We had a really successful burn, which was just as well as we had loads of orders to go out before the weekend.
Charcoal burning is a mixture of alchemy, pure science and dare I say luck. It is awaiting game. So much effort in processing the wood and loading the kiln. So much time and valuable timber invested, so many times checking the burn through the day and night,and you don’t truly know how successful it has all been until you open the kiln twenty four hours after shutting it down. Far more nerve racking than baking a cake!
The unloading of the kiln and bagging up is far less onerous now that we have hot water. It was really horrid, getting charcoal dust ingrained everywhere.It really can get everywhere and is so fine that is seems to penetrate whatever clothing you are wearing. Sluicing ourselves down with water from the kettle wasn’t really very satisfactory, but now we have a working shower it feels like blooming luxury.
These are the very last of the stumps being burnt, at last. It is only about three years since they were dug up. The huge pile did get smaller but they were always looming over us. They looked like the remnants of some huge, ancient pachyderms that may have thundered over the earth millions of years ago.
I am not sorry to see them gone and the conflagration lasted three days and was quite impressive, as the stumps where so dry after these amazing summer months we have been enjoying. Even up here at Heydon Hill Wood, over 1000 feet up, it has been too hot to work unless in the shade after midday. That is incredible for us, when usually we are at least three degrees cooler than down the hill. Often we have gone down the hill of a summer evening in sweaters,socks, and fleeces to find everyone else in t.shirts, shorts and summer frocks. Not this year though. Lovely… perfect for cooking and eating outside. Barbecue anyone?
Heydon Hill Tree Nursery 