Valley Park Local Nature Reserve Zionshill Copse

Title: Valley Park Local Nature Reserve Zionshill Copse

Another great woodland show put on by Test Valley Council.

The weather was good, and there were lots of displays, demonstrations, stands and things for people to see and do. Zionshill Copse is a lovely setting for this show and we always enjoy it.

Hampshire Coppice Craftsmen's Group were mainly in the Coppice Zone, where they demonstrated a good range of woodland crafts. We were in the Oak Zone with woodcarvers as we demonstrate pole lathe turning and carving spoons and spatulas.

This year our main pole lathe turner was not able to join us, so we showed people how we make spoons and spatulas using a shave horse and simple hand tools.

As well as the demonstrations, our Hampshire charcoal that we make out of the wood from coppice restoration was popular.

The only problem with being in the Oak Zone was that the oak trees were dropping their bounty on us. One acorn scored a direct hit in our tin of artists charcoal, luckily not breaking any of the sticks.