Cutting down trees can be good
Healthy woodlands love it when you fell some trees. It all depends on how you do it – but do it right and you get a burst of new life, beautiful flowers and young shrubs. Then, in time, baby trees spring up through the gaps. Butterflies flutter into the new glade you’ve created and birds are keen to build their homes there. I’m obviously not advocating widespread, unscrupulous tree felling – but do it sensitively, with care, and you can be a positive part of the woodland ecosystem.
And it only gets better
And if that doesn’t make you feel good enough, how about making something beautiful from the tree? Peeling off fresh shavings from some oak to uncover the beauty of the grain is a journey of discovery every time. There’s also immense satisfaction in thinking about how this gate, bench or barn is going to be loved and used for decades – all the while locking in the carbon the tree sucked in. That’s the kind of product cycle we need.
Fresh wood smells great – and in surprising ways
Most people know how great wood smells. But each wood is so unique, and when it’s green it’s totally different. Then wait until the fungi get involved – I sometimes peel some fresh oak and get a nose full of bananas! I guess I love smells, but I just can’t stop getting lungfuls of it. However, this might be precisely what the fungi want…
Working with wood is meditation
Particularly when you’re working with hand tools, there’s something totally unique about synchronising your mind and body. Yoga’s great, but it’s not the same. With carpentry, you have a vision of what you’re creating – you’re trying to hold this in your mind, then form it from the wood in front of you. If it’s going smoothly, I can be so into what I’m creating those two hours fly by. And not once did I feel like scrolling.
And it’s not all so dreamy
Some weeks I’m out every day developing Raynaud’s and getting soaked. Those days when you look at the forecast and decide you’ll probably stay in – I’ll be out in the woods, getting wet. One key rule which I stick to: if you’re soaked through to your socks and underwear, it’s probably time to call it a day. I’ve also learned that most waterproofs are a lie. From what I’ve experienced, if it’s breathable, it’s not going to keep me dry all day!
Andrew Merson founded Sheffield Woodcraft, creating bespoke structures from locally sourced timber. He also manages woodlands through regenerative forestry to support biodiversity and sustainability.
More info at Sheffieldwoodcraft.co.uk.
