Bookings and registration now closed. Please contact us if you want to be on the waiting list.
The first ever Scottish Coppice Gathering will be held over the weekend of 19th – 21st November at West Edge, Leckmelm Wood, near Ullapool. Please read through the information below and complete the booking form if you’d like to be part of it. The weekend will be informal and is as much about meeting each other and chatting about our experiences and planning the future for the network as it is learning new skills. We’ll be planning more skills-focused events in future. If you would like to lead a short session on a particular skill or making a coppice product then please feel free to suggest it in the booking form.
Weekend Details
Friday – Arrival on Friday is flexible and we will be making pizzas in the outdoor oven for dinner from 6pm. We’ll also fix a plan for the weekend and timings.
Saturday – We have a few things already lined up such as visiting an overstood hazel wood being brought back into coppice production, looking at different projects around West Edge such as charcoal making and alder coppice. Bring your tools along and we can have a chat about different hand tools and their uses with some demonstrations, and learn some sharpening skills. Plans for the day will evolve!
In the evening we’ll eat together and put some more plans together for the network, future events etc.
Sunday – Still to be confirmed and weather dependent – we aim to take a boat trip over to community owned Isle Martin to look at woodlands on the island that are being brought into coppice rotation and discuss how that can be achieved. There will be a £10 contribution for the ferry if this goes ahead so please bring cash. If the ferry can’t happen we’ll plan a different site visit instead. The weekend will close after lunch
Catering / Meals
The weekend will be fully catered including breakfast, and cooking / eating will be communal so pitch in! All the food will be vegetarian and other dietary requirements can be catered for so just let us know in the booking form.
Bring your own booze and other drinks (tea & coffee are provided).
Accommodation
There is a range of shared accommodation spaces at West Edge; yurts, bothies, vintage caravans and ready raised tents. You’ll be allocated a space when you arrive, or contact Em directly () to pre-arrange sleeping space. Hot showers, firewood, pillows included, but please bring your own bedding. You can park up on site with a campervan or bring your own tent if you wish (please state this when booking). There are plenty of other accommodation options nearby in Ullapool if you prefer that instead. Get in touch if you need suggestions.
Other Info
West Edge is a working forest and home. We’ll be outside pretty much all weekend (with tarps etc for shelter) so bring lots of warm clothing, headtorches, sturdy footwear etc. Google map link.
We have fixed prices to cover costs. If you can pay more, it would be welcome. If you can’t afford these rates then get in touch and we’ll try to help.
If you need a lift then please state that below and we’ll try to match you up with someone. We can also pick you up from the bus (timetable).
Kids welcome, just add an extra donation as you see fit.
We’ll send further details and directions to those who have booked the week before the gathering.
Booking Form
Bookings and registration now closed. Please contact us if you want to be on the waiting list.