Recent News Items - July 2001

Two West Sussex coppice workers have established their own independent business at, England's leading museum of historic buildings and rural crafts, the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum at Singleton near Chichester.

Paul Pinnington and Chris Baldwin from the villages of Singleton and Lavant make hazel hurdles, besom brooms, thatching spars, charcoal and garden products for sale to the public from their Woodland Craft Centre on the Museum's 50-acre site in the South Downs.

"We are the modern equivalent of the traditional woodsmen and colliers who were once numerous in the county," said Paul Pinnington. "They made their living from the products of coppice woodland which they cut regularly on a rotation, managing it carefully to provide raw materials for a wide variety of uses."

In addition to traditional products such as hazel thatching spars and hurdles, Paul and Chris make garden furniture and chairs from

shapely branches which are much sought after by today's customers. "Tastes have changed," says Chris, "and we provide modern products using wood, as well as supplying the traditional markets."

Paul and Chris, who have previously worked in forestry and agriculture, began their enterprise at the Museum in January this year. As part of the initiative they will care for the Museum's charcoal burning camp - one of its most popular exhibits. This year they have completely refurbished the camp which illustrates the construction of a traditional earth charcoal kiln and features a reconstructed charcoal burner's hut complete with furniture. A modern metal kiln is used to produce charcoal for the barbecue market during the summer season.

You can watch Paul and Chris making their products daily at the centre, established in the Museum's woodland area, discover more about the traditional skills involved and even place their own orders direct or through the Museum's shop.

"The Woodland Craft Centre is a prime example of the Museum encouraging local rural craftsmen" says Museum Director Richard Harris. "  Through our building exhibits, rural craft courses and practical initiatives like the woodland enterprise and the re-opening of the local post office, the Museum can make an important contribution to the local rural economy at a time when it needs particular assistance."

The meshing of the Museum's work and the Woodland Craft Centre continues to develop Paul and Chris plan to run two Tamworth pigs within part of the coppice area to clear the woodland floor - a traditional method of keeping the forest in good condition.

Getting down to work in the Lime Mortar Course