Wood Info
"This oak tree and me, we're made of the same stuff."
― Carl Sagan
We are so grateful to have spent the last 25+ years working in woodlands and gardens along side magnificent trees. It is no coincidence that we chose to mark the launch of Made on a Hill under the bows of a near by ancient Oak tree. ( see Lantern Tree )
The woods listed here are used to make all the wooden items throughout Made on a Hill; from Hair Pins to Lantern rings to our various market stall displays. No piece of wood is new. Everything we make is made from reclaimed or recycled wood that was otherwise destined to be burnt or thrown away. We also store and season wood cut from gardening and woodland projects, gather off-cuts left over from carpentry workshops and give some often rare and expensive premium woods a new life.
Although it seems like a very small gesture we'd like to hope that by saving these woods from the fire pile we can help to prevent waste and highlight the rarity and ecological importance of these Great trees.
Here are a few practical, historical, medicinal and magical uses of the woods that have found their way into our little workshop.
American Black Walnut
(Juglans nigra)
Protection, strength, and wisdom
American Black Walnut grows in Canada and Northern America. It is a prized wood for cabinetmaking and provides some pretty tasty nuts. The Black Walnut I have in stock is from small bits of flooring and some off cuts from a nearby joinery workshop.
Apple
(Malus x domestica)
Love, fertility, and prosperity
The Apple tree is the oldest cultivated tree in Europe.
Here at Made on a Hill we are surrounded by the remnants of ancient orchards. There are over 156 varieties that trace their history to this region of the country. The ancient name for Glastonbury was Avallon, which means ‘The Isle of Apples’ in the Celtic language.
In ancient mythology, the Apple is one of the most sacred trees and symbolises good health and future happiness. Since ancient times Apples have also been known as the 'Tree of Love' and are associated with Aphrodite, goddess of love. In Celtic folklore, it was thought that apples could provide a pathway to the Otherworld. Perhaps due to the presence of a pentagram shape that can be found within the apple by cutting it across its width; the shape being revealed in the formation of its pips. This ancient symbol of knowledge is sacred to the Celtic death Goddess, Cailleach, the Crone, the Veiled One, honoured at Samhain.
The Apple I have in stock has been gathered after pruning from trees in our own garden and from some very old hollow trees in an ancient orchard in a quiet valley near Bath.
Ash
(Fraxinus excelsior)
Protection, wisdom, and growth
Ash is an amazing tree. Its part of the ‘Sacred Triad’ of Oak, Ash and Thorn, and the Irish ‘Seven Noble Trees’. My first volunteer work when I was a young teenager was working with Ash on a rudimentary pole lathe in the middle of a woodland on the remote west coast of Wales. I have a fond connection to this tree. I have fitted Ash handles to all the tools we use in the garden.
European Ash is a prolific species forming a very important role in the ecosystem of woodlands across Europe. It was traditionally used in coach building and wheel-writing. Ash wood is a versatile hardwood known for its strength, flexibility, and shock absorption, making it suitable for various applications. It's commonly used in furniture, flooring, tool handles, and sports equipment like baseball bats. Ash is also valued for its ability to be steam bent, making it a good choice for curved pieces like tool handles and furniture.
We are loosing many Ash trees due to Ash die back and so it is an abundant timber at the moment. The Ash I have in stock are mainly spalted pieces and anything with green or pink hues in the grain that I discover when cutting firewood. All the pieces were gathered from tree work and pruning jobs I carried out in our surrounding villages and a woodland in a valley near Bath.
Berberis
(Berberis vulgaris)
Cleansing, healing properties, protection
Berberis or Barberry shrubs are commonly grown in gardens in the UK and thrive in most temperate parts of the world. The berries of this spiky, often colourful, shrub have been used in herbal medicine and the young acidic leaves are sometimes foraged. Historically, yellow dye was extracted from the stem, root, and bark of the Berberis. It is also the most common source of berberine — a powerful compound that supports blood sugar metabolism, cholesterol levels, and gut health.
I haven’t seem Berberis used much in woodworking aside from the odd wood turner who tend to try and turn anything they can get their hands on. I love the intricate grains you find along side the yellow hues.
The Berberis I have in stock was gathered from pruning work I carried out on a large old shrub in a nearby village.
Blackthorn
(Prunus spinosa)
Dispels negativity, toxins, old wounds, and impurities
Most of us will know Blackthorn for it's amazing fruits called Sloes. It's one of the first plants to flower in Spring with fresh white blooms. Blackthorn is found in hedgerows and woodlands throughout the UK and Europe. It has been used for centuries to make walking sticks and tool parts. It is a very powerful wood in witchcraft and is used to make staffs and wands.
‘Straif’ is the 14th letter of the Ogham alphabet, it means ‘blackthorn’. This ancient alphabet is rather more complicated than straight translation, but essentially ᚎ = straif = blackthorn. It is designated one of the Eight Chieftain Trees on the Ogham Tract and is said to be the ‘Increaser of Secrets’. ‘Straif’ is thought to be the origin of the word ‘strife’. It is a lovely wood to work with and I’m always mindful of it’s powerful history when gathering and working with it.
In ancient Britain it's sister tree the Hawthorn is equally revered. Both are featured in the ancient tree Ogham
The Blackthorn I have in stock was salvaged from a tree that stands nearby our home here in Wiltshire whilst harvesting wood to make Ogham sticks.
Box
(Buxus sempervirens)
Protection, resilience and spiritual connection
Box Wood is a very strong, dense wood. Many gardens in Europe feature Boxwood in some shape or form as it is commonly used for formal topiary and parterres. The wood has been used in fine turnery, woodwind instruments, chess pieces and inlay work for many years. Older European cultures also found the medicinal and magical properties of this hardwearing dense wood. Used for thousands of years; Box wood is possibly the hardest wood in Europe. Neanderthals fashioned digging sticks from Boxwood due to its strength. It has even been used as a substitute for ivory.
In Chinese culture and Feng Shui, boxwood is believed to ward off evil spirits and negative energies due to its dense, evergreen nature.
All the boxwood I have has been salvaged locally by myself from a very old Boxwood Shrub that has stood for decades in a beautiful formal garden in a quiet valley near Bath.
Cherry
(Prunus padus)
Love & Divination
Favoured by furniture makers Cherry wood is hard and strong with a beautiful golden honey tone. The tree is an important food source for Blackbirds, Song Thrush's and mammals such as the badger, wood mouse, yellow necked mouse and dormouse. Bees make their way to these beautiful trees in the spring for their abundant flower blossoms.
Cherry trees, particularly their blossoms, hold deep spiritual significance across various cultures, often symbolizing life, death, beauty, and renewal. They are associated with fleeting beauty, reminding us of the transient nature of life, and also represent hope, new beginnings, and love. In Japan, cherry blossoms (sakura) are deeply revered, embodying both the beauty and fragility of life, and are a powerful symbol of cultural heritage.
The Cherry I have in stock is Bird Cherry (Prunus padus) and Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata). Both are salvaged from pruning work in nearby gardens in Wilshire.
Cotinus
(Cotinus coggygria)
Mystery, enchantment
Cotinus is commonly known among gardeners as 'Smoke Bush' due to it's sprays of delicate tiny pinkish blooms that catch the morning dew and resemble plumes of smoke. It's a beautiful plant from Europe and Central Asia and it has strong medicinal properties. It has been used as a natural yellow dye for centuries and appears in clothes and fabric from all over the ancient world.
The Cotinus I have was salvaged by myself from an old tree that still stands happily in a garden in Bath in 2018.
Elaeagnus
(Elaeagnus angustifolia 'Quicksilver')
Resilience, strength & healing
Elaeagnus is a commonly found shrub here in UK gardens. Quicksilver is a lesser known variety with a more slender leaf than it's more common cousin. It is sometimes seen as a symbol of resilience due to its ability to thrive in harsh conditions. Elaeagnus has mostly been used for knife scales, bowls and pens etc as it is often multi stemmed. Historically, the fruits and leaves of various Elaeagnus species have been used in traditional medicine for wound healing, digestive issues, and as a treatment for colds and fevers.
This shrub hides some impressive grain. Some know the tree as Russian Olive as it can resemble Olive wood. The Quicksilver I have in stock was pruned from a well established shrub here in Wiltshire in 2020.
English Elm
(Ulmus procera)
Strength, protection
English Elm is a stunning wood and is seldom found nowadays due to Dutch Elm disease. Trees rarely reach maturity before the beetle finds them. It is used for making boxes, baskets, furniture, hockey sticks, veneer, archery and bows. It is a strong wood with interesting grain and clear distinction between heart wood and sap wood. It has a remarkable resistance to water and has been used in boat building for centuries.
In Celtic mythology Elm trees were associated with the Underworld. Their tendancy to drop branches without warning may have lead to superstitions about its ominous nature. This, combined with the use of Elm wood for coffins, solidified its connection to the realm of the dead.
The Elm I have in stock has been salvaged from a felled tree near Bradford on Avon in 2020 and a fallen tree at the edge of a woodland near Bath in 2019.
Escallonia
(Escallonia)
No known magical uses
A native of Chile, Escallonia was introduced to the uk in the 1840’s. Occasionally the plant is used to make Bonsai Trees. I've never seen the wood used for anything before and it has surprised me how rewarding it is to work with. The Escallonia I have in stock was salvaged from a very old overgrown shrub from a garden in Bath.
Escallonia pulverulenta has a rich history of use in traditional medicine, particularly as practiced by pre-Columbian cultures. Infusions made from this plant have been employed to treat respiratory tract ailments and as digestive stimulants. Some studies have identified a range of bioactive compounds in Escallonia species as kaempferol, pinocembrin, chlorogenic acid, and rutin. Iridoids such as asperuloside have also been discovered in the leaves of species within the genus.
Eucalyptus
(Eucalyptus camaldulensis)
Purification, healing, and protection
Red River Gum Eucalyptus is an iconic Australian tree. The timber has a reputation for durability, strength and its distinctive red colouring. Its wide availability has seen it used for a range of applications including heavy construction, railway sleepers, flooring, framing, fencing, plywood and veneer manufacture, wood turning, firewood and charcoal production. It was also commonly used as street paving throughout Sydney in the late 1800s.
Eucalyptus is believed to have several magical properties. It's often used to cleanse spaces, tools, and even the mind, while also offering a sense of protection against negative energies. Its fresh, invigorating scent is also thought to enhance mental clarity and focus. In Indigenous Australian cultures Eucalyptus trees are revered as sacred symbols of healing and endurance and are often featured in art, stories, and ritual.
The Eucalyptus I have in stock was salvaged from a much loved giant that was felled in a garden in Bath in 2018 due to proposed building work.
European Beech
(Fagus sylvatica)
Wisdom, knowledge, focus, divination, healing, meditation and protection
European Beech is one of my favourite trees. Commonly found across Europe and western Asia. It has been used for centuries in furniture making and for building musical instruments.
Norse legend says the very first Runes were made of Beech wood. Beech groves have been found in and near important places of power; Avebury and Cerne Abbas to name two. Known as ‘The Mother of the Woods’, Beech is also known as the Beech Queen who’s consort is the Oak King.
Beech is linked with time, wisdom and knowledge but especially written wisdom, as the Beech was used in thin slices to write upon and form the very first books. Beeches were called ‘Boc’ by the Anglo-Saxons, which later became book. Even today the Swedish word ‘Bok’ means both book and Beech and in German ‘Buch’ means book and ‘Buche’ means Beech.
Most of the beech I have are left over from reclaimed planks that I used to build my workshop bench. The rest is spalted and has been gathered from wind fall under nearby trees in the village. Research has revealed that Beech trees prefer the company of other beech trees and often fuse their root systems together to equalise their photosynthesis. In this way the trees can share immunity and strength. They also are one of the only trees in the world to refuse to stop growing if they are situated along side a taller tree.
European Walnut
(Juglans regia)
Cleansing, healing, spirituality, focus, insight and protection
European Walnut wood is widely used for furniture, cabinetry, gunstocks, interior paneling, veneer and turned items. It’s origins lie in south-east Europe and parts of Asia. It was later introduced to Europe by the Persian kings. Plinio the Elder testifies in his manual “Naturalia Historia” that walnuts were imported by the Greeks as early as the 7th century BC. As a royal gift, the Greeks dubbed it “Karya Basilica”, or regal walnut and considered it a prophetic tree. There is evidence of cultivation dating back 7,000 years in what is now Iran.
It is believed that the Romans then brought the walnut tree further into Europe and introduced it to the Celtic cultures. The walnut has developed symbolism and superstitions since it’s arrival here in Europe, often associating the tree with fertility, good luck and witchcraft.
Grapevine
(Vitis vinifera)
Abundance, fertility, and rebirth
Most of us know grapes to be the beginning of making wine. They are also widely used for fresh fruit, dried fruit, and juice production and are considered to be one of the major fruit crops produced in the world. In Celtic lore, the grapevine is associated with prophecy, divination, and spiritual insight, particularly during the month of Vine (September 2nd - 29th). It symbolizes communication, especially the truthful expression of emotions, and is linked to both inspiration and intoxication. Grapevines are also associated with abundance, rebirth, and the connection between the mortal and divine realms.
Grape is a tricky wood to work with as it is not like a typical timber. Much like a Palm tree it is made up of sheets that deliver vital nutrients and water to the fruits that are often meters away from the root. I salvaged all the Grapevine I have in stock from a very old plant that wrapped around an old house in a valley near Bath. I pruned it for many years and I was sad to see it go. As is so often the case with plants and trees, this old dear was going to hinder building work that the owners had planned. I have kept as much as I could to season and work with.
Greengage & Plum
(Prunus domestica)
Resilience, perseverance, protection, and rejuvenation
Prunus domestica includes many varieties of fruit tree: mostly plums but also Damsons and Greengages. Plums have been used for making food for centuries. Many gardens and hedgerows here in the UK have a Plum tree of some kind. They have beautiful flowers in the spring that are popular with moths, butterflies and other pollinators and delicious fruit later in the year that provide food for many animals.
Plum wood has amazing reddish purple colours throughout it’s often gnarly grain. It's commonly used in furniture making, carving, and for decorative inlays. It's also a popular choice for smaller items like knife handles, musical instrument components and turned items.
Associated with hope, happiness, and patience in the Celtic tradition, the Plum trees late-blooming nature also connects it to endurance, vitality, and the idea that sweetness, like wisdom, comes with time and patience. Plum wood is used in Celtic knot carvings, symbolizing infinity, eternal life, and unity.
The plum blossom is one of the national symbols of Taiwan. In Japan, plum trees are symbol of elegance and purity. They’re also charms against evil and are often planted in the northeastern area of gardens as a protective talisman.
The Plum and Greengage I have in stock has been gathered from pruning work we have carried out in our own garden.
Holly
(Ilex aquifolium)
Tree of Sacrifice, Love, sacrifice, reincarnation, protection
Connected to the Winter Solstice December 21st.
Holly is known to most of us as decoration around Christmas time. The Druids belived it to be a very powerful protective tree and encouraged people to take a piece of Holly into their homes in Winter, symbolizing the Holly King ruling the winter half of the year. Romans exchanged gifts of Holly during their Winter Solstice celebrations. The Holly I have in stock was salvaged from an old tree that stills stands tall in a quite valley near Bath.
Horse Chestnut
(Aesculus hippocastanum)
Protection, luck & prosperity, money drawing, fertility & abundance, strength & wisdom, grounding, healing
European Horse Chestnut grows all across Europe along with related species found in North America. It has been used for many years in cabinet work and turnery. Also known as a conker tree; it produces nuts that are the basis for the game 'conkers'. All the Horse Chestnut I have in stock came from a tree that stood in a garden in Bath. Cut down due to disease; this tree was dearly loved by a family who spent many years climbing it's limbs, collecting it's conkers and admiring its beauty. I was kindly given a piece in an effort to honour the life of a wonderful tree.
Iroko
(Chlorophora excelsa)
A symbol of power and spirituality
Iroko is often referred to as African Teak and is a common substitute for Teak in many applications, though it's not actually part of the Teak family. Known by many names such as logo, lok, oji wood or Mvule It is very strong and resilient making it perfect for veneer, flooring, furniture, cabinetry, boatbuilding and turned items.
The Iroko tree plays a crucial role in traditional medicine, as various parts of the tree, including its leaves, bark, and roots, are utilized for their medicinal properties.
Known for its strength and size, the Iroko tree holds deep spiritual significance in many African cultures, particularly among the Yoruba and Igbo people. It is often revered as a sacred tree, believed to be inhabited by spirits, including ancestral spirits. The Iroko tree's significance is reflected in traditional music, with the Ikoro slit drum, made from Iroko wood, holding a special place in Igbo cultural music.
The Iroko I have in stock was salvaged from a nearby joinery workshop.
Laburnum
(Laburnum anagyroides)
Air element, protection, unveiling secrets, prosperity, abundance, pensive beauty & forsakenness
Laburnum is also known as the golden chain tree, due to the formation of its yellow flowers. It is a stunning tree found in southern Europe and here in the UK. The wood is prized by furniture makers and luthiers. It’s beautiful deep grained wood is often used for veneers. It is one of the few woods we have in the UK that feels and behaves like rosewood. Cross cut sections of this wood called 'oysters' have been used to make furniture for centuries. A stunning tree and a gorgeous wood, it never fails to impress.
The laburnum tree has appeared in literature and media, often with symbolic or dramatic connotations related to its toxicity and beauty. JRR Tolkien apparently took his inspiration for the Laurelin, one of the mythological trees in The Silmarillion, from the laburnum.
The laburnum I have in stock was salvaged from a very old tree that had fallen in a storm in 2012. I've saved as much of the old dear as I could and I can't wait to see what further wonders lie beneath the bark.
Lavender
(Lavandula angustifolia)
Love, protection, sleep, purification, happiness and peace
Used magicaly in Potions, Sachets and Charms, Incense and Oils, Bathing & Anointing.
Lavender is a prised plant in the mint family. It has been widely used across Asia, The Middle East Europe and northern and eastern Africa for centuries. Best known for it's stunning flowers, unmistakable fragrance and powerful oil, this herb is a truly wonderful plant. Anyone who has stood in the middle of a lavender field can attest to this! It's a favourite herb in English cottage gardens thanks to the Romans who first introduced it to Britain and named the herb Lavare, after their word for 'to bathe'. Lavender boasts many medicinal and magical attributes and is famed for it's calming properties. It was ancient Arabia that first farmed the herb for it's potent oil.
Medicinal use includes treating anxiety and stress, sleep & mood enhancer. Lavender can be used to treat physical ailments like Skin Conditions and as a form of Pain Relief. It's antiseptic and antibacterial properties can aid in wound healing and infection prevention.
The wood from lavender is rarely used and usually discarded once the old plants have lost their vigour. All our Lavender has been gathered from a local garden in Wiltshire after a hard pruning. There are many types of Lavender plant. Our Lavender is Hidcote (Lavender angustifolia). It is one of the richest in essential oils. It has quickly become one of my favourite discoveries for making pins.
Lilac
(Syringa vulgaris)
Love, renewal, transformation
Lilac is a beautiful flowering shrub that many gardeners are familiar with here in the UK. A native of Europe and Asia, these stunning plants produce heavily scented flowers for a short period in spring.
The shrubs rarely get to a a size used for timber but lilac wood is occasionally used for small turned projects such as pens and bowls, as well as carved items, as it's a lovely strong wood.
I've really enjoyed working with the few pieces I have and often find streaks of pink, purple and green in the grain.
The lilac I have in stock is left over from pruning work I carried out on two old shrubs in 2019 in a garden in Bath and also a garden in a nearby valley; one white flowering and the other purple. Both plants continue to stand strong and healthy.
Magnolia
(Magnolia grandiflora)
Earth element, feminine energy, love, healing, & spiritual growth
Magnolias are an ancient lineage of flowering plants, with fossils dating back as far as 95 million years. They are among the earliest known flowering plants and actually predate the evolution of bees. Familiar to many of us for their amazing display of flowers in the Spring. Magnolia grandiflora, southern magnolia or bull bay is an evergreen variety native to the south east of the United States of America.
This versatile wood is often used in cabinetmaking, furniture, joinery, and much more. The stock I have was pruned from a beautiful tree in 2019 that still stands happily in a nearby village.
Mulberry
(Morus)
Knowledge, Divination, Wisdom, Protection, Strength, The will
Mulberry fruit is enjoyed in many forms, including jams, pies, and juices, and is also known for its nutritional value and potential health benefits. Mulberry leaves are a primary food source for silkworms, which produce silk, and are also used in traditional medicine and as a food source for various animals.
Mulberry wood is used to make expensive furniture in Japan. It is especially highly sought after for tea ceremony instruments and the "go" board game. Traditional furniture is still made from Mulberry. Some furniture makers use mulberry veneer over their furniture to make them look traditional. It is possibly the next most sought after wood after (now protected) keyaki, Japanese elm.
Mulberry wood is a versatil wood, prized for its golden color, workability, and durability. It's used in furniture making, wood turning, and even for fence posts and boat construction due to its rot and insect resistance. It's also a good option for firewood and smoking meats, imparting a sweet flavor.
The Mulberry wood I have in stock has been salvaged from a Mulberry tree I pruned a few hundred meters from our house and continues to provide amazing fruit each year.
English Oak, American White Oak & Sessile Oak
(Quercus robur) (Quercus alba) (Quercus petraea)
Strength & Endurance, Generosity & Protection, Justice & Nobility, Honesty & Bravery
Connected to the Summer Solstice June 21st.
We are lucky enough to be surrounded by English Oak and Sessile Oak trees here at Made on a Hill that reach far into the horizon. English Oak European Oak or Common Oak is a long-lived and iconic tree as is it’s close relation the slightly narrower Sessile Oak. Both are well-known for their broad, spreading crowns, deeply lobed leaves, and distinctive acorns. Oaks are an important species for wildlife, supporting a wide range of insects, birds, and mammals. Widespread throughout the British Isles. Part of the ‘Sacred Triad’ of Oak, Ash and Thorn, and the Irish ‘Seven Noble Trees’, the Oak has long been thought of as the King of the Woods. In Celtic mythology the Oak King ruled the summer half of the year and battled with the Holly king twice a year on each Summer and Winter solstice. The tree of endurance, strength and triumph. The adjective 'durable' comes from the ancient celtic name for the oak - Duir.
As the month of Duir has the summer solstice in it, the Oak is a powerful symbol and deeply connected to the summer solstice.
The word "Duir" comes from the Sanskrit "Dwr" which means "Door". It is the door to the three worlds of the Shaman.
Oak’s various uses include construction, furniture making, and traditional medicine. This extemly durable timber is prized for its strength and used in shipbuilding, flooring and furniture making. It is notably used in the traditional profession of cooperage which is the crafting of casks and barrels for wine and whisky. Additionally, parts of the tree like acorns and bark have been utilized for food and traditional remedies.
American white Oak Quercus alba, grows in eastern Canada and America and is used in similar applications as it’s European cousins. The American White Oak I have in stock is from discarded offcuts of flooring that would have otherwise been thrown away or burnt. The English Oak and Sessile Oak have both been salvaged from various pruning work on local trees here in Wiltshire.
Pear
(Pyrus communis)
Love, abundance, prosperity, and nurturing energy
As with Apples we are regularly pruning Pear trees here in Wilshire and are surrounded by them. Even our local pub is named The Pear Tree ( and it’s the best pub in the world! ).
Pear wood is a versatile hardwood prized for its fine grain, smooth finish, and workability. It's commonly used in furniture making, carving, and even smoking meats. The wood's properties also make it suitable for drawing and measuring instruments, scientific equipment, and parts for machinery. Pear wood is also a traditional material for woodwind instruments like recorders, flutes, and clarinets. Its density and tonal qualities make it suitable for fingerboards on violins, guitars and piano keys.
The Pear wood I have in stock has been gathered from our own garden here at Made on a Hill after pruning.
Purpleheart
(Peltogyne pubescens)
Spirituality, divination, knowledge, healing and protection
Purpleheart is a very strong wood from south America. The stock I have was left over from a local carpentry workshop. It is one of my favourite woods to work with. It is often used in furniture and cabinet making and as a veneer for marquetry. It is also used in the construction of musical instruments, for building boats and as a flooring material.
The Purpleheart I have in stock is salvaged from off-cuts from a local joinery workshop.
Pyracantha
(Pyracantha coccinea)
Protection, love, or personal growth
Pyracantha will be very familiar to gardeners here in the UK. They grow well here and are very thorny. Often know as Firethorn, it’s vibrant berries are a much needed food source for birds during the winter months and provide shelter for nesting.
The Pyracantha coccinea ('Red Column') I have in stock is from old wood gathered from a local gardening project. It’s a favourite wood of mine to work with.
Rose
(Rosa)
Attract love, enhance divinatory abilities, offer protection, and even promote peaceful sleep
In magic and spiritual practice they are considered to hold high-frequency energy
Rose is possibly one of the most well known flowering shrubs in the UK. There are over three hundred species and tens of thousands of cultivars.
I rarely use rose wood as the older plants that come my way have a large central pith and are often split and checked or rotted. It’s a tricky but rewarding and strong wood to work with when you get the right piece.
Currently the rose stock I have is Rosa Rubrifolia; a type of Shrub rose that is famed for it's red leaves. It has been salvaged from a local garden in Wiltshire. It is native to the mountains of central and southern Europe and is a popular choice for gardens here in the UK.
Sapele Mahogany
(Entandrophragma cylindricum)
Spirituality, healing, divination and growth
Deemed to be a sacred wood in certain African cultures, it symbolises spiritual health and promoting calmness and focus.
Sapele Mahogany comes from West, Central and East Africa. It is often used in furniture and cabinet making and as a veneer for marquetry. It is also used in the construction of musical instruments, for building boats and as a flooring material. Kown as Sapele, Sapelli, Aboudikro or Sapele Mahogany. It has exceptional strength. Sapele is in the same botanical family (Meliaceae) as true mahogany, but not the same genus.
I have two batches of Sapele in stock; one very figured batch from flooring offcuts and the other left over from a joinery workshop in a nearby village. In both cases these stunning woods would have been thrown away or burnt.
Yew
(Taxus baccata)
Tree of Resurrection, Tree of Eternity,The Tree of Life, Immortality, Rebirth, Protection, Longevity, Change, Strength
The last Letter of the Ogham alphabet, connected to the Winter Solstice December 21st
Yew has been used for many centuries. Longbows were made from Yew in the middle ages. Pegs or 'treenails' were cut for Viking ships. Furniture makers use Yew to form the bent parts of Windsor chairs. Pre-Christian cultures regarded the Yew tree as sacred. Possibly because of their longevity they became symbols of immortality. Drooping branches of a Yew can root and form a circle of new trunks around the original tree. Later the Yew came to symbolise death and resurrection in Celtic culture. Thanks to research into the properties of the Pacific Yew bark, and a subsequent discovery that the European Yew holds similar properties called alkaloids in its leaves, we now harness these alkaloids for treating ovarian and breast cancer. It remains one of the longest-lived trees on earth. One of the world's oldest surviving wooden artifacts is a yew spear head, found in 1911 in Essex, UK. It is estimated to be about 450,000 years old.
The Yew I have in stock has been gathered from pruning work I have carried out on several ancient Yew trees in the surrounding villages and whilst gathering wood to make Ogham sticks.
Seven Irish Noble Trees
Daur – Oak
Coll – Hazel
Cuilenn – Holly
Ibar – Yew
Uinnius – Ash
Ochtach – Scots Pine
Aball – Wild Apple
Trees Of The Ogham and their corresponding Ogham letters:
Beithe: Birch (B)
Luis: Rowan (L)
Fearn: Alder (F/V)
Saille: Willow (S)
Nion: Ash (N)
Uath: Hawthorn (H/Q)
Dair: Oak (D)
Tinne: Holly (T)
Coll: Hazel (C)
Queirt: Apple (Q)
Muin: Vine/Bramble (M)
Gort: Ivy (G)
Ngetal: Reed/Broom (NG)
Straif: Blackthorn (Z/ST)
Ruis: Elder (R)
Ailm: Pine/Fir (A)
Onn: Gorse (O)
Ur: Heather (U)
Eadhadh: Aspen (E)
Iodhadh: Yew (I