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Landwork - Tree Surgery and Wood Craft Serving Mid Wales and Shropshire Borders

Here at STICKSnSTONES we try and engage in projects that push our personal limits both physically and conventionally. Where possible we seek out to interact with those around us so that we can share and learn. We have a strong interest in learning to do things the traditional way so we can take this information and utilise it in our own practise in a more modern infrastructure. Our ability to learn and utilise traditional hand techniques means we are often more adapt at land work jobs than others that rely on machinery as we have increased access and manoeuvrability.

2 Man Cross Cut Saw -  Tree Surgery - New Zealand

On the banks of the Buller River, South Island, New Zealand, is an organic machine free farm. The owner of farm planted a stand of poplars as part of his firewood management plan, and because of the climate in New Zealand, after just 15 years they're ready to be harvested. We used only hand tools in the felling and processing of the firewood, including the use of horse pulled sledge to stack logs in the barn. This was a real exercise in commitment to the analogue only age.

Compromised Beech Pollard - Tree Surgery - Mid Wales

This large beech had a failing union, caused by included bark and was leaning over 2 houses and signs of severe decline. Unfortunately given the trees condition and proximity to the dwellings, a hard pollard was the only reasonable option. Everything was rigged into a tiny landing zone to be processed. The work was carried out over winter to give the tree the best chances of recovery. The welsh weather graced us with torrential rain and a blue sky finish.

Samoan Fale - Wood Craft - Samoa

Samoan Fales are traditional houses built with a few posts, no walls and a thatched roof with a round or oval shape. We spent time with Chief Laufale Fa'anu from Sa'anapu village learning how to make the structural components for a fale that was being built and erected in Japan for a museum. From adzing the frames, plaining the posts and collecting the roofing from the mangroves the whole process in done by hand using materials from the local area. We were also involved in making the Sennit or rope that is used to lash the fale together, from the coconut fibre which we soaked in the mangroves before hand plying.

Dry Stone and Chainsaw Carved Bench - Landwork - New Zealand

This piece was commissioned by a sculpture garden and utilises chainsaw/chisel work with dry walling using river bed stones. The bench blends into the fern background with hope that the mosses around will creep up the stone. 

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