Hello everyone!
As I write this, we have just entered September and there is certainly a pronounced chill in the morning air. The temperatures where I live in Lulworth are still hovering around the 20 degree mark, but the swallows are gathering on the electricity lines, and it won’t be long until the leaves start to fall. This is a call of action to work in the woods!
As you’ll see, we have our annual ‘Taster Day’ scheduled for 12th October which is always a fantastic day in the woods. It’s a great opportunity to try your hand at a range of coppice & woodland crafts and to see if any of them pique your interest! The cost is £75pp and you can try your hand at four different crafts/skills. Please email info@dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk for a booking form.
Our regular Work Parties continue to run on the 2nd Saturday of each month (all welcome!) between 10am & 4pm. As autumn & winter approaches, we will be moving back into the woodland and starting coppicing our next coupe of hazel. These Work Parties are a great informal opportunity to get involved, learn some new skills and make new friends.
Our ‘Spoon and Green Woodworking Club’ continues to take place on the 3rd Saturday of each month. This isn’t a course as such, but instead an opportunity to bring along some tools/wood and sit and carve/craft with other likeminded people. We ask for a £2 donation to cover the cost of running expenses and tea/coffee is provided.
We’ve got a course coming up on 2nd November, where Jim & Marg King will be giving an introduction to willow basket weaving. This is ideal for beginners and a great gift for a loved one. More details at: https://dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk/events-3/willow-basket-weaving/
Don’t forget that the National Coppice Federation Annual Gathering/AGM will be taking place in East Anglia between 4th & 6th October. All members and non-members are welcome. More details at: https://ncfed.org.uk/members/agm2024/
Finally, if you have a presence on Facebook or Instagram, do follow us there, where you can find up-to-date information (as well as discussions and photos of shows/events):
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dorsetcoppicegroup
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorsetcoppicegroup/
Hope to see you in the woods in the near future!
Pete Etheridge, Vice Chair