I've talked to the reserve manager at Warburg and she's happy to let Wychwood come along one day and have a go at coppicing. It'll be mostly hazel - can we use that for anything? We can request some other tree types if we want. We'll be allowed to take down any sycamore or turkey oak (the latter is crap for everything!) on site, within size restrictions. I'm less sure about ash, as it's native and not, to my knowledge, normally coppiced.
I thought we could use the product for spear shafts and quarter staffs.
Whether a warden leads the task or I do, I'm not sure yet, but coppicing is very easy and I've been on a course so I'm 'qualified' if it does fall to me. They provide the tools, we provide the host, and we leave any unwanted product for them to use.
Sooooooo, who's interested, at least in principle, in heading down one day to a lovely nature reserve and chopping it down in the name of conservation and warfare? I'd suggest a default day of Sunday, as WWers are available then. I don't know if we'd be able to have BP there or not, I'll ask. My next choice would be saturday, as I'm a believer in keeping special events to the weekend when people are less likely to have work commitments, as it's not fair on the scientists* who have lectures on weekdays.
*(clear bias) or anyone else who can't get out of weekday work
I'd suggest maybe weekend of 5th, 4th or 3rd week, in order of preference for me.
Comments please.
