Words From the Woods July 2017

Question of the Month...

Can you identify the picture at the top? (Answer at the bottom of newsletter!)

Footprint Celebration

Its 10 years since the National Trust's Strawbale Footprint was created and the team at Footprint put on a great weekend to celebrate

Its a place very close to our hearts having been intrinsically involved in the project from day one when Gareth worked for the NT. Footprint continues to offer the opportunity for so many to deepen their connections and understanding of Nature and themselves

Foot stomping cob for the new earth oven, music, yoga, singing, and eating yummy food from the campfire cafe. Also created was a cross section of a traditional Earthburn on a historical charcoal pitstead in the woods...a nice connection with the past.

You can view the timelapse footage of the original build (March 06 - April 07). Over 300 volunteers, trainees, builders and staff were involved aged 4yrs to 80yrs!

Owls have come to roost!

The kids at St Cuthberts created 20 flying wooden owls with us in the woods at Footprint and they've now come to roost at school. Its been great forming such a strong link between St Cuthberts and Footprint over the last year...more fun to be had next year

Giant centipedes multiply!

Hawkshead school ended up with a giant centipede climbing one of their playground trees following their camp eve at the end of term. Hope it behaves itself over the summer..

Woodland Crafts and Tales Weekend

A great weekend was had at Stott Park Bobbin Mill as part of Rusland Horizons at the end of June. Traditional woodland skills, swill basketry, beam hewing. CANW organised a traditional Earth Charcoal burn. We ran some greenwood kitchenware and stool workshops and Taffy told some great tales. Well done Clare D for all your hard work

New Woodland Explorer Film

We're excited to have been working with Dom Bush from Land and Sky Media to capture the magic of Woodland Explorer on film - watch the film on Vimeo (2.5mins).Three unforgettable days for 8- 14 year olds living wild in the woods sleeping in their own self built shelters from sticks and tarps.

Greenwood Carving in Autumn

James Mitchel will be running Bowl, Spoon and Bench making courses while we're away this autumn.

• Saturday 14th Oct Bowl Carving £60
• Saturday 11th November Bench Making - FULL
• Saturday 2nd Dec Spoon Carving - £60

All courses at Footprint with more dates in 2018

Woodshare and Firewood

Woodshare Scheme - the membership is full for winter 2017-2018. If you would like to go on the waiting list please get in touch.

Firewood - we will be delivering firewood from Jan 2018

Sprouting Willow

All our living willow projects from last year are sprouting into life, its so satisfying to see the bright green shoots appear. You can go and play in the one pictured at Bankground and enjoy some yummy cakes too.

POEM CORNER...

Summertime, Heversham Marsh by Brian Fereday

Herbage yields gently
Harmless breeze on the Marsh.
Yellowing seedheads, plumes of meadowsweet,
Perfumes of high summer.

Hedges sigh and whisper,
Filtering goodness from the wind
Leaves toy contentedly with light,
All shades of green.

Swallows rising on the wind,
Rejoice at the sun.
Denizens of the deep hedge,
Perch warily on exposed branches.

A man with a dog.
Senses warmth on his face,
Inhales the sea travelled air,
Returns the contented grin from his companion.

by Brian Fereday (more amazing poems by Brian alongside wonderful paintings by Fiona Clucas can be found in their book Homeground)

Question of the Month Answer:

The photo at the top is of a Hazel (Corylus avellana) female flower. They are amazing to see in Spring...so tiny and easy to miss. Even more beautiful if you have a hand lens with you.