The Hampshire Coppice Craftsmens Group

"Putting Life into your Landscape"

This event was held at New Forest Cider, Pound Lane, Burley on the 13/14th October.

Having heard of this event from Peter Jameson we decided to go and have a look.

We started by parking in Burley and taking the tractor and trailer ride to the site. Admission was a very reasonable £1 a head, and the steam engines were very obvious by the pall of smoke over the Cider centre. The first exhibit was a crusher powered by a small traction engine next to a very old press which was being loaded by hand with the pommace between layers of straw. This is a very skilled job, as if it is done wrong the pommace comes out at the sides and is not crushed. There were also several other steam powered presses in the field, an old fashioned fairground with a steam organ, a huge pile of cider apples, and several members of the Hampshire Coppice Craftsmen’s Group (7 on the Saturday alone).

Pete Jameson and Dave Lister were making spars as well as a bit of kindling, Les and Toni Brannon were there with their varying bits, and Kester Westcott had a go on the pole lathe that was being run by Chris and Andrew Albray (for 'have a go' read "you're an APT member, I'm off for a look round". Thanks Andrew.) There were two other turners; one with a treadle and one with an electric lathe. Peter Lane was billed to be making wattle hurdles on Sunday but we did not see him.
New Forest Cider was being offered to exhibitors, and having had a little, I hope all of them left a good time between their last drink and going home.

A good day, in spite of the slightly drizzly weather, and we were well represented.

Chris Westcott