Love trees? Like Woods? Enjoy People?
 

Come and support the Launch of the Tree Charter for Trees, Woods and People in Lewes. The Tree Charter initiative is led by the Woodland Trust, plus more than 70 other organisations, and greater than 100,000 people who have signed the Charter. Launched 800 years after the original Forest Charter, the new Charter will help redefine our relationship with trees and woods. At a time when UK tree planting has fallen to a 50-year low, this is an important time to come together and push for greater protection and and use of woodlands.

Our main guest speaker will be Robert Penn. Rob is the best-selling author of 'The Man who Made Things out of Trees' (all about the amazing ash tree), a broadcaster and community woods activist. He will be interviewed by a surprise local comedian in a fun interview about Robert's fascinating life. Rob is also a very keen cyclist, having cycled in 50 countries and is owner of a wooden bike! He has resurrected a community woods in the Brecon Beacons and has inspired thousands to actively enagage with their local woodlands. He is President of the Small Woods Association.
Compering the evening will be local personaility Michael Blencowe of Sussex Wildlife Trust. Watch this space for exciting additional guests.

Hosting the evening is Vert Woods Community Woodland (VWCW) and the Woodland Trust. VWCW is a beautiful 171 acres woodland 15 minutes from Lewes. We'll be announcing during the evening how you can become a member of the new VWCW Community Benefit Society and invest in owning and running the woods.

It will also be an evening full of music and creativety - the local Zu Choir will entertain us with special tree songs, and Dirk Campbell the well-known local musician will amaze us with his collection of wood instruments. We'll also have some exciting films to show.
Old Tree Brewery will be quaffing our thirsts with organic non-alcoholic natural drinks and you will have the chance to win some great prizes including some trees. Our supporters include Transition Town Lewes, Railway Land Wildlife Trust, Alternative Lewes, Special Branch, Lewes Arboretum, School of the Wild and others.

Fancy learning the ancient tradition of chopping wood?

In a day we will turn you into the Axe Maiden and Axe Warrior that lurks within us all and allow you to successfully split any kind of wood or kindling.

This is a fun day that includes Axe Yoga, choosing the right axe, getting your chopping stance right, and lots of practice on wood that can be split from hand axes to big logs that need a hefty 'splitter' axe.

Our tutors - Stewart Boyle and Christine Meadows - have been chopping wood for many decades and will impart the how, the why and the when of becoming an Axe Warrior and Maiden in easy stages, with lots of 'hands on' practice and one-to-one teaching.

We'll also give you advice on buying your own axe and a few tricks of the trade to impress your friends.

The day will be spent in the beautiful Lower Vert Woods, just 15 minutes from Lewes in East Sussex.

Book today and bring a friend for 10% off by quoting a discount code we will send you.

Twack! Come and chop wood with us today.

Come join us for a day in celebration of our native Pine tree, on a course set right in the middle of local Pine woodland in East Sussex, near Laughton Village. Touch, feel, smell, work with and maybe even climb up – this day will change your perceptions of this sometimes misunderstood tree.

Our Pine trees sometimes get a bad press. Grown tightly as a plantation crop, it tends to be dark in the undergrowth with limited wildlife. Yet the Pine is a glorious tree, with a wide range of medical, healing and practical uses. As well as multiple construction materials such as building frames, planks and beams, the resin and bark have multiple healing uses. Despite its tendency to spit when burning, it is also a great kindling material and firewood, burning fiercely in the hearth. As an evergreen the Pine also gives out these gifts all year round. Grown with a bit more space, the tree also supports a wide range of birds, insects and mushrooms such as the Pine Bolette.

 For tickets - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/passionate-about-pine-tickets-28232768972

Join us for a day of celebrating the wonderful world of the birch tree right here in Vert Woods.

From birch tree tapping (for wine and other drinks), making fires in all weather and producing great firewood, whittling spoons, producing furniture and herbs, as well as examining the folklore and cycle of birch trees.

This is very hands on. From cutting your own birch tree sapling (as part of our clearing work), we have Tom Daniell of Old Tree Brewery leading us in some seasonal birch tapping and then tasting what you can make, Christine Meadows filling you full of amazing facts about what birch trees can do, and Stewart Boyle showing how that sapling can offer fire in pouring rain and great firewood in less than 4 months if you know what you are doing.

Become the axe maiden and warrior you truly are!

Ever wanted to step up to a big log with an axe and ‘twack’ - see it split neatly into useful sizes?

If so, then this day is for you. Get the ‘knowledge’ and hands-on practice from experts. 

This is a fun and practical ‘back to basics’ course where you will learn to tackle any size or type of log - with axe, wedges or bowsaw. The day is all about becoming really proficient at the trusted techniques, tricks and subtleties of chopping, sawing and stacking firewood. No prior experience is necessary.