Season Preparation
There has been a great deal of work behind the scenes to prepare the group and the woodlands we will be working in this coming season. Thank you to everyone who has contributed in whatever way to make it happen. There was a fantastic turn-out for the prep session at Foxley on the 18th Sept.
Our first session will be at Foxley Wood where we will be deploying the tractor for the first time. As mentioned previously there is likely to be a bedding-in period as we get used to transporting it to site and integrating it into our sessions. The tractor is only likely to be used at Foxley for the near future as this is the site that causes us most problems with difficult extraction, distance and volume of timber to move. As a group we always adapt to change so bear with the organising team and help wherever you can.
All the machinery operators met on Sunday 28th to have a pre-season brief/familiarisation ahead of the season. This serves several purposes including allowing users to discuss any changes to the risk assessments arising from the annual reviews, share and discuss machinery use and bring to the attention of everyone any specific points that we all need to be aware of. The session leads meet ahead of the season and take any input necessary from the machinery team. The main points will be emphasised by the leaders at session briefs – safe distances from active machinery being a key one.
Kevin Banton | Heartwood Chair
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Kilworth Machinery
Throughout the research leading to both the purchase of the compact tractor and the assessment of a suitable chipper, Kilworth Machinery of Smisby have provided excellent support. We continue to work with them through the early stages of our machinery deployment.
Kevin Banton | Heartwood Chair
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Lottery Grant
Purchasing the tractor is also part of a longer-term strategy to give the group more capability. The “Works” team continue to get a steady supply of paid work, but some of the work proves difficult to manage due to the volume of brash. The tractor can drive different pieces of machinery, so a case was created to purchase a “Chipper”. A grant application was made to the National Lottery Community Fund, and we have been successful! We will now progress with the purchase and organise the training which is also included in the grant funding.
If you are interested in joining the “Works” team let us know, there is a Whatsapp group where jobs are discussed and carried out.
Kevin Banton | Heartwood Chair
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Kindling
Many of us make our own kindling either from seasoned logs or scrap wood and pallets, so I’m sure there may be reluctance to pay for kindling, but Wayne has found a local contact who provides good quality kindling at a reasonable price. The amount shown in the photo is £5 and Wayne has kindly offered to be the go-between if anyone would like some – either bringing it to a session or dropping at the Hub. We can pass on any request to Wayne if you get in touch.
Kevin Banton | Heartwood Chair
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The Hub Update
Christmas is now the main focus of activity at the Hub. Materials are being gathered at TOITW/TOT sessions and will be part of woodfuel sessions, so don’t be surprised if Reindeer size longs get taken to one side!
The small team on Time out Tuesdays have been gathering materials from the woodland close to the Hub to ensure there is a good supply for TOITW sessions. The Saturday session in September assembled 70 Reindeer (legs and necks on bodies) and 60 Snowmen (buttons on bodies and faces on heads). We have created several extra sessions on the booking system and have tried to give more detail on what we plan to be doing on specific sessions.
A reminder that there are a couple of important things to consider along with the creation of our items – Ashby WI plan to attend the TOITW sessions in Oct/Nov to both make items for themselves and to lend a hand making our stock. The second is our attendance at Rosliston Forestry Centre Christmas Market on the 29/30th November. Along with making snowmen with the public under the guise of “Do you want to build a Snowman”, we will be selling a range of items we plan to make – Reindeer, stars, Log trees and Wreath bases. The two days of the market are also registered on the booking system for anyone who can help staff the stall with us.
Finally, you may have noticed that this year has produced a bumper crop of apples, and we have also been invited to Donisthorpe Apple Day on Sunday 12th October to offer children's Besom broom building if you are in the area, it's well worth a visit.
The help of members during the lead-up to Christmas has been fantastic in the past. The atmosphere and shared time together making the Hub a special place to be. If you can spare some time to attend any of the sessions, please book on and if you have any questions drop us a line.
Did you know that the idea of witches flying on broomsticks dates back to at least the 15th century in Europe? It was originally associated with the Cathars - a heretical sect of Christianity - who were thought to ride to their secret meetings on anointed wooden sticks. But it wasn’t until the 15th and 16th centuries that the broomsticks, magic and witchcraft become inextricably linked.
Broomsticks, or besoms (derive from the Old English ‘besma’, which means broom)
Chris Adams, Kevin Banton, Dave Barker | Hub Team
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