Sep 21 Bentley Weald woodfair By Tracy

The Weald woodfair was as brilliant as always. I am told more than 12 000 people came through the gates and a lot of people were interested in buying woodlands and joining SWOG. If you are one of those people who visited our tent, we hope to hear from you soon! Email me if you would like to join our free group, love to hear from you.

This year, along with free information, we were selling some of our group’s produce. Richard sold a stool, made from oak and ash

Greyman was selling charcoal for cooking and willow charcoal for artists. He was complemented often for it’s high quality.

(Hopefuly he will send us an article soon on how to make it!)

Viv made blackberry muffins – which sold in an hour, wood sage and cheese scones, and rowen jelly. All went very quickly and we hope she will make a lot more next year!

Nick was delighted to sell lots of coppice stumps

We also had SEWAF in our tent, South East Woodland Archaeology Forum, I didn’t get a photo of the display, sorry!  Woodland archaeology attracted a great deal of attention and I am thankful to David, Lyn and Viv who gave up their time to talk to so many people.

There were other things happening outside our busy tent, 2 huge fields and a woodland of displays, exhibitors and tons of equipment- and of course boar burgers and ice cream.

Lunch time on Sunday the main field was packed.

There is plenty of space though to walk around and see everything

For the brave, you can ride a cherry picker!

Loads to buy

Alan Sage with his amazing baskets. Alan runs all kinds of courses in Kent, including weaving and woodland management.

Pole lathe turners

Lots for children to get stuck into as well. Here they are making wooden animals

These are made by John Sinclair, of the Surrey, Sussex Coppice group

Horse logging demonstrations

There is a large historical section too, showing dyeing, house building, cooking etc.

Kids also get the chance to climb trees…

David Rossney of Esus Forestry is a good contact for all sorts of woodland training – especially in chainsaw courses.

There were loads of people wanting to know more about owning woodland.

I was delighted to finally meet Toby and Aly who share loads of information with us. They were demonstrating their new paling machine. Woodlands TV filmed them, so I will let you know when it is ready to view.

John Waller was also there, weaving away! We would still love to hire him for a day to show a group of us how to make benches etc. Let me know if you are interested.

Then there are the luxury goods…. wish we could make these!

This fire stick is very cool – anyone want to write in and tell us about it? (I know everyone there saw it! )

So, that is just a sample of what there is to see and do at the woodfair. Anyone else have information or photos to share, let me have them!  Next year we hope to have a lot more to sell from our group members.