Outdoors: Once again, traditional woodland crafts are becoming a growth industry'

Considering they're a source of food, fuel, building materials, artistic inspiration and stress-relief, it's hard to believe that the link between Britain's people and its woodlands was ever in any doubt.

But rewind to the years following the Second World War, when traditional woodland jobs such as wheel-wrights and bodgers were becoming obsolete, synthetic materials were far more exciting to have in your home than boring old wood, and the Forestry Commission was busy creating Sitka spruce plantations.

Within a generation, the relevance of woodlands to the daily lives of most people had become vague.

Fast forward to 2010 and our woodlands are enjoying a renaissance. "The resurgence of interest in using woodlands and woodland culture has attracted a very diverse range of people, from hobby foresters and entrepreneurs to some very skilled crafts people," says Ian Edwards, editor of a new book, Woodlanders (25, Saraband).

"The book has included the widest possible range of New Woodlanders including artists, writers and poets, architects and builders, as well as people who work in their local community in the areas of health, education or leisure."

In terms of working with wood, the book profiles a rich mix of furniture makers, basket weavers and specialist producers, including wooden jewellery maker Geoff King, quaich maker Stewart McCarroll and Trevor Leat, whose willow sculptures include the 13 metre tall figures for the Wicker Man Festival.

"When Herbert Edlin wrote his classic book Woodland Crafts in 1949 he was sure that many of the crafts he had recorded would not survive the ravages of the Second World War," says Edwards.

"In a few cases he was right, but in actual fact many of the woodland crafts have persisted or been revived including the skills of chair-makers, turners, charcoal makers, basket weavers, horse-loggers and herb gatherers."

In economic terms, woodlands can offer income to both groups and individuals.

"A community woodland group may raise cash for their management funds through selling a few bags of home-made charcoal while some of the people involved in buildings, craftwork or providing leisure opportunities are making a reasonable livelihood from the woods," says Edwards.

The book also showcases some of the most exciting timber buildings of recent years, including the Dunbeag Roundhouse, near Tighnabruich, built by woodland manager David Blair. The timber from the building came from within a 200 metre radius and allows him to live in the heart of the woods he manages.

It seems that those of us who enjoy a ramble through the woods, picking the odd bramble or sloe are not alone.

A Forestry Commission survey found that nearly a quarter of people questioned had gathered wild plant material from woodlands or forests in the past five years (the most popular things to collect were berries, mushrooms and firewood).

Woodlanders provides a feast for the eyes, featuring hundreds of images of the trees, products and people that form our woodlands. It puts the current relevance of woodlands into clear context.

"The economic recession may have taken the main focus off the environment and on to the economy, but I believe that it will not halt the phenomenal resurgence in woodland culture which is taking place at present," says Edwards.

"In fact there may be more of us looking for ways of supplementing our income or diet, or reducing our fuel bills, by returning to the woods and there will certainly be more stressed-out folk seeking the solace they can find in the forest." And whether you want to learn more about trees, woodland crafts or anything to do with woodlands, this book should provide all the inspiration you need.

Woodlanders: New Life in Britain's Forests is available from Saraband (www.saraband.net) 25. The Woodlanders' Gathering will take place at St Andrew's Square, Edinburgh next Saturday (6 November), with talks, demonstrations and an exhibition of photography from the book (at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh until tomorrow).

This article was first published in The Scotsman, 30 October, 2010