Woodland, sea and stars!

Beautiful day, like the first day of summer. So what better to kick it off than a spot of late autumnal activity.. 

We're extremely lucky to have 2 acres of beautiful old woodland at the bottom of the farm, but with all the other farm / housing / development jobs to be done, Trelay's woodland has become a bit neglected recently. However, there's a lot of enthusiasm to start managing it again: to use this resource to extract as much fuel as we sustainably can for our many woodburners, whilst also being conservation minded and facilitate good habitat for various plant / insect / bird species (as well as even the large herd of red deer!), and simply being a wonderfully peaceful and inspiring place to hang out. In my ignorant naivete, but conscious ignorance, determination and enthusiasm, I've volunteered to be convenor for woods and hedgerows, alongside the much more knowledgable and practical James! We had our first meeting the other day, basic minutes of which here, showing the huge amount to be done, but also the willingness of people to get stuck into yet another aspect of the place..

So, after a big Trelay bacon and egg community breakfast, we made a good start today coppicing some hazel at the top of the woods:

To the woods! With bow saws, loppers, billhooks etc

Marie gives a briefing

Ash with small straights for hurdles?

And bigger ones for tool shafts?

Roger has a quick rest

..whilst Alan is unstoppable

James attacks ivy, Olly plans the log stack,
and Flo's just happy after hopelessly chasing rabbits

Beginnings of a stack for next year

Blue sky, blue sea, happy pigs, happy me

Quick lunch, nip into town for bigger timber for office stud walls (more on that another time), and other bits and pieces; and then I caught up with others already pulled down to Crackington to make the most of the ever sunnier day. First time in the sea since we've moved here! Silly high tide waves kind of warming in their tumbling power; but despite that and new wetsuit, not quite hardcore Cornish yet to stay in long.. Unlike the dudes I I found with wet hair and well deserved hot chocs after about half an hour in the November Atlantic.. 

And then... back with Marie to the cabin to cook for James, Ash and Ollie. Later on we noticed the sky was clear and truly awesome (it's not just the rad waves that make me say that) - I don't remember ever seeing the Milky Way quite so huge and milky. So we took advantage of not having any holiday makers in the yurts at the moment to have a last glass or two of wine down there, with the warmth of a log burning fire.. Good day!