Huts

Looking at the last post I see that has been over a year since I last wrote anything. Last September we took part in the Weald Wood Fair which was interesting, even if it didn't earn any money after costs were taken into account. There was certainly a fantastic atmosphere at the show and the live music on Saturday night was great. I think that this fair is an excellent opportunity for everybody who has anything to do with woods or timber to come together once a year. I did buy two oak huts there which were built at Plumpton College in Flimwell during oak frame building courses by students. These were transported to Cutler's and erected by the very capable people at Sussex Oak Frame Builders. These huts have been put up in the woods to act as shelters and hides for watching wildlife. Martin and John have been busy in December and January felling some sweet chestnut and then saw milling it to clad the roof and sides of the huts. The result can be seen in the pictures and I think is very good.  Being made of oak and chestnut, these huts will probably be around long after we have gone.

It was in November that we had visitors of the not welcome kind at the farmyard. Martin had bogged his Land Rover down at a neighbouring farm one evening. Normally the Land Rover was used to block in our timber trailer in the barn and would be chained together with the trailer. The next morning the trailer was gone. The thieves had come through King's Wood and cut a hole in the fence at the end of our field and got the trailer out, even though the timber grab was hung on a large log. It is obvious that the thieves are locals who know the area very well and had been watching our farmyard for some time. These people are the scourge of the British countryside but unfortunately the police seem powerless to do anything at all. In our case the police took down details but made no effort to try follow any tracks through King's Wood.

Woodcock have been quite prevalent this winter, there are certainly more than last winter. We believe these birds to be migrants from Russia and Eastern Europe.

We have been coppicing another two acres this winter and things are developing nicely. It is amazing how previously dormant seeds suddenly germinate once light gets onto previously shaded out areas. An area we cut two years ago for example was full of foxgloves last spring for the first time in decades.