We are so pleased with the growth that the trees have made in the past two years. We have planted a wide variety of native hardwoods quite close as per a Japanese technique called the Miyawaki method. The high density planting encourages the trees to shoot for the light. This block plant experiment is often used to establish a packed pioneer forest and is generally thought to lad to a more biodiverse ecosystem for birds and pollinators. We thought we would give it a go as a half way between coppice and hedgerow!
The aim is to thin them out when they reach the size to work as chair legs, spoons, shrink pots and other small products in about five to seven years. We will see which species will coppice and replant the gaps with new stock. We should hopefully have a rotating forest of small round wood for future furniture needs. A woodland that stays is a woodland that pays ! We will leave the trees and species with best form to provide someone else in the future with furniture.
Alongside this wee experiment of about 2000 trees we planted is a full hazel coppice of about 500 stems, planted a willow coppice of about 200 pollards, created laid hedges of hazel and birch and have grown on hundreds of oak from local trees to restock the woodlands round about the workshop ! Been a busy couple of years ! Going to be a busy few more to come !!! 

The Big Tree Friday Crew have made a few shave horses as we only run one construction course every year, These are made from locally grown Douglas Fir and Ash. They are four or five foot long and have been made so that there are options on the foot and leg positions and options on the top brace positions allowing for different sizes of product. Buyers must collect please so as to choose the horse that suits them best. £350.00 each.