A Tree....

Hi everyone...

Today I chopped down a tree.

Now before you all get over-excited and going 'Oh my god you cruel thing!' I didnt kill it, I used the ancient art of coppicing. Basically I cut it back in such a way that it will grow back with more branches. You can do this to most hardy trees, mine is a Sycamore and VERY hardy. I only have a small garden and doing this ensures the tree doesn't outgrow its space and have to be removed completely. I grew it from a seed so there is no way I'm going to harm it!

Do I recommend this to everyone? No, if in doubt get a professional. I use to be a Park Ranger and I've done this many times before. Done wrong and it can kill or weaken the tree so it falls down. Mine was only 20ft tall, I keep it set to that height as its the best for its roots in a small garden. Why now, before full autumn? I usually do this particular tree at this time of year, before it gets too wet and in danger of rotting the wood in the cuts. It has time to heal before winter sets in. Its better now than in spring when the sap is rising, the tree 'feels' it more then.

The resulting wood will not go to waste. I have set it to one side to dry, even the small branches can make something, and the leaves have been added to my wildlife pile where I get a lot of frogs. Good shading for them.

Why am I telling you this? Its to show that some crafting projects can be a long time in the making. I have plans for the wood but it will be at least 12 - 18 months before its really ready, the branches a little sooner.

Patience is as much a part of crafting as the creation process is......