woodland whisper’s - sussex and surrey coppice … newsletter summer 2015 welcome to the...
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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
DCG Newsletter www.dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk Summer 2015
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.
DCG Newsletter www.dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk Summer 2015
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.
DCG Newsletter www.dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk Summer 2015
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."
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DCG Newsletter www.dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk Summer 2015
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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DCG Newsletter www.dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk Summer 2015
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"
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Kit Vaughn
Prime Coppice
DCG Newsletter www.dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk Summer 2015
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"
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DCG Newsletter www.dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk Summer 2015
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
DCG Newsletter www.dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk Summer 2015
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.
DCG Newsletter www.dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk Summer 2015
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"."
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Pete Moors
A report by Pete after a trip to Marrakech.
Hazel Coppice
Restoration Report by Dr Tean Mitchell, The Sustainable Coppice Partnership Project
DCG Newsletter www.dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk Summer 2015
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"
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DCG Newsletter www.dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk Summer 2015
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."
DCG Newsletter www.dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk Summer 2015
"
"
�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."
DCG Newsletter www.dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk Summer 2015
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"
++
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DCG Newsletter www.dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk Summer 2015
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