TRADITIONAL woodland, craft and blacksmithing demonstrations will take place as part of National Beanpole Week at Moreton Wood in Ullingswick.

The event, which takes place on Sunday April 21 from 11am to 4pm, will also offer the chance to meet Herefordshire author and photographer Archie Mills.

Moreton Wood is a 38 acre woodland, near Bromyard, sustainably managed for conservation and biodiversity and owned by husband and wife Paul and Jo Morton.

All work is undertaken with minimum impact on the flora and fauna of the woodland. Hand tools are used where possible and a horse is used to do all the logging.

Jo said National Beanpole Week gets the message out about how important coppice woodlands are to the environment.

"Coppicing promotes wildflowers, insects and birds as well as providing a useful and sustainable product,"

said Jo.

"It is great to have a celebration at the end of all the winter work.

"We really enjoy showing people around the woods to see for themselves all the benefits of managing woodland for conservation and wildlife and to gain an understanding of all that woodlands provide for us while having a fun time in a beautiful Herefordshire woodland.

"It is always a really interesting day with different woodland craft demos, children's activities, a guided woodland walk and more."

The couple make or harvest products from the wood such as beanpoles, pea sticks, barbecue charcoal and firewood - which provide an environmental benefit.

"In order to manage the woodland the hazel rods and firewood logs are taken out of the wood anyway.

Selling them means that they are not just being wasted but become a useful commodity," said Jo.

"It helps us earn an income for our woodland management work which is otherwise unpaid.

"It also means Herefordians do not need to buy bamboo beanpoles that are imported from Asia – therefore reducing their carbon footprint.

"It provides a useful product and it continues a coppicing cycle that is so good for the environment. It's win,win, win."