Coppicing training: 28-02-2023

 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. 

 

If it's a hurdle you want then Geoff's your man.

Look at the quality of those compared to the ones 

we were making at Ellington Banks last week!!

 

He constructs them out here on this special block...

 

...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.

 

Willow is soaked in this bath for a couple

 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!

We were then shown 7 sets of numbered poles

 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.

 

They are then left with the job of 'threading' the stems...

 

...using a billhook...

 

to remove side branches.

That's right Dave - work from 'butt' to top,

 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!!

 

Paul thinks he has a bean pole. 

Friedy goes for a hedge laying binder.

 

David opts for hurdle weaver

 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.

There you go. Now it's your turn.....

 

Good try Paul.

Brenda watches Andrew to make

 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.