"

space"in"the"Great"Oak"Hall"and"the"seminar"team"made"sure"we"had"plenty"of"tea,"coffee"and"biscuits"to"

keep"us"going."And"the"weather"was"lovely"on"the"first"day,"too."

Brian"Williamson"J"organiser"of"the"seminar"J"opened"the"sessions"with"an"overview"of"the"decline"of"

coppice"management"in"Britain"but"there"seemed"to"be"an"air"of"op@mism"in"the"room"as"people"talked"a"

lot"about"opportuni@es,"if"the"various"hurdles"(sorry!)"J"deer,"restocking,"landowner"commitment"and"

support,"lack"of"seed"funding"J"could"be"overcome."

To"give"heart"to"newer"recruits"to"the"profession,"there"were"plenty"of"experienced"greenwood"workers"

who"successfully"make"a"living"from"their"crah"over"many"decades."Their"presence"suggested"a"lack"of"

cynicism"about"the"future"which"haunts"some"other""tradi@onal""professions.""The"discussion"on""What"

makes"good"coppice?""brought"forth"some"strong"opinions"but"stool"density,"protec@on"against"deer,"

access"and"the"quality"of"the"material"(mainly"cleavability)"were"strong"contenders"for"the"list"of""must"

haves".""

Jonathan"Rau,"the"former"Hampshire"County"Council"woodlands"officer,"who"now"works"for"the"Forestry"

Commission"suggested"that"the"seed"funding"provided"by"HCC"some"years"ago"had"borne"fruit"but"the"loss"

of"funding"had"seriously"impacted"exis@ng"and"poten@al"coppice"sites"in"the"county.""Research"done"by"

HCC"showed"that"16"acres"was"probably"the"minimum"needed"to"support"one"coppice"worker."

A"discussion"around"pricing"showed"the"very"wide"varia@on"around"the"country."While""access"to"markets""

was"a"common"issue"raised,"I"got"the"impression"that"some"help"with"crea@ng"markets"might"be"useful"for"

some"people.""Running"a"business"need"so"many"skills"besides"actually"managing"the"crop"and"making"the"

products."It"seems"unrealis@c"to"assume"that"every"coppicer"has"a"full"suite"of"business"exper@se"J"

branding,"marke@ng,"sales,"promo@on,"press"and"PR,"financial"management"J"all"professions"in"their"own"

right"J"at"the"same"level"as"their"greenwood"skills."

Rebecca"Oaks,"Na@onal"Federa@on"Chair,""gave"some"guidance"on"current"grants"but"the"message"mainly"

seemed"to"be"that"there"is"not"a"lot"around"and"it's"quite"hard"to"get"your"hands"on"it."

Propaga@on"of"hazel"in"anything"like"nursery"numbers"is"another"problem"for"restora@on"sites.""While"

layering"and"mounding"up"ensure"the"quality"of"the"material"matches"that"of"the"stock,"it"can"only"really"

produce"quite"small"numbers"of"extra"plants"for"reJstocking.""One"delegate"said"she"had"great"success"with"

cu\ngs"J"so"she"was"pounced"on"by"many"delegates"eager"to"try"her"method."We'll"no"doubt"get"some"

outcome"informa@on"next"year"(ie,"I'll"let"you"know"if"it"worked"for"me!)."

Ralph"Hamer"who"used"to"work"at"the"FC"Research"sta@on"at"Alice"Holt"in"Hampshire"gave"a"complete"

picture"of"hazel"biology"and"ecology"which"proved"most"informa@ve."His"research"said"that"cu\ng"as"low"

as"possible"gave"the"best"regenera@on"results"as"it"allowed"the"new"shoots"to"root,"providing"much"be4er"

uptake"of"water"and"nutrients,"leading"to"stronger"reJgrowth.""He"also"said"that"@ming"of"cu\ng"didn't"

seem"to"ma4er"except"for"prac@cali@es"and"ecological"demands."

The"Na@onal"Federa@on"is,"of"course,"made"up"of"hardJworking"fullJ@me"coppicers"so"a"couple"of"ac@ons"

for"NCFed"will"depend"on"a"volunteer"or"two"to"make"it"happen."A"standard/model"contract"for"coppicers/

landowners"available"to"members"was"a"popular"idea."A"guide"about"to"how"to"approach"landowners"was"

�11


another.""A""da@ng"site""on"the"NCFed"website"to"connect"landowners"with"coppicers"also"got"an"

enthusias@c"welcome."

The"full"proceedings"of"the"seminar"are"going"to"be"published"which"will"bring"together"all"the"

presenta@ons"and"discussion"which"will"be"available"on"the"NCFed"website"and,"no"doubt,"be"the"start"of"a"

great"archive."

****************************************************"

In"2009"we"visited"France"for"a"touring"holiday.""While"in"the"

Vendee"we"stayed"for"a"short"@me"near"a"small"village"called"

Mouzeuil"St"Mar@n.""Nearby"was"a"nature"reserve"of"about"

132"acres,"part"of"the"Marais"Poitevin.""The"reserve"is"a"man"

made"network"of"raised"rides"and"wide"ditches"separa@ng"off"plots"of"land"on"which"were"grown"

the"things"the"community"needed."""One"crop"was"short,"pollarded"ash"and"here"is"a"couple"of"

photographs"showing"this"unusual"to"us,"way"of"growing"ash."

�12

Paul Vodden

The"short"ash"

pollards"can"be"seen"

beyond"the"water"

filled"ditch"which"

itself"is"beyond"one"

of"the"wide"rides"

that"allow"access."

The"rides"slope"outwards"to"the"ditches"at"

each"side.""I"wonder"if"the"rides"were"actually"

places"where"stock"could"be"grazed,"hence"

there"significant"width.""Another"ride"can"be"

seen"coming"in"from"the"right.""There"is"a"pile"

of"firewood"on"the"right,"which"indicates"one"

use"the"@mber"was"being"put"to."


"

"

�13

In"the"same"region,"we"visited"a"rural"crah"

museum"in"which"was"a"collec@on"of"co4age"

furniture"I"thought"might"be"of"interest"to"

readers.""Interes@ngly,"there"was"li4le"

evidence"of"turning"but"I"cannot"believe"

something"as"useful"as"a"pole"lathe"would"not"

have"been"used,"par@cularly"as"one"of"the"

main"crops"was"ash.""However,"the"stretchers"

on"some"of"the"chairs"look"like"they"may"have"

been"turned"

I"thought"members"might"be"interested"in"what"seems"to"be"an"unusual,"at"least"to"me,"method"of"

tradi@onal"woodland"management."

It"would"be"interes@ng"to"see"if"anyone"can"throw"any"light"on"this.""Perhaps"others"could"visit"when"in"the"

Vendee"area"and"provide"a"be4er"informed"report."


A"final"note"from"Paul"J""

Due"to"my"wife's"work,"we"are"moving"from"Dorset"to"Essex"in"August,"to"the"13th"century"market"

town"of"Saffron"Waldon.""I"would"just"like"to"take"the"opportunity"to"say"that"it"has"been"a"real"

pleasure"to"have"been"involved"with"the"Dorset"Coppice"Group,"one"of"our"major"coppice"groups.""

Not"only"have"I"enjoyed"serving"as"one"of"your"Board"members"but"have"par@cularly"appreciated"

the"opportunity"of"being"your"first"Na@onal"Coppice"Group"Representa@ve"and"to"have"served"as"

a"Director"of"the"Fed"for"the"last"year"or"so."

Incidentally,"I"have"been"asked"to"set"up"a"local"group"in"East"Anglia"so"it"looks"like"I"am"not"

en@rely"disappearing"into"the"sunset!"

I"have"no"doubt"that"the"Group"will"con@nue"to"go"from"strength"to"strength"and"my"sincere"

thanks"for"your"support"and"friendship"over"the"last"8"eight"years.""The"next"NCFed"Gathering"is"to"

take"place"in"October"in"Cumbria"(check"out"the"website)"and"I"hope"to"see"some"of"you"there."

Very"best"wishes"for"the"future"

Paul"Vodden"

++

�14


Other Officers

Board Members

Chairman, Website Co-ordinator & Newsletter Dave Partridge 07795 384204 [email protected]

Vice Chairman Pete Moors 07717 182619 [email protected]

Publicity & Show Co-ordinator Mandy Staple 07767 893324 [email protected]

Bonsley & Work Group Pete Snelson 01963 23680 [email protected]

Meetings, Minutes & General Scribe George Darwall 01747 811888 [email protected]

Social Secretary Toby Hoad 07984 488894 [email protected]

Membership Secretary Trevor Ball 07585 895614 [email protected]

Peter Jameson [email protected]

Event Organiser Dave Ewers 01202 621508 [email protected]

Secretary Jilly Snelson 01963 23680 [email protected]

N.C.Fed Rep Ken Hilton 01202 382476 [email protected]

Classroom Bookings Hannah Worthington

07547 060231 [email protected]

�15

WOODLAND WHISPER’S - Sussex and Surrey Coppice … Newsletter Summer 2015 Welcome to the...

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