Morrismen

A select bunch of people throughout the UK periodically get quite aggressive with small pieces of the National Forest! But only when accompanied by waving handkerchiefs and jingling bells...

The art of hazel coppicing (cutting a hazel tree to the base to encourage it to grow profusely and throw up multiple stems), is to use every different length of the various stems, primarily cut for hazel stakes and poles. National Forest woodsman Ben Chester, spotted an outlet when he realised just how many sticks enthusiastic morris dancers can get through in a season. Following a few trial runs, he now supplies 200 – 300 morris sticks every year to morris dancing ‘sides’ all over the country as far away as Kent and Plymouth.

Ben left a career in engineering design to work in forestry some nine years ago. Since then he has built up a range of forestry and coppicing skills and is now a part time trainer as well as working in hedge laying, coppicing, woodland work and timber framing. His cherished ambition is to “one day own some woodland, live in it and derive a living from using it to the full.”

The National Forest Business Development programme supported Ben by part funding a heavy duty chainsaw to drive his mobile sawmill, enabling him to process material on site in the woods and making his whole operation more viable.

Liz Thomas, Business Adviser for the National Forest Business Development programme said: “Ben Chester is typical of a number of young people with a wide range of woodland skills who have chosen to live and work here and are actively trying to develop sustainable businesses in forestry. All typify the enthusiastic, committed and educated young people who are essential for the future of The National Forest.”