Natural England

Stressed, tired or bored with the long summer holidays? Come and try wood carving at Fenn’s Whixall & Bettisfield Mosses National Nature Reserve and find out about the Mosses’ famous bog bodies at the same time.

On Sunday 31 August, Natural England, the Countryside Council for Wales and the British Woodcarvers are holding a ‘hands-on’ prehistoric bog-pine woodcarving day at the NNR, near Whitchurch and Wrexham.

People of all ages and all woodcarving abilities, from experts to total beginners, are welcome on the free event, which will start at 11 am and run until 3.30 pm. The day will be led by experts David Gerty and Rosa Ford of the British Woodcarvers Association and by Joan Daniels of Natural England.

It will be based in the workshop at Natural England’s National Nature Reserve Base at Manor House, Moss Lane, Whixall, near the Waggoner’s pub, with a foray out onto the Mosses to collect the ancient pine. Free tea and coffee will be provided, so book in advance, and visitors will be welcomed by a life-sized wooly mammoth.

The day will begin with an introduction to woodcarving. The group will then have a short guided walk onto the Mosses to collect some of the prehistoric bog pines, which have been left exposed to the elements by previous peat cutting. If it is nice we will all have a ‘bring-your-own’ picnic lunch out on the Mosses.

The walk will follow the history of trees in the Whixall landscape over the last 12,000 years since the last glaciation, and how they have responded to climate change. The same climate change probably was responsible for the famous human sacrifices which have been found in Whixall’s bog. And the importance of the bog for all of our futures will be highlighted.

Back at the workshop each member of the group will then be helped to carry out their own carving and produce something to take home.

Natural England’s Senior Reserve Manager Joan Daniels said, “Woodcarving is absolutely gripping for everyone through from seven year olds to pensioners!”

“Growing peat bogs fix carbon from the air by making peat. This helps to counteract global warming. The peat also pickles the story of our past including bog bodies and Whixall’s 3,400 years-old prehistoric pine layer. Today undamaged raised bogs don’t have pine on them. In our current climate, trees can only invade if the bog has been drained to cut the peat, or for farming or forestry. This drainage, together with using the peat in our gardens or for burning, releases all the carbon stored in the peat and contributes to the chaos which climate change is currently bringing us.”

The prehistoric pine layer, which used to be buried under metres of peat, has been exposed by the peat cutters, and roots have been pulled up and thrown to one side. Unfortunately, now that the ancient pines are exposed to the air, they are rotting away, so might as well be used on the wood-carving day. The twisted shapes of their roots and lower trunks will inspire people for their sculpting.

Visitors should come with old clothing, wellies and waterproofs, a packed lunch and lots of imagination.

To book and to get the instructions for the day please ring Caroline Dahn on 01743 282000 in the week or Joan Daniels on 07874 784799 evenings and weekends or e-mail caroline.dahn@naturalengland.org.uk

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Notes for editors

For further information on Fenn's, Whixall & Bettisfield Mosses NNR / photo opportunities and other enquiries please contact Dr. J. L. Daniels, Natural England, Manor House, Moss Lane, Whixall, Shropshire, SY13 2PD, (tel. 01948 880362) or e-mail joan.daniels@naturalengland.org.uk

Natural England
Natural England was established by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. Its purpose is to ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development. www.naturalengland.org.uk

The Countryside Council for Wales
The Countryside Council for Wales champions the environment and landscapes of Wales and its coastal waters as sources of natural and cultural riches, as a foundation for economic and social activity, and as a place for leisure and learning opportunities. We aim to make the environment a valued part of everyone's life in Wales. More information about our work is available on www.ccw.gov.uk

For further CCW information/ Welsh language interviews, contact Meinir Wigley, Public Relations Officer on 01686 613416.

The British Woodcarvers meet weekly at the Mosses and can be contacted through Joan Daniels on 01948 880362.