Issue #4 The Miscellaneous Adventures Digest

More change, new opportunities, timber frame building and a winter canoe paddle.

Well, it’s been quite an interesting week! With a touch of sadness and trepidation, I handed in my notice at work and will be moving on to new things after Christmas. The reasons are many and varied. It’s not a decision I’ve taken lightly - we moved up here for this job after all - but let’s just say things have not worked out quite as planned. I’ll be going back to being self-employed working in conservation and as a woodsman; I’ve been fortunate enough to find a lovely community of people working with trees and wood up here that I hope I can be part of. Perhaps we’ll have more time to set up some workshops and make new things for our shop too.

Although I’m disappointed to be leaving Brantwood so soon, I’m thankful for the experience and for the mostly wonderful, friendly and curious folks that I’ve met along the way. There’s a lot of things I’m going to miss, mostly the land and woods which I already feel quite connected to. I’ll miss working with Georgia, my trainee / apprentice in all things woods and wood related. I’m glad to have found a like-minded soul and a new friend through work. I hope I’ve passed on enough knowledge to help her on journey. And then there’s Pete, who at the age of 68 and with 30 plus years of working the woods on the estate is a wealth of wildlife knowledge, a skilled craftsman with almost any material, ex-mountaineer and rock climber, musician, mechanic, photographer and can still swing a chainsaw around like you wouldn’t believe. When Pete talks it pays to listen; you never know what gem of wisdom might get casually thrown into conversation. I’ll miss his daily wildlife updates and the stories of his many near misses and misadventures in particular.

Pete milling Oak

It’s kind of exciting to be going back to working for myself again, but with that of course comes the uncertainty, lack of holiday and sick pay and somebody else paying for all the tools and gear you need. The trade-offs are of course more freedom, independence and the sense that when things are going well you’ve achieved something good for yourself rather than for someone else. Perhaps it’s the feeling of ownership over your own life which is empowering.

I have several things lined up already which I’ll be sharing news of in the New Year, but we’ll be on the lookout for woodland, conservation, photography and other creative work so if you hear of anything or want to work with us be sure to give us a shout!

Last Friday I was invited by Jack and Tom from Mountain Oak Woodcraft to help install a timber frame building and I jumped at the chance. I’ve worked with Mountain Oak on a couple of cleft oak projects now and went on their 2 day timber framing course as part of the Woodland Pioneers Week in the Woods back in the summer. As well as being cleft oak geniuses, making beautiful gates and fencing, they are skilled timber frame craftsmen. They also happen to be super nice and are happy to share nuggets of wisdom so opting to help out was an easy decision. This particular frame is for a woodland workshop and features a beautiful curved cruck entrance which was milled from a huge oak limb that came down in Storm Arwen this time last year. The whole thing went up remarkably quickly, like assembling giant flatpack furniture, testament to the high level of woodworking skill and the many hours spent fettling in the workshop to get the joints to fit perfectly. I’m going to go back and take some more photos when the cladding, windows and roof are all finished but for now here are some of the beautiful oak frame.

Wintry weather has finally arrived just in time for the start of meteorological winter and the festive season; frosty mornings and snow dusted mountains are a big improvement on the mild, wet, windy gloom that plagued November. Saturday morning broke bright, calm and cold. A good chance to use the canoe for the first time in a while. By the time we got to Coniston the wind had picked up a little, the lake was gently ruffled but enticing enough for a little paddle. It’s so nice being out on the water, floating gently along looking through the clear water to the rocks below. This was our first winter paddle, it was cold out on the lake but steady paddling soon warmed us up, especially on our way back into an increasing head wind; it’s amazing how much even a slight wind affects the canoe and our ability to hold it on course. The hazel leaves are still clinging on to the trees but I think the coming frost will soon loosen their grip.

Anyway, we hope the cold weather brings you a few moments of winter wonder, snow capped peaks and woods glistening with frost in the valleys.

Warmest wishes,

Andrew, Emma and Benji