Greenwood Crafts

Britain has a long and rich tradition of woodcrafts and what, since about the 1970s, have been called the 'greenwood crafts'. Greenwood crafts focus on using wood that contains sap and that is easy to work with simple hand tools to produce beautiful and useful products.Discusses all you need to know to get started, including tools, workshops, sourcing wood, making some of your own devices and the characteristics of the various woods. Covers a wide variety of turned and carved items for the house and garden, including kitchen treen and sports equipment. Examines a wide range of greenwood chairs, describes how they are made and highlights the talent and creativity of a number of expert craftspeople in the field. Examines a number of basket-making techniques involving a range of raw materials, form willow to oak via hazel and other hedgerow plants. Considers a range of items for the garden and for agricultural use such as rustic furniture, wood store, shakes, shelters, fences and basic timber framing. Explores the future of greenwood working, takes a look at some of the new ideas emerging from the sector and includes handy hints on running a greenwood business. Few books have been published on the greenwood crafts and this present volume will be welcomed by all those with an interest in country crafts, trees, woodland, woodworking and all matters rural. Superbly illustrated with 380 colour photographs and clear step-by step instructions.

Autorentext

Edward Mills carried out his first coppicing in Essex in 1981, and, ever since, his career has enabled him to carry out coppicing of woodlands in counties all over England. In 2003 Edward purchased his own coppice woodland in the Lake District and is an enthusiastic proponent of all things greenwood. In 2004 he became a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters. Rebecca Oaks set up her own coppice business in 1994. Mentored by Bill Hogarth, the last active coppice merchant in the n-west of England, she built a business specializing in hazel coppice and crafts. In 2000, together with colleagues, she formed the Bill Hogarth MBE Memorial Apprenticeship Trust (BHMAT) and has been running three-year apprenticeships in coppicing ever since. In 2011 she took the decision to pass her business to her apprentice and is now a Forestry Adviser with Cumbria Woodlands.