My first session coppicing at Barford with hand tools.
I had a great time. Just the task. I didn't see any four-legged creatures. One squirrel, actually, I saw one squirrel. I saw one crow but heard other birds.
Good work. I had to focus - cutting the stems in a sensible order. It was hard to access them as they were so close together and the bow saw didn't fit in between them. I used the billhock to cut off all the side branches and knotty bits, to make the poles as smooth as I could. I selected pieces that might work as binders for the top of hedges and long poles that might be suitable for stakes. I left them long so people with more nous than me could decide which parts to use. I stacked the thick pieces as firewood and kept the brash to protect the stool from deer.
I was lucky with the weather - but even so all I managed to do was cut down one big stool (leaving some new growth) and make a start on a second.
I hope I can make it up there once a week at least throughout the winter.
All the time I felt attuned to what I was doing. No thoughts except about wood and tools.
A really good day.
Very interesting! Looking forward to more posts on your coppicing. Good to see the tools you are using. Yes, I can imagine that you are very focused on the task. Yes the hazel bark does look pretty. Does it also have a nice smell? Glad you had a good day 😀