Two years ago when I was here we installed three living willow structures at Otford Primary School. One as part of living willow course (a small dome with 3 entrance tunnels) and the other two (a bower and a large dome) by John, Nigel, Mike, myself and my friend Sharon. Sharon and I had met during the living willow seats course that John ran at Bore Place and had also participated in the living willow structures course at the Otford school.
I will direct you over to my blog post from last time to see those installations...
Well, huh. Guess what?
It looks like I never got that posted. Goodness me... here they are
All three structures had done very, very well, don't you think?!! Each had a significant amount of growth in the last 2 years!. It was truly exciting to see something I had helped install still alive and well. Not only alive and well but growing vigorously!
The bower, pictured below had a lot of growth on the top that needed trimming off as well as a lot of growth on the sides and top that needed weaving in.
Jake and I set about doing that while John tended to reattaching the end column that had been chopped off during the electrical work for the new school building.
This first picture shows very clearly the willow that had been cut off... never mind the fact that John is either texting someone or lamenting the fact that he's 'in another bad cell area'.
John set to work...
and had it repaired in no time flat.
Jake and I tended to the trimming and weaving of the side and top growth.
That's the bower finished. Big, big smile. Can you tell I am thrilled to be here?
Jake bundling the willow harvested from the top of the structure.
Next up, the weaving in on the smaller dome with the tunnels... you can almost make out the new growth at the top of the dome with a bit on the tunnels...
a sarny break and then off to work on the large dome...
A wonderful day, weaving willow. I couldn't have been happier. I hope I get to see these three structures again sometime in the coming years...
It was time for a lie-in after the busy-ness of January. When I finally rolled out of bed I discovered it was a bright sunny morning! After T and Basil had been out for a walk we set about trying to figure out what to do for the day... We had various thoughts but finally settled on a road trip to Hastings.
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex, within the historic county of Sussex, on the south coast of England. In historical terms, Hastings can claim fame through its connection with the Norman conquest of England (do you remember your history--the Battle of Hastings in 1066?); and also because it became one of the medieval Cinque Ports. Hastings was, for centuries, an important fishing port; although nowadays less important, it still has the largest beach-based fishing fleet in England. The town became a watering place in the 1760s, and then, with the coming of the railway, a seaside resort.
We started off with a walk around the village and I was introduced to the funicular railway...
funicular
fjʊˈnɪkjʊlə,fəˈnɪk-/
adjective
1.
(of a railway, especially one on a mountainside) operating by cable with ascending and descending cars counterbalanced.
2.
relating to a rope or its tension.
noun
1.
a funicular railway
Cool isn't it? We didn't ride up this time... maybe next time though! We came upon this memorial from WWII.
...now a lovely little garden marks the spot...
We had a scrumptious burger and chips at the Hastings Arms pub...
We met up with Perry, a dear friend of Tinas from Kew days, and had an envigorating walk on the beach...
We all sat out in the brisk sea air for a cup of coffee at a seaside cafe. Sun was shining but as we were sitting, along from the west came this gorgeous bank of clouds...
We ended our afternoon at the Jerwood Gallery and from there saw the fishing boats mentioned above all pulled up on the shore for the night.
Back in December (the 12th) we went to Lady Boswells Primary School in Sevenoaks to do the maintenance on the 3 living willow structures John has installed there. Darkness settled in before Jake and I could finish trimming and weaving on the large dome, so John and I went back to finish it up.
This is Jake at the structure in December--you can see clearly at the top what an incredible amount of growth it has had the last year!
...and this is it all neatly trimmed and woven back together... lovely! All the trimmings, most of which ranged from 5-7 feet long, can be planted to create other living willow structures. A prime example of the sustainability of willow! Love, love, love it!
JW obliged me and took a selfie of us in front of it. Thanks JW.
The great Scottish Poet, Robert Burns birthday is January 25 (1759-1796)... it is common tradition here to celebrate his life and poetry with an supper of haggis (and whiskey for those who do imbibe) on his birthday.
Underwoodsman tradition is to celebrate with a meal of haggis, jacket potato and squash. Prepared, of course, by 'chef Mike' in the woods. This year was no different. Our celebration this year was January 24th.
Just me, in my jammies, with my blankie and my cup(s) of lemon ginger tea.
I know.
It may not be the most exciting New Years Eve anyone has ever had. But it was mine. I was actually quite content. And. Truth be told, I didn't watch the movie just once. I watched it 1 and 1/2 times. Here, there are channels that run the same programming, just and hour later. So. I watched the movie. And then I watched the last part again.
(I confess. I have seen this film many, many times already, and will never pass up an opportunity to watch it again.)
It is a classic musical film, made in 1954. It is set in 1850's Oregon, about seven lumberjack brothers who decide to kidnap brides for themselves from a neighboring town...
and they all lived happily ever after.
Can you imagine how well this storyline would go over in this world we live in?
Since January is the Underwoodsman's month for felling the big trees, as part of his woodland management plan for Bore Place. It seemed fitting to watch a film about lumberjacks.
(And. I will never tire of 'happily ever after", as long as I live).
Worker in the logging industry who perform the initial harvesting and transport of trees for ultimate processing into forest products. The term usually refers to a bygone era when hand tools were used in harvesting trees.
Who? John Waller, the underwoodsman. Jake the apprentice. Romain Scordel, another area tree surgeon and gardener extrordinaire. Jack, his helper (and freelance graphic designer!). Mike W, veteran volunteer, keeper of the fire and master chef of the wood. Michael and Warren, new volunteers. And, last but not least. Me, sans Betty.
Where? Kilnhouse Wood, Bore Place.
What? Felling large trees. Cutting anything roughly 3 inches in diameter and greater into 6 foot lengths. Stacking it. Burning all the remaining twigs and branches.
How? Usually 2 chainsaw guys (John, Jake, Romain) at a time fell the trees and cut it to length. Everyone else drags, carries, tumbles, rolls or otherwise manoeuvres the cut lengths neatly onto the stack... and all the other stuff neatly onto the fire. All the while, trying to stay out of the way of falling trees, swinging billhooks and flying sparks whilst simultaneously trying not to fall into the fire or any of the above mentioned cutting tools due to tripping on brambles, branches on the ground or sticking up out of the ground (having been properly propelled into it from the force of the tree falling) or the remaining stumps of small trees.
Because the management plan is to restore a coppice system to section of woodland harvested each year, the large (ash) trees are cut at 4 feet off the ground. The reason for this is twofold. It will allow for more dormant buds under the bark to have opportunity to sprout and grow, thus, giving each tree (and/or stool) a better chance of survival. Also, the hope is that significant regrowth will be at the top of the stump, making it more difficult for deer to munch the new growing shoots.
This is a change started with last year's harvest. Prior to that, they were leaving 2 foot (ish) stumps.
It is my understanding then that John is planning and hoping for a 20 year rotation. I appreciate this strategy, not only in woodland management, but also in all life practices. It is planning for the benefit of future generations of people, woodland, wildlife. A concept, sadly left behind in so many cultures.
Two years ago, I heard horror stories about how awful January would be... but then, the winter was very mild and relatively dry. This year, I got a taste of the 'horror'.
The first week, we were harvesting trees along the edge of the field. Trees were felled into/towards the field, so that the stacks of wood could be established at the edge of the field making them easier to access by the chipper after they have dried for two years. That's all well and good... but if you've ever dealt with clay soils, you'll know that, they get saturated with water easily, and once they do, they become a muddy mess. A little bit of rain, us treading back and forth over the same area, and more rain and a short day or so later I was sinking in nearly to the top of my hiking boots.
Every. Single. Step. Was. An. Effort.
It felt like my boots were getting sucked off my feet!
One thing though. At the end of the day it was a blessed relief to walk home via the road. I was foot loose and fancy free. And, reminiscent of my childhood days, I took each and every opportunity to meander thru the puddles and splash around a bit, to clean off my boots.
Somewhere along the way, during week two, we crossed over the ditch into the woodland itself. The woodland floor was a little more stable, but a few days of rain and we had a muddy moat around the fire. Thankfully, the fire moved with us as we progressed along. And we had some days that were free of rain.
I wore my waterproofs most every day. At each days end, I was covered in mud from head to toe. The first week, i'd put them in the bathtub every night to get most of the mud off... but then, I just gave up and hung them in the entryway to somewhat solidify overnight, and put them on again the next day, still caked in mud.
The mud was, I think, the most challenging part of January. It is serious business, felling large trees, there's lots that can go wrong and when you see the force with which those trees hit the ground. Its frightening to think about being under one. Despite the mud and difficulty's, still, there was plenty of joking around and laughter. Lots of picking on the American. This is something that everyone else seemed to pick up on very, very quickly from John Waller. I did have a respite every once in awhile when they were picking on Romain (he's French). But, I can dish it out when I need to too... so, I held my own!
Mike did several meals for us again. what that guy can do with a dutch oven and an open fire. Amazingly delicious. Each one better than the last.
1) wild game stew (duck, rabbit, venison) with dumplings, and jacket potatoes.
2) curry seasoned fish with a side of stewed charizo, chickpeas and spinach, and jacket potatoes.
3) pheasant in straw or hay... this actually had an interesting name that I can't remember, and of course, Mikes signature jacket potatoes.
4) In honor of "Burns Day" haggis, squash, and jacket potatoes.
5) On our last day of work, chili con carne with, you guessed it, jacket potatoes.
Pictures... in no particular order...
JW cutting off side branches and trees into log lengths
Romain getting the fire under control
billhook resting in a tree... don't try this at home
Jack, ready to rock and roll
Romain getting the rope around the tree in preparation for felling.
Romain and Jack manning the rope to direct this tree in the way it should go... typically used for trees leaning the wrong way. John Waller manning the chainsaw. Me manning the camera.
Mike serving up the first of several delicious meals!
yours truely
just one of many large stacks of wood
The fruits of our labour...
wood stacked in neat piles to season and then get chipped next year.
pea sticks (aka the side branches of hazel) in piles to be gathered and tied into bundles of 20 for sale to individuals and large gardens like Chelsea Physic.
'twilly rods' and binders for hurdle making and hedge laying.
potential stake material for hurdles and hedge laying
a typical stool... left to grow until its next harvest time!
