Like any kid I would play with metal nails and hammers. When I read of wooden nails in RL Stevenson’s Treasure Island, I was fascinated. If I could I make a nail from wood, then I really would be independent.

Doing the least processing to naturally-occurring materials for the greatest return has fascinated me ever since. So when I saw Mike Abbott at a pole-lathe in 1987, I was hooked by green woodwork. I attended his courses and began to understand the coppice cycle. Hired by Hillingdon Council, I made their coppice-management program viable by engaging contractors who paid to fell and remove timber rather than got paid to just fell and stack it to then rot.

Although I qualified as an accountant, my passion is to share people-powered skills and processes that build confidence, resilience and fun.