BBC4 woodsman?

[normandylumberjack]

When I sat down to watch a program about a woodsman restoring an unmanaged woodland in south wales tonight, i assumed it may be somebody with 5, 10, 15 maybe 20-30 years experience, even fresh from college with a year or 2 of training or experience under their belt.

 

Not another Londoner, escaping the rat race and showing us all how easy the good life is and how all this under achieving woodland can be tamed in just a year, and turn a profit. And anyone that works the woods is some folk singing hick or oldboy that likes his cider.

[Charlieh]

yes but at least they cleared all the deadwood to make the woodland "safe" and the high value ash that they looked at had a fork in it at less than 6ft up the trunk looked like firewood to me.

 

Felt like a bit of a let down really

[Rich2484]

Lets be honest here.

 

If a film crew came and filmed you in a wood for a year trying to sort it out. It would be the most boring programme on tely.

 

They have to try and make it interesting at least.

[Stereo]

I like cider. Can I get on telly?

[Arob]

Lets be honest here.

 

If a film crew came and filmed you in a wood for a year trying to sort it out. It would be the most boring programme on tely.

 

They have to try and make it interesting at least.

 

I disagree, i think you can make amazing programmes about skilled craftspeople - did you see Monty Don's series 'Mastercrafts?[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H00CeiBuml8]Mastercrafts Wood episode - Woodland Workshop selected clips 2010 - YouTube[/ame] That was fascinating as it showcased real skills as practised by real skilled people and demonstrated exactly what makes them skilled jobs. It also involved the participants really getting deeply involved and committing themselves to learning a new skill, it's a much slower burn and involves genuine respect for their craft.

 

Whereas this just seems like mediocre tv featuring a hobby for someone with a media lifestyle, to describe him as a woodsman (see programme info) is laughable - have you seen him swing a billhook?! Budding woodsman maybe, he certainly seems to have an enthusiastic personality so good on him for having a bash, but woodsman? Really?

 

This style of programme is all too familiar - Jimmy's Farm anyone? First he fails in his efforts to run a small pig farm and goes bust, no shame there - ..it happens, but then he has the cheek to show up on a programme featuring couples who want to get away from the rat race (and win the chance to run a smallholding for a year) and suddenly he's acting like he's a flipping expert on farming!

[Arob]

Bugger, just found a third thread http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/general-chat/49112-tales-wild-wood-bbc4.html !

Just followed the link to his website ROB PENN where i see he describes himself as a 'wannabee woodsman' hopefully i've jumped the gun and we'll see him pull it out of the bag yet!

[delabodge]

seems to be getting in experienced people to help him!, if his dedication on a bicycle is anything to go by,,then sure he`ll come good,,,

[Andy Collins]

when did Jimmys Farm go bust? It's still going well, trading well and has grown and grown as a business. I know in the first year or so the business foundered, and had to have more money put into it. Of course, people like to see anyone failing at what they believe is "their" trade, I mean how can a townie come in just buy a farm and expect it to work? Well we need someone to do this, or we just won't have farms any more. In a rural situation, how many youngsters wish to follow in their fathers footsteps, become a farmer, become a woodsman and so on? Most kids want to be product designers, and similar jobs, not get dirty. So I think we need these "townies" to come and have a go, they want to escape the rat race, the stresses of business and commuting,and do something hands on. Let's face it, the wood in this series would just be left alone for another 50years without this chap and the tv documentary. If it encourages just one person to consider coming into this trade in some form or another, then it's done a good thing. IMO.

[penfold]

agree with you there andy just a shame it was shown on BBC four rather than the slightly 'trendier' BBC three

[Andy Collins]

You're too old for BBC3 Penfold