Small Revolutions: Voluntary Simplicity in Devon

The Wild Woods

I came back from the coppicing course at the Wood Green Centre on Friday. It was brilliant and Larry Jones (aka Larry the Log) is a phenomenal teacher. Whereas last weekend I couldn't have told you hazel from ash, this weekend I have a totally new skill that I love and want to practise.

In December, (for me anyway) it's no mean feat to spend the week in a woodsman's tent. And at times I was freezing my nuts off.

But there is something special about being in a wood, some other level that you get to. It's like your ancient senses begin to kick in and you start seeing the world around you differently.

It's something I want to talk about more, but it's like I need to leave it to settle in, bed down before I really talk about it here.

Give me a little time, and I'll organise my thoughts...

Coppicing

Next week I'll be attending a week-long course at the Green Wood Centre to learn coppicing.

Coppicing is a form of sustainable woodland management that has been in operation for about 4000 years, so it's fairly established as a method of working woodlands.

Basically, I'm a big kid. The happiest times in my life have generally been outdoors, and I feel more alive when I am in woodlands. It's one of my dreams to work woodland and spend time in nature. It ties back into Walden and Henry David Thoreau, and yearning for a simpler life.

The decision has been an instinctual one, one where I listen to my heart and my head has had very little to do with the proceedings. So it will be interesting to find out what it is all like, learn how to use a billhook and learn as much as I can about working and managing a coppice woodland.

I'm stupidly excited about this, and I hope to be able to report back that I have found a new vocation byt the time I get back...