Publisher Description

A brand new edition of a Batsford classic, rephotographed and redesigned for a new generation of woodspeople, this fascinating book is a practical guide to traditional coppicing and woodmanship, including the all-important conservation of ancient woodlands.It explores the varieties of trees that can be coppiced, from ash, traditionally used for tool handles, to chestnut for making perfect fences, and goes on to outline how to manage woodland, when to harvest, the best tools to use, and the most useful devices to have to hand. It outlines the expert techniques used by woodland workers through the centuries, such as riving wood - splitting it by hand - and selecting the best wood for each purpose. Also covered is the plethora of products traditionally created from coppiced wood, from humble wooden tent pegs to the time-honoured besom broom and sturdy gate hurdles used for penning sheep, along with materials used in other heritage crafts such as thatching and barrel-making.Full of invaluable advice, fascinating historical information, useful diagrams and evocative photography, this book will help you set up, manage, conserve and gain immense pleasure from your little patch of woodland, or even the trees in your garden.

Author Biography

Ray Tabor worked for much of his life in a woodland nature reserve in Suffolk, producing and selling traditional products, and chaired the conservation activities of the largest Wildlife Trust in the UK. He led courses in woodland crafts and management and wrote regularly on crafts, tools and woodland conservation, including Green Woodworking Pattern Book for Batsford.

Table of Contents

Preface 6 Part One: Woodland Work 8 1 Woodmanship 10 2 The Raw Materials 22 Part Two: Techniques 44 3 The Care of the Wood 46 4 Tools of the Trade 60 5 Devices 78 6 Measuring and Cutting 90 7 Riving Wood 100 Part Three: Products 112 8 Materials for Gardens and Fencing 114 9 Thatching Wood 126 10 A Miscellany of Products 138 11 Besom Brooms 152 12 Gate Hurdles 164 13 Wattle Hurdles 176 Appendix 1: Dimensions of Less Common Tools 195 Appendix 2: Dimensions of Woodman's Devices 196 Appendix 3: Useful Measures 197 Appendix 4: Making Charcoal in a Steel Drum 198 Endnotes 200 Glossary 201 Acknowledgements 204 Useful Addresses 205 Index 206

Review

'Tabor is to be congratulated on making it easier to start using green wood that other books seem to make out.'Andy HancockGreen Woodworker

Description for Sales People

* A repackaged version of a Batsford classic, first published in 1994. * Interest in coppice crafts and green woodworking is higher than ever, and growing. * Author Ray Tabor was an acknowledged expert in the coppicing world. Word count: 45,000

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