Search results for ""Author Ben Law""

Since building his famous Woodland House from his own woodland, author Ben Law has evolved his own style of natural building, now tried and tested on many other builds across England. Ben has built houses, workshops, a classroom, lean-tos, a shop and a store to industrial specifications. Whilst this style’s origins can be found in traditional forms of building, Ben has developed an entirely new vernacular using many innovative ideas and techniques. Filled with detailed colour photographs and drawings, this unique and practical `how to’ book, is unquestionably a benchmark for sustainable building. Roundwood Timber Framing encourages communication between woodsmen, planners, architects and builders, and helps to close the loop between environmental conservation, use of renewable local resources and the regeneration and evolution of traditional skills, to create durable, ecological and beautiful buildings. Ben is a now a much admired figure. His previous books have sold extremely well and this book, with its highly original and fascinating contribution to design and build, is set to capture the public’s imagination and desire to increasingly learn traditional crafts.

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Packed with stunning colour photographs, The Woodland Year is an intimate month-by-month journey through Ben Law's yearly cycle of work, his naturally attuned lifestyle and his deep understanding of the wood in which he lives. Each month includes guest contributions from woodlanders in other parts of England and Wales. The Woodland Year provides a fascinating insight to every aspect of sustainable woodland management; the cycles of nature, seasonal tasks, wild food gathering, wine making, mouthwatering and useful recipes, coppice crafts, round pole timber frame eco-building (pioneered by Ben in the UK), nature conservation, species diversity, tree profiles and the use of horses for woodland work. This is a profound book that is both practical and poetic. It describes a way of life that is economically and ecologically viable and sets a new standard for managing our woods in a low impact, sustainable way. As such, it holds some of the fundamental keys to how we can achieve a lower carbon society. AUTHOR: Ben Law has always had a passion for healthy, biodiverse farms and woodlands. Having gained an Advanced National Certificate in Agriculture, Ben became a shepherd and set up a conservation landscaping business, specialising in ponds and wild flower meadows. Bens appearance on Channel 4's Grand Designs is the most watched in the series history, is the hosts and publics favourite episode and was one of the 25 programmes chosen to represent Channel 4's 25th anniversary. Ben visited the Amazon in the late 1980s looking for positive solutions to deforestation and on his return set up and directed the charity, The Forest Management Foundation, working primarily with community forestry in Papua New Guinea. He has also worked for Oxfam as a permaculture consultant. Ben was a founding member of the Forest Stewardship Council and has lived and worked at Prickly Nut Woods in West Sussex, UK, since 1991; training apprentices and running courses on sustainable woodland management, eco-building and permaculture design. He runs a specialist eco-building company, The Roundwood Timber Framing Company Limited. 318 colour photographs

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In 2003 Ben Law captivated the nation by building his woodland house on Channel 4s Grand Designs programme, the home was later voted the most popular Grand Design ever by viewers. The presenter, Kevin McCloud, loved the project so much that he has written the foreword to this book! A Grand Designs Revisited programme was aired on British TV in October 2005. Full of stunning colour photographs, The Woodland House is a visual guide to how Ben built his outstandingly beautiful home in the woods. It is also a practical manual, and the story of a man realising a lifetimes dream to build one of the most sustainable and beautiful homes in Britain. The Woodland House gives details of the evolving design process, the identifying of materials, costings, project management and the actual building. It proves that low cost, low impact and high aesthetics can go hand in hand and that it is possible to build green and affordably. As the pre-eminent UK example of building with wood and renewable materials this will also appeal to the growing number of people with environmental and green interests, as well as to the building community

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A book for everyone who loves trees and woodlands...This 2015 edition of the 2001 classic is written from the heart by an innovative woodsman who is deeply committed to sustainability, this radical book presents an immensely practical alternative to conventional woodland management. Through his personal experience, Ben Law clearly demonstrates how you can create biodiverse, healthy environments, yield a great variety of value added products, provide secure livelihoods for woodland workers and farmers, and benefit the local community. He argues the case for a new approach to planning, encouraging the creation of permaculture woodlands for the benefit of people, the local environment and the global climate.

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Ben Law’s incredible sense of the land and his respect for age old traditions offers a wonderful insight into the life of Prickly Nut Wood. Having travelled to Papua New Guinea and the Amazon, observing age-old techniques for living in, working in and preserving forests and woodland, Ben Law felt compelled to return home and apply his learnings to a 400-year-old plot of woodland near where he grew up – Prickly Nut Wood. This is the story of how he came to know and love his woodland, how he lived off the land, how he coppiced and hedged and created charcoal, how he puddled and built shelter, and finally how he carved out his famous, characterful woodland home that Kevin McCloud has cited as his favourite ever Grand Design.

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A woodland craftsman's workshop should bring immense pleasure, whether it be a simple tarpaulin shelter deep in the woods or a purpose-built haven to shelter from the elements. The tools and devices that furnish it are unique to woodland work and have formed the heritage of woodland crafts that we have today. Following on from his successful book Woodland Craft, woodsman Ben Law explains what makes a good workshop, outlines the key tools needed, gives information on how to sharpen them and shows us how to make an array of fascinating devices from scratch. Clear step-by-step instructions, photographs and beautiful illustrations guide you through the making process. Coupled with interesting titbits of historical and practical information, this is an invaluable guide for every green woodworker. AUTHOR: Ben Law, woodsman, craftsman, eco-builder, teacher and writer, lives and works in Prickly Nut Wood in West Sussex, UK. The building of his unique woodland home was featured on Channel 4's Grand Designs in the UK and was voted by viewers as the most popular episode ever. In addition to the coppicing of his own woodland, he runs courses on sustainable woodland management and permaculture and trains apprentices. Ben Law is the author of several books, including The Woodland House, The Woodland Year, Woodsman: Living in a Wood in the 21st Century and Woodland Craft (GMC Publications, 2015). SALES POINTS: . A companion to the successful Woodland Craft . 16 step-by-step woodland device projects . Beautiful photography and illustrations throughout . A foundation book for every green woodworker to use as reference . Projects include: Peeling jig, Sussex knee vice, Triangulated cleaving brake, Shake brake, Pole lathe and Woodsman's grip 300 colour photographs

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Celebrate the splendor of wood with these wood-crafting projects. From simple woven panels to making a functional yurt, Woodland Craft features an array of easy-to-follow projects that include crafts for the farm, garden, wood fuel, building and domestic use. In fact, there's something here to satisfy all your project desires! Green wood - wood that has been recently cut and is therefore still moisture-rich - is the predominant material used in the projects featured in this essential guide for craftsman of all levels. Be inspired to work with one of nature's most beautiful and classic materials. Wood can offer you the look and feel, and even scent, that no other natural material can provide. With Woodland Craft you'll learn all you need to know about tools and devices, both old and new. You'll browse through the handy directory of tree species and identify the best uses for each. You'll appreciate and admire the massive display of illustrations and photographs throughout - nearly 700 combined! And you'll gain the insight you need to make practically anything out of this clean, crisp, beautiful element. AUTHOR: Ben Law, woodsman, craftsman, eco-builder, teacher and writer, lives and works in Prickly Nut Wood in West Sussex, UK. The building of his unique woodland home was featured on Channel 4's Grand Designs in the UK and was voted by viewers as the most popular episode ever. In addition to the coppicing of his own woodland, he runs courses on sustainable woodland management and permaculture, runs a specialist eco- building company and trains apprentices. 185 illustrations, 496 photographs in full colour

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Woodlander is a complete and comprehensive guide to managing a small woodland, incorporating nearly 30 years of knowledge and experience from woodsman Ben Law and his unique home in Prickly Nut Wood. Woodlander contains everything you need to know if you are managing, or intend to manage, a small woodland. Ben's inspiring, forest-dwelling life has allowed him to put together a complete package of detailed information and practical examples based on his personal experience, giving this beautiful book an entirely authentic voice. Every page is infused with a deep respect for the traditions of the past while also embracing new ideas, methods and creative thinking. This is a holistic approach to woodland management, which looks at the entire place - the wildlife it supports, the natural cycles of growth and life, the precious products it creates and the communities that inhabit and surround it. All the while, understanding and emphasising that it is a balance of all these things that makes a healthy, biodiverse, resilient ecosystem. Detailed sections cover different types of woodland, the rich history behind them, how to assess what you've got, practical maintenance, planning for the future, promoting wildlife and biodiversity, harvesting and extracting timber, the tools you will need, crafts, social forestry and an in-depth resources section. Dotted throughout are personal snippets, observations and insights from Ben's life at Prickly Nut Wood. AUTHOR: Ben Law, woodsman, craftsman, eco-builder, teacher and writer, lives and works in Prickly Nut Wood in West Sussex, UK. The building of his unique woodland home was featured on Grand Designs in the UK and was voted by viewers as the most popular episode ever. Ben runs courses on sustainable woodland management and permaculture, runs a specialist eco-building company and trains apprentices. Ben Law is the author of several books, including The Woodland House (Permanent Publications, 2005). The Woodland Year (Permanent Publications, 2008), and Woodsman: Living in a Wood in the 21st Century and Woodland Craft (GMC Publications, 2015). www.ben-law.co.uk. 300 photographs, 100 illustrations

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The Woodland Craft Handbook is an inspirational yet practical guide to traditional crafts, woodland coppice products and forest permaculture. Step into the shoes of woodsman Ben Law as he explores this diverse collection of crafts made from materials sourced directly from the woods. Brooms, rakes, pegs, spoons, chairs, baskets, fencing and walking sticks – the items are one-off and unique ­ hewn and shaped by hand, infused with a simple, rustic beauty. With fascinating information on the history and traditions of the crafts, coppice management, tree species and the tools and devices used, we learn about all aspects of the low-impact woodland way of life. Much as the traditional techniques associated with the woods were passed down through families, this book aims to help secure their relevance and adapt them for future generations. AUTHOR: Ben Law, woodsman, craftsman, eco-builder, teacher and writer, lives and works in Prickly Nut Wood in West Sussex, UK. The building of his unique woodland home was featured on Grand Designs in the UK and was voted by viewers as the most popular episode ever. Ben runs courses on sustainable woodland management and permaculture, runs a specialist eco-building company and trains apprentices. Ben Law is the author of several books, including The Woodland House (Permanent Publications, 2005). The Woodland Year (Permanent Publications, 2008), and Woodsman: Living in a Wood in the 21st Century and Woodland Craft (GMC Publications, 2015). SELLING POINTS: . 15 rustic projects (including green wood) with detailed how-to instructions, photos and illustrations . Many projects are made with green wood . Includes sections on crafts for the farm and garden, crafts for the home and wood fuel, plus handy directories of tree species, tools and devices . Caters for all levels of ability: from simple woven panels and carving spoons to making a steam-bent lounger . Includes fascinating historical snippets that reveal the rich traditions behind the crafts from the era before industrialized mass-production . Will appeal to people with an interest in traditional crafts, woodland management, sustainability, permaculture and the countryside 220 photographs, 123 illustrations

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