Long day!

Wednesday 9th June 2021

We started today at 6am up at Ullen wood to light the charcoal kiln. While its not complicated it does need to be done correctly or you end up with no charcoal at the end! Too cold and it wont burn enough , too hot and it will just be cinders. It actually wasn't that easy to light but after about an hour we had it going. We had warned the fire brigade beforehand as there is an enormous amount of smoke generated. After it had warmed up enough we put in the chimneys and sealed all the edges.

Then over to the Old Prison at Northleach for a well earned bacon sandwich!

Later in the day - about 3pm - Zara and I went back and moved round the chimneys and flues to make sure we had an even burn throughout.

Ed went back later and was there until 10pm until it was fully shut down!

After breakfast we went to the Ebworth Centre and met up with all the Cotswold National Landscape team for a team walk - it is the first time they have met up since Covid struck last year. It was good to meet all the team who we will be spending more time with over the next few weeks. We took the Cranham to Sheepscombe circular walk Cranham-to-Sheepscombe-FINALv2.pdf (cotswoldsaonb.org.uk). Obviuosly as we were walking with experts we stopped to look at flowers and butterflies along the way! This is the view looking down to Painswick - it is a beautiful walk and I can recommend it.