WINTER'S OVER!!
The NCVs had good reasons to be happy this week. The end of February has now arrived. Winter is over and the joys of spring lie in wait. Not only that, this week was a training day - hazel coppicing at 'Yorkshire Hurdles and willow baskets', on the way to Malton. It was a long drive for Liz as mini-bus chaffeur, but a good way to spend a day!! Here is what we saw...
On arrival we were shown to the barn where
Angela showed us the items she makes
with willow wands they buy in and hazel poles
they harvest from their own woodland.
Everything was beautifully crafted, such as these
plant obelisks and 'grow throughs'.
Here are some examples of her basketry.
Absolutely superb!
Even the thin ends of the hazel poles can be
utilised to make these lovely dragonflies and
sunflowers that dance around in the breeze.
Look at the quality of those compared to the ones
we were making at Ellington Banks last week!!
...then weighs them down on top of each other
to ensure they remain flat. Some need
more weighing down than others!!
These are the willow stools that Angela
harvests some of her willow wands from.
of weeks before weaving. Apparently it
is the only plant that can be re-hydrated.
And, before you ask, no - Geoff does not
take a weekly bath with the willow!
that had been graded for different uses.
Our mission - should we chose to accept it -
was to match each numbered set to a use.
Not as easy as it sounds!!
Then - it was off to their woodland
to see the actual coppice area.
Everyone was armed with a billhook.
It was surrounded by deer fencing -
critical if you want decent hazel poles.
Inside the fencing were 5 squares of coppice
stools that are harvested over a 5 year rotation.
To harvest them Geoff gets out his chain saw
and removes every stem to ground level.
only slice in one direction and ensure
you slide the hook along the surface.
Done? OK. Next up you have to put them into the
right pile for the job they are best suited to.
It's make your mind up time Andy!!
Friedy goes for a hedge laying binder.
as it is thick enough to be split.
Go on Geoff - show us how to split a
hazel pole right down the middle.
There you go - one perfectly split pole.
The NCVs look on in awe.
Now - to finish off - Angela will show us
how to tie a coppicer's knot.
Watch carefully please.
You go under here; round there; through there; up and under; pull tight;
KEEP IT TAUT!!!!!!
Make a loop; put the little end through and pull.
Make a loop; put the little end through and pull.
There you go. Now it's your turn.....
sure she doesn't go wrong.
David - you are meant to be using this skill to
keep the poles together in bundles
of 10 or even 20. Not 2.
🙄
Days from a bygone age number 10
Did you manage to guess last week's youthful NCV correctly? No prizes for realising it was Andy C. who looks as youthful now as he did then!!
Then...
...and now.
