Worcestershire Woodin'

Worcestershire Woodin'
Transcripts of conversations with Geoff Osborne.
Edited by Ron smart and Richard Wellings
with photography by Richard Wellings.

Once upon a time there were vast areas of hazel wood evident in the landscape of Britain. Today, there are effectively none left.

This book is intended as an outline of successful hazel coppice woodland management. It describes a system used by several generations of the Osborne family, who were successively employed by various family estates in north Worcestershire as estate Woodmen.

Mr. Osborne's family were responsible for producing vast quantities of useable hazel rods each and every year for decades. A responsibility spanning lifetimes. At least for three hundred years.

Their system of hazel coppice management not only maximised the earning potential of hzel woods, it also sustained a magnificent synthesis of human endeavour with biological diversity, reulting in a glorious celebration of life.

The sale and subsequent harvest of these rods each winter provided vital seasonal work and income to all who were involved: the estate, its tenants, local craftmen and merchants.

83 pages.
22 x 24 cms.
Paperback.
Printed in colour throughout. Dozens of colour photographs and illustrations
Published by the Small Woods Association, with the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund.