Gallery

Here’s a collection of photos that include services and events that I provide.

This year for the Scottish Hedgelaying competition at Ancrum I decided to put down my steel billhook and compete with my replica Late Bronze socketed axes to feed into my PhD research. Although more challenging, I'm pleased to report that it is indee
The first year of regrowth following the second season of cutting at Ravensheugh Copse, Tyninghame. It's such a contrast looking back at the older photos to see how all of the coppiced stools and the woodland floor have burst into life. A carpet of m
Looking back, the second coppicing season of 2023/2024 at Ravensheugh Copse, Tyninghame. This was a really full season, with a considerably larger area to coppice and the hazel being very large and overgrown. I hope these images capture the progressi
Happy to share that I've finished making and installing three split hazel hurdle gates for the Tranent Wombles for their forest garden project at Foresters Park, Tranent.  The hazel used for the gates is locally sourced from Ravensheugh Copse,
A few tonnes of hazel cordwood from Ravensheugh Copse collected this morning by @philiprevellpottery for firing his pottery kiln. Great to see this firewood go to such a cool use! Hoping to see the firing in the next few months or so. Many thanks to
Happy New Year everyone! Began 2024 with some of my best friends doing some bronze casting, charcoal making and coppicing. I can't think of a better way to start the year! @hughtheranger @minibeemad @andrew_callow @oisnewport101 @sticky_ends @fayemul
Hey folks, here's a link to the film "Copse to Creel" I've recently made with the Native Woodlands Discussion Group: https://youtu.be/IUPQ9uMuwsA?si=z49a-yl8Y0RBeX4p (link in bio!) The film tells the story about Ravensheugh Copse and its hi
A newly hafted W. Gilpin topping axe ready for work. It's always a real joy to get use of the drawknife, planes and spokeshaves. #axe #greenwoodworking #oldtools #handtools #woodworking
Here's an update on the progress of the regrowth from the first area cut in the winter of 2022/2023 (Hamish for scale!). The hazel has shot right back up and the gaps have started to fill in with all the layering that was done. It has been immensely
On this past Sunday I had the pleasure of teaching a spoon carving course for @bordersforesttrust at their idyllic cabin at Corehead. Everyone did very well with making their spoons and learned many of the basic techniques needed to progress with thi
It was my first time competing in the Scottish National Hedgelaying Championship on this past Saturday at Ancrum. It was soaking wet! Very pleased with winning 2nd place in the novice category. Learnt a great deal and met some wonderful folk. A huge
I am thrilled to announce that I have just started a PhD in collaboration with the University of Leicester and the National Museums of Scotland.  My research title is "Cutting edge technology: constructing and contextualising Late Bronze A
I am running a workshop with Dr Coralie Mills, @dendrochronicle: 'Intro to dendrochronology and timbers in historic buildings in Dunbar' hosted by @theridgedunbar. The date has been re-arranged for Monday 18th Sept. A mixture of demos, talks and sit
Some more photos of the woven hazel roundhouse build at the @scottishcrannogcentre showing some moments in the construction of the building. So many more brilliant pics I could share! Although this stage of the build was not too long ago, I'm lookin
After a few months of work, a big milestone has been hit at the @scottishcrannogcentre. We have finished weaving the frame of our woven hazel roundhouse. Very pleased with how it's turned out. So proud of all of the people who have helped build it.
In my happy place! I'm leading the build of a woven hazel roundhouse for the @scottishcrannogcentre at the new museum site at Dalerb, Loch Tay. One of the most important steps for this type of construction is the creation of the doorframe. Traditio
Now I've had a wee moment to rest, happy to update you all that I've successfully completed all the work I'd set out do for my first full season of coppicing at Ravensheugh Copse. I've coppiced about third of an acre with a plan to cut the remaining
A hazel hurdle gate made for Ravensheugh copse with a wonderful team of volunteers this past Sunday. Just wrapping up this season's work. Many thanks and well done to all involved! @gathermarketgarden thank you for the photos! #coppicing #ravensheu
I have something to announce that I’ve been keeping under wraps for a while. Over the winter I have started coppicing hazel to provide material for the Scottish Crannog Centre’s new museum build at Dalerb. I have been providing thousands