Dorset Coppice Group
The Dorset Coppice Group was established in 1999 by a number of Dorset woodsmen who came together to form a local group in order to promote their products and services. DCG has now grown into a thriving community of people interested in preserving and maintaining our native woodlands. Whilst professional coppice workers still form the majority of the group, the members range from charcoal burners to bushcrafters, wildlife artists to wood turners, toddlers to woodland veterans! DCG is open to all who share their passion for woodlands and woodland crafts.
• promote the coppice industry and its products to the public
• provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information between members
• form a bridge between coppice workers, landowners and other relevant agencies
• provide an educational resource for schools and other groups to encourage outdoor learning in the Living Classroom
I joined the group in 2007 and was lucky to be part of DCG when HRH Princess Anne came to open the ‘Living Classroom’ at Bonsley Wood, Durweston near Blandford.
The Living Classroom is a beautiful wooden building that the members built themselves in Bonsley Wood, just outside Blandford Forum. (even I helped a bit!) The wood is approx. 30 acres of mixed, broadleaved woodland and is part of Blandford Forest, a commercially managed Forestry Commission operation. It is with their agreement that DCG have use of the woodland for educational purposes, and to manage part of it as a traditional, rotational coppice woodland.The Living Classroom is a base from which DCG can work with schools and local communities to develop environmental projects and is an ideal educational training facility. DCG run lots of training courses at the classroom and hold a woodland fair there in the Spring and an Open Day in the Autumn.
Although I am now based in Suffolk, I still actively help and support DCG whenever I can and always look forward to attending the Stock Gaylard Oak Fair with a huge range of fellow DCG members over the August Bank Holiday in deepest Dorset!!
