Charcoal has been made for thousands of years, probably in mounds covered with turf or twigs and earth. As it burns at over 1000 degrees C (three times the temperature of wood), it was essential for smelting metals and was for centuries the principal industrial fuel until replaced by coke made from coal in the eighteenth century.

Today we shall be making charcoal, from alder and hazel cut on the farm, in an oil drum kiln. We shall load and fire the kiln, cut and prepare the timber and learn about the different species, and sort, grade and pack the charcoal.  We may also make a small quantity of artists drawing charcoal and look at the use of the "fines" (dust and small particles) in the garden.  Other items to consider include talk on or film of larger scale production using portable metal kilns, industrial production of charcoal and its uses, the history of what was once a major industry and a look at some local trees.