This week is - National Beanpole Week - a week for celebrating local woods and woodland products and in particular locally grown beanpoles.
We went to an exhibition at Consall Nature Park today which had displays from crafts people all working with local willow and hazel.
There were people making bean poles, pea sticks and marker sticks and selling them along with bags of charcoal and logs.
We watched the crafts people weaving wicker fences and baskets and working a wood turning lathe.
It was all very interesting and visitors were encouraged to 'have a go' at the various activities.
We then went for a gentle stroll into the woods where, although the car park of the country park was full to bursting, it was very quiet. We watched a woodpecker as it flitted between trees way ahead of us. The ground was covered with wood sorrel, wood avens, dog's mercury and coltsfoot. It won't be long before the bluebells will be out and dangling their dainty bell shaped heads. Isn't this a wonderful time of year?
At home we use poles and supports made from tree cuttings, the ones above are from the trees you can see top right of the photo, rather than buy in the imported cane ones.
We also have our own hazel tree to use for poles and sticks;so I think we are doing our bit in support of National Beanpole Week.
Thanks for all your lovely e-mails and messages after my last post. I've tried to answer you all a few at a time. Things are a little easier now but I'm still doing things very gently!
