The weather yesterday was forecast to be cold and sunny and it was. Another day at my “office” was planned. My blacksmith mate Simon had offered to help me clear the remaining felled trees and we arrived nice and early. We spent an hour walking the woods then spotted a large bird of prey in a neighbouring plot. Too lightly coloured for a buzzard, looked like the young Harris Hawk one of the other neighbours is training up, so we headed over. He was talking to the guy who owns that plot and after introductions we were invited in to see his tower. It must be 30-40 feet high and built from small diameter dead trees from his wood. People ask why he has built it and he says, “Because I can”. The view from the top was fantastic, I love seeing things from a high point.
We headed back and armed with chainsaw and muscle, started cutting and stacking the logs. Having a helper really speeds the job up. We paused at one point to admire a buzzard effortlessly gliding on the thermals above us. Two of them had been checking out the Harris Hawk earlier.
Simon spotted an interesting shaped sycamore log but we felt it needed a pair of undies for decency’s sake. Could this be the start of some woodland sculpture? I should call it “The Lady of the Woods”
We had another neighbourly visit, I’ll just say from A. & J. for anonymity. They were just out for a walk with family. Now these folks have just finished building their fantastic “bodger’s hut” and I took Simon around to see it. It’s built from planks of larch made from the tree that once stood there and anchored to it’s rooted stump! How holistic is that? Am I envious? Yep.
We finished clearing the logs apart from one large chunk which I might cut and cleave to make some greenwood stools. It was a satisfying day shared with some great company. The area I felled is looking pretty tidy now, just a bit of brash to clear and the spring flowers – bluebells and wood anemones and the small oaks saplings will be able to enjoy plenty of light. It gives me more space to introduce some other tree species such as cherry, silver birch, hazel etc.
