Charcoal Experience Day

A woodland scene with several round, metal charcoal kilns releasing thick white smoke through tall chimneys. Sunlight filters through the haze and bare trees, casting long shadows across the forest floor. Stacks of logs sit nearby, and the Durham Wildlife Trust logo appears in the lower left corner, marking the image as part of a conservation or traditional woodland management project.

Charcoal Experience Day

Location:

Low Barns,

Low Barns Nature Reserve, Witton-le-Wear, DL14 0AG
Book
An opportunity to learn and participate in sustainable charcoal making.

Event details

Meeting point

Meet outside the visitor centre

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Date

Time
9:45am - 3:00pm
A static map of Charcoal Experience Day

About the event

Join us for an introduction to sustainable charcoal production! 

Please arrive at 9.45am in order to light a demonstration charcoal kiln at 10.00am prompt. 
We shall cover aspects of Health & Safety and legislation while lighting the kiln. We shall then discuss the process as the kiln gets up to temperature. 
By 11.00am the kiln should be in full running mode and we shall walk around some of the active coppice areas of Low Barns, discussing woodland ecology surrounding charcoal making. 
At 12pm we will return to the kiln and have some lunch.  
We can light a BBQ and discuss cooking on charcoal but unfortunately we cannot provide a BBQ lunch. Please bring lunch with you or you can purchase something at our fabulous coffee shop! 
In the afternoon we will start to load one of our production kilns while maintaining the active kiln. We will then look at shutting down the demonstration kiln and learn how to tell when it is ready. 
 
The day is aimed at anyone that is curious about the process as well as current practitioners that may want to discuss finer detail. The event is for ages 18 years+.

Please wear sturdy footwear and dress appropriately for the weather. Charcoal making is a smoky business, and your clothes will take on the smell of smoke. 

The Low Barns Visitor Centre has a coffee shop and toilets.

Booking

Price

Free

Additional booking information

For ages 18 years+

Know before you go

Dogs

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On a lead
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What to bring

Please wear sturdy footwear and dress appropriately for the weather. Charcoal making is a smoky business, and your clothes will take on the smell of smoke. 

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Facilities

Toilets
Shop
Cafe/refreshments
Picnic area
Accessible toilet
Disabled parking
Accessible trails

Contact us

Tim Davis
Contact number: 07912281142
Contact email: tdavis@durhamwt.co.uk