The BBC IN OUR WOOD

 

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Last year at Stafford Makers Market I got talking to a guy called Dave. We talked about the wood, our way of life and all things sustainable. I happened to mention we use horse loggers to extract our wood every year which he found fascinating. As it turned out Dave is the producer of BBC Inside Out for the West Midlands. He took a business card and I never really thought too much of it. 

To cut a long story short the BBC came to our wood yesterday to film Barbara the horse logger (with Tyler and Molly her Welsh Cobs and Mabel the whippet cross) and yours truly. The sun shone, we spent a few hours filming, talking woods and horses, followed by a great lunch of bacon sarnies cooked over the fire. Throughout the filming Barbara continued extracting the wood we have coppiced, helped by my mate Chris.

The filming was a strange experience, with wires in my clothes. multiple takes from all sorts of angles and a lot of starting of the chainsaw for the camera man. A real eye opener.  

Although initially terrifying we hope this will be a perfect way to share our story and get people thinking about the value of our woodlands and traditional crafts. Another day of filming is to come in the summer which will focus on the heritage craft of green woodworking then it's over to the editors and Dave to condense hours of filming into 10 minutes of interesting TV ready for September. 

If you would have told me just over 5 yrs ago I would be doing this I would have thought you were bonkers. Perhaps I am the one who will appear bonkers