Wednesday 24 April 2013

Chestnut Hurdles

This is the current view from my back door...



It all started with a need to keep the sheep from running amok and what better way to do it? Well, with two of my favourite things: a greenwood project, with a regional theme (I'll explain in a bit...).

Chestnut hurdles were used throughout the country for penning stock. 'Down on the Marsh' (Romney Marsh for those not in the know), chestnut hurdles were used as the sole fencing method for many years before wire fencing came about (conditions not being conducive to hedges or other boundaries) young lads would cart several hurdles on their backs over the marsh to fold their wards on fresh grazing. Obviously they had many uses on the farm and came in many different styles: "I had a chap ask me to make some bullock hurdles once," Colin Town, a local woodsman (and my chestnut supplier) told me when I picked up my timber. "six foot to the top they were, 'course you knew it when you had to shift one of those things" he laughed. Colin is an old time woodsman, one of the last few of his era and a wealth of knowledge to anyone who takes the time to listen.

Chestnut was the obvious choice for hurdles, chestnut coppice being prevelant in the South East. Colin sells thousands of chestnut spiles for fencing each year "The local farmers know chestnut's the only thing for fencing, that cheap soft wood only lasts 4 or 5 years before it falls over, the chestnut'll last 25 years before it even looks worn, they used to last even longer when we were allowed to use creosote. Before that we used to boil them standing in tar til the tar bubbled out the tops... Not much chance of them rotting then..."

Under Colin's guidance I split the timber he had selected for me using his scratch (that's a brake if your not a Man of Kent) and his Doll Axe (froe - again if your not from round 'ere). Measuring an old hurdle in a section of hedge he told me it was probably over 50 years old, "used to make a lot of these, time ago - I used to enjoy it, no one wants to pay the money these days... Still, young Tom, you should be making eight of these a day - I'll give you a ring tomorrow to see how you got on...). Maybe not eight but I'll be giving it a go none the less.

Apparently, Kentish hurdles are particular in their use of a metal ferrule on the top of the heads (uprights). "stops 'em splitting out and means you can drive 'em a bit, mind they don't want much pounding, just put your foot on the bottom rung to set 'em in..."


The nails are 2.5" driven straight in, I pilot dilled a few but gave up (too lazy) it was initially abit nerve wracking as we all know how chestnut likes to split... Luckily everything behaved. The nail heads are not driven flush (on Colin's advice) to allow for removal in the event of repair.


The metal ferrules are made from sections of car exhaust pipe, squashed in a vice, drilled and nailed with a short tack to the top of each head. the purple discoloration is a reaction of the metal with the tannins of the wood.

The overall construction was quite quick, mortices drilled and chiseled out and tenons cut on the shave horse. I have made 4 with the pile of timber I started with, I'll be after some more soon as shearing will be coming up and I'll need some more for penning up. Next time I'll take some action shots to up the excitement levels...






Tuesday 9 April 2013

What a delightful bush...

Not that I want to brag or anything, but these trophies look sick on my window sill... This year was my third year entering The South of England Hedge Laying Society 29th Annual Competition, I was  lucky on the draw for my cant and the stakes and binders were nice and straight (cleft chestnut that was already pointed!) so most of the hard work was already done, but I was still pretty pleased with the result. Unfortunately I didn't take any photos as I was scared for my cameras safety - last time I got drenched for 4 hours and nearly died of hypothermia... Competition day was a cold and crisp and dry as a bone - perfect hedging weather - and I only slipped in the ditch once...



The axe is for Most Improved Novice 2013


First Place Novice Class 2013


Score card and Best Stakes and Binders

Next year I will have to compete in the senior class against the pros with their chainsaws... I wont stand much chance as there is an extra 3 yards! Still, there is a prize for best axe-work, so who knows...


This is the prize I won last year when I entered Living Woods Magazine spoon carving competition. I think there were only 3 entries but either way I got myself a voucher for Mora Knives at Classic Hand Tools! If you like woody things like trees 'n' stuff, LWM is worth a butchers: www.living-woods.com

Sweden '13 - Gloat-Post

This January I  was lucky enough to catch up with an old uni friend who is Swedish and studied in the UK. He lives in the lovely town of Udevalla which is impressively built, seemingly on nothing but granite and sea. We managed to do a fair bit of travelling and we used this excuse to visit what I feel (although I'd never been there...) to be my spiritual home - Mora. Located in the heart of Dalla Land, famous for Dalla Horses and cracker bread, Mora is the home of a particular knife factory. Unfortunately the factory is closed over the winter months to visitors but I did manage to find a shop selling the coveted Morakniv. I found myself a traditional red-handled No. 2 which has rapidly become my favourite carving knife. I also bought a knife blade with the intention of putting a wood and antler handle on it with a matching wood and leather Sami-esque sheath... One day...


The fantastic Hemslojd shop is full of amazing traditional Swedish handcrafts - from carved spoons and bowls to authentic Lapland clothing, if only I were richer... Check it out here: www.morahemslojd.se


Some Sundqvist spoons... Well it was Sweden...





Our new, somewhat unhinged friend Marcus.