ForestHarvest: non-timber forest products in Scotland

 PRODUCTS

Craft materials

Basketry

Basketry is becoming increasingly popular in Scotland, and professionals and amateurs alike gather material from woodlands and hedgerows.

Traditional basketry relied mainly on willow. This should be cut between November and March, and bundled for drying and storage. The bundles are soaked for a few days before use, to regain their flexibility.

Modern basket-makers are becoming more adventurous, and using increasing numbers of species. These include birch bark (traditionally used by many indiganous peoples in the Sub-Arctic), pine needles (traditionally used in North America) and flexible woody species such as honeysuckle, dogwood, lime, brambles, raspberry and rowan (sometimes in combination with more traditional species such as willow and hazel).

Link: Scottish Basketmakers' Circle

Paper making

Paper-making is another craft that seems to have gained momentum in recent years. Fallen leaves make interesting additions to the mixture, sometimes providing beautiful results. Paper can also be made from the woody 'polypore' bracket fungi that grow on tree trunks. To make the pulp, these fungi need to be chopped and then soaked for days or even weeks before macerating them in a blender.

Link: Paper making

Dyes

Dyes can be obtained from just about any plant. The colour depends on the part of the plant and on the mordant used (the chemical that helps to fix the dye to the cloth). Scottish woodlands provide numerous potential dye sources including blaeberries, ivy berries, brambles, bracken roots and birch leaves.

The process is simple. Mordant the wool or cloth by boiling it with (for example) a mixture of alum and bicarbonate of soda. Then put it in a pan with the crushed and chopped plant and some water, and boil it for an hour or two.

Visit the recipes page for some interesting NTFP cooking ideas.