Planet Wood

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Very common in Wales but the local population has sadly been decimated in recent years by Ash Dieback .

Ash is a hardwood and is hard to turn when it's completely dry. Often light yellow with very pronounced growth rings. I've got a lot of ash here, some with staining from dieback.  Makes very durable items.

Important native tree for our habitat. Very nice even textured wood to turn, medium hardness - mid brown pink/red hues with grain visible but not pronounced. Great for bowls and boxes.

The only native alder is Common Alder (also called Black Alder). Highly prized medicinal tree and known for its rot resistance when submerged in water. Initially very pale wood but turns dark red where cut and exposed to air.  It's a 'soft' hardwood, easy to turn but splits quite readily.  The alder I've been turning fell in a storm in 2023 and has developed wonderful red/ brown patterns running through it.

Thought of as King of the Woods 

by the Celts for it's strength and long-life, the Pedunculate Oak is a cherished native to Britain. Sessile Oaks are also native but more rare. Oaks play a key role in the ecosystem. Oak is a hard wood with a very even density, well known uses include building frames and quality furniture-making.  For turning, oak is lovely for boxes and bowls with lasting beauty.