Sourcing Material

Here is a collection of photos from some of my material sourcing missions into the woods, including a naturally fallen spruce and oak. Found around a small village in West Sussex called Plaistow.

Inspired recently by being stuck in another national lockdown, this time in the West Sussex country side. I found going on walks in the woods the best way to keep me sane and keep me going. I began to realise how many trees had been up rooted and were lying horizontal. A great source of free and sustainable material! So I started collecting some logs, playing with ideas and continue to learn about working with green woods.
Only Rural will be designing and making furniture, products and objects built to last generations, out of solely reclaimed and naturally fallen timber.
I want to promote a connection between consumers and the products we buy. Creating products that have stories, which are able to be tracked to the precise location where the material came from.
So that’s what I will be doing.. but this platform is as much about supporting other people/brands/studios/businesses etc. that are doing good things. I hope this allows me to connect with and maybe collaborate with all the amazing and creative people in this world trying to do good by humanity and planet Earth. 🌍
So here we go! This particular tree had been freshly uprooted by storm Bella at the end of 2020. Noticed on one of my regular walks a short while afterwards.

Tree appreciation.

This old Oak had fallen across a public bridleway at some point in the past winter. It was whole when I first saw it and someone eventually came and chopped it up and moved it out the way. They ended up leaving all the logs there. I only wish I was able to collect some of it, but the pieces were too big and too far from where I had to take them. Note: get more gear.

This was the tree that started my intrigue to look for more material though, and soon after spotting this one I collected the Ash, Birch and Spruce for Batch 001.

Here’s one of the four big old Ash logs I received the other week. The tree had to be cut down due to public safety as it was right next to a playground. Unfortunate but I’m glad o get to make good use of it. Creating products that will last and can be passed down generations.

I have been making my way through the logs, cleaving them into sections that are either drying or have been used. I used a few pieces of this log for the legs of Evie’s Stool.

51°04'05.1"N 0°33'54.6"W