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Coppice Demos at Reculver
The Blean Initiative: Case Study
Clowes Wood Archaeology Project
Paleography Course
The Blean Local History Exhibition
Woodland Archaeology - Field Work in Clowes Wood
Blean Initiative: Touring with their Display Boards
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Coppice Demos at Reculver
Location: Kent
The Blean Initiative enabled demonstrations by local coppice craftsmen at Reculver in June.
Participants included Carol & Trevor Davis, bee farmers of Honeywood, Braggs Lane, Herne (01227 372519) brought along a viewing hive so that visitors could see bees working and find the marked queen. They had a display of honey and beeswax products including some from another Blean bee farmer, Trevor Tong, of Honey Hill Apiaries, Honey Hill, Blean, Canterbury CT5 3BN.
We have been fascinated by the number of place names including reference to bees across the Blean (Honey Hill, Honey Wood) but no one, as far as we know has ever researched this aspect of local history.
Carol demonstrated rolling sheets of beeswax, cut from the comb, into candles. This was so popular that she ran out of 'make your own' candles very early on the first day.
Steve Bennett demonstrated pole lathe wood turning. This method of producing small diameter articles such as chair parts, candle sticks, small bowls and drinking cups is powered by the woodworkers foot working a pedel and so can be set up anywhere. Steve also cuts coppice to sell as firewood and fencing products. He can be contacted on 07771 534436.
As well as demonstrations of woodland crafts an organisation called 'Saxon Village Crafts' (01424 772351) demonstrated bone and antler working, narrow wear weaving, and bowl and rune carving. Here you can see bones being made into decorative jewellery, replicas of original archaeological finds.
Trevor Austin of Heathfield and Spicer (01303 814545) is one of the last two rake making businesses in the country. He showed how rakes, ranging in size from hay to border, are made from locally grown ash. Garden lines, dibbers, wooden mallets, wooden wheel-barrows and fencing products are also made at the workshop.
Local woodland owners and coppice worker make a range of products from charcoal to plant supports
The Rural Carvings stall showed how a diversity of products can be made from locally grown wood - small wooden owls and flowers proved particularly popular.
Those also involved in making the day a success were Canterbury City Council, the RSPB, Blean Research Group, Kent Association of Parish Councils, Canterbury Area Committee and local residents.
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