I have started to write a column for Sixpenny Handley’s Downsman magazine I hope you enjoy it. There will be instalments every two months. 

I like to think of myself as a woodsman a man of the woods; but I am reluctant now to do so. Handley has a history of woodsmanship stretching back generations and I feel a little uncomfortable sitting within this title while I still have so much to learn. I can’t even claim I come from Handley as I grew up in Silverstone in Northamptonshire. Silverstone is obviously famous for its Motor racing circuit , but its name is derived from Silva as in silviculture the original term for forestry. Silverstone is in the heart of Whittle wood forest and next to the village is the largest wooded part of this. There are now no sawmills in the village but when I was a child there were four. I grew up surrounded by wood and I loved it. The smell of fresh sawn oak still reminds me of playing in the saw dust, I used to spend hours just lost in the woods and suppose I still do.

I have a background as an educator and love nothing more than introducing children and adults to woodland as a places of beauty a natural resource a place to relax, to enjoy, to feel settled.

The modern age has obvious advantages too numerous to mention; but there is something just under the surface, something innate, primal a connection or belonging when it comes to woodland. This is of no surprise as the people who first colonised these islands after the last ice age followed the march of the trees northward, it is if you like our natural habitat.

Its only after the industrial revolution that we began to loose this connection to the woodland, but strangely in this digital age we are drawn back to the natural materials used in the past there is more and more interest in the crafts, produce and fuel resource that the woodland provides. We are also finding more ways to spend time in the woods for leisure and learning. We are perhaps trying to reconnect with our natural habitat.

In this column I will talk about all sorts of things woodland related, to feed this reconnection. From produce and its uses old and new to some of the experiences I have had trying to get established, seasonal observations, new ideas for old products, poems, wild food, woodland recipes etc. etc.

I do hope that you enjoy my ramblings feedback would be greatly appreciated, as this is my first foray into article writing, if you have any subjects you would like me to include please do not hesitate to contact me.

Today marked the second week of forest school sessions at Clayesmore with Nursery and Preprep kids. This term we will be concentrating on Basic survival skills. Protection, Location, Water and Food. Today we were looking at warm and dry shelters to do this we enlisted the help of a group of toys. My old 42 year old panda bear who really feels the cold, a host of Toy story characters and Mr tiny and his son Tiny tiny. We had great fun.

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On Tuesday Paul and I made the finishing touches to the tressel around the compost loo steps and added a beautiful applewood handle to the door meanwhile Eddie got on with some hazel plant labels £1 a bundle.

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Installed gate and seating in pergola today. I think they look great what are your thoughts?

Its been a while since I last posted ‘and for good reason’. In september I injured myself quite badly separating bicep from forearm helping move a piano. I am now almost fully recovered.This has obviously effected my work.

I will start on the roundhouse again in the spring. In the mean time I have been lecturing in conservation . The students clearing an area of the woodland and planting and layering for coppice. I’m also about to start a series of survival courses for 5-13 year olds at Clayesmore school.

During my convalescence I have enlisted the help of John Sweeny a local guy who has formulated his own apprenticeship scheme by working with local wood workers. This picture shows one of the projects we have worked on, a gate and seating for a pergola ready for installation.

I finished the rafters some time ago but have injured myself, moving a piano. I am still taking commissions and will be running courses on this build in the spring.  

I have finished the walls on the roundhouse. Rafters next, need to break the build for a few weeks while I earn a little cash, running sessions during the last two weeks of August. It’s not too late to join in!

Also planning a kids only day, so if your child’s enjoys getting really covered in dirt and would like to learn about the Celts then get in touch.

Very exciting news !! Our roundhouse course has started the door and walls climbing from the ground.

Its still not too late to join us. !

We are offering a special rate for students for a days taster please enquire for details.

Our roundhouse build starts in a few weeks time with the building of the walls and placing of the rafters, I have already started to assemble the materials, so if you would like to take part book now!

Dates are flexible, you may even get one to one tuition, but there will be a maximum group size of five.

All techniques can be practiced during the build even if that part of the build has been completed.

Spent a lovel weekend at River cottage,  I built half a Roundhouse.

Spoke with lots of interesting folk about building a roundhouse in their garden or school grounds, there was even talk of one at River cottage, with an iron age food course bolted on. So if we wetted your appetite do get in touch. We have a  Roundhouse building course this summer it would be great to see you there.