Hello, fellow wood lovers, nature enthusiasts, and perhaps even a few part time  philosophers!

In my role at Heartwood of Bridgnorth, every piece I create is more than just wood, it’s a story and it’s a story deeply intertwined with my own journey and the incredible history of the trees I love and work with, especially here in Shropshire. This inaugural blog is a sprawling ode to the tree, an exploration of the universal, spiritual, historical, and deeply personal connection I share with them.

Wood: The Material History of the Universe

Wood isn’t just a material it is literally the material history of the universe, captured in grain and bark. Being the daughter of an engineer and a librarian & artist meant I was always going to find beauty in both the structure and the story.

The Cosmic Connection: We Are All Carbon

My reverence for the material begins at a molecular level. Every single tree, every piece of wood, and every part of you and me is carbon-based. This incredible element, forged in the depths of stars, is the scaffolding for all known life on Earth. When you hear the poets and the physicists say "we are stardust," it is not a metaphor it is a chemical truth! The atoms of carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen that make up your body, the air you breathe, and the wood I work with were originally synthesised in the fiery core of ancient, long-dead stars.

When a star explodes as a supernova, it scatters these vital heavy elements across the cosmos, which eventually collect to form new solar systems, planets... and us. This means that the grain of a Shropshire oak and the bone in your hand share the same spectacular, billion-year-old origin. This is the spiritual link I find in the trees, all living creatures and the stars. Tree roots may anchor them, but their canopy reaches for the cosmic, bridging the earth and the infinite.

And while the so-called "God Particle" (the Higgs boson) gives all elementary particles their mass, the carbon atom itself is what allows for the complexity of life to emerge. It's the ultimate connector.

I walk my two dogs, Darwin the Beagle and Nugget the Jack Russell, in the woods every day and nothing beats wrapping my arms around an oak and feeling connected to the infinity of the universe.

I've always been captivated by the spiritual side of trees, their enduring presence, and the sheer, quiet wisdom they hold. They are the oldest, largest, and most patient living things on Earth, standing as silent, rooted philosophers against the backdrop of our fleeting and chaotic human years. If you ever feel overwhelmed, lost, or out of control, get outside, find a large tree, and give it a hug. Feel the immediate connection with the soil, with time, with the universe. It’s better than meditation.

Think of the ancient oaks that have stood for centuries, silent witnesses to history, weathering every storm, every regime change, every human joy and sorrow. Their massive trunks are nature's own spiritual homes.

Having spent most of my life working with children and for charities for vulnerable children and adults and overseas aid, I’ve seen the human need for resilience firsthand. That experience taught me the profound value of persistence and the power of giving, qualities I now see mirrored in the stoic, selfless life of a tree.

Shropshire: My Spiritual Home Among the Giants

Moving to Shropshire was like finding a spiritual home, the hills and the wild open spaces and ancient trees rooted me in a way I’d never felt before. Like our very own Shropshire giant, the ancient yew tree in Church Preen, standing guard for at least 1,500 years! To stand before a tree that took root before England was even called England, a tree that has seen the rise and fall of empires, is to experience a profound compression of time. This visceral, awe-inspiring sense of ancient time is what I try to capture and honour in every piece of wood that passes through my hands at Heartwood.

This adoration is a deeply human tradition. The tree is a constant, powerful archetype, a gateway to the sacred and the unknown. They are the silent heroes of our planet, offering us life, beauty, and strength.

The Unbroken Circle: Why Local Matters

Beyond their beauty, history, and mythology, trees are absolutely vital for our planet's health and our own survival. This isn't a romantic notion; it is the fundamental truth of life. They are the lungs of the Earth.

This makes their well-being, and the responsible management of our forests, incredibly important and our collective responsibility. To truly love wood is to champion the life of the tree from which it came.

Having seen the impact of global issues during my aid work and watching the ever increasing impact of climate change, I wanted to focus on making a positive difference right here. This commitment is at the heart of my mission at Heartwood: reducing our reliance on imported timber by using sustainably sourced and well-managed Shropshire timber instead. We need to champion sensible, well-managed schemes that ensure new trees thrive. When I source a beautiful piece of Shropshire hardwood, I see it not as the end of the tree's life, but as the continuation of its story in a new, enduring form. 

From Forest Floor to Finished Piece

My journey with wood blossomed into Heartwood of Bridgnorth from a personal hobby to a philosophy, and finally, to a business.

Heartwood's operations are deeply rooted in the local community and a commitment to sustainability. We work with local woodland managers and suppliers who practice sustainable harvesting and management. We give wood that has been felled for essential purposes…safety, necessary clearance, or woodland management, a magnificent second life.

Crucially, a significant amount of our beautiful raw material comes from the offcuts from my joiner husband’s company, Coady Carpentry. We don't see the wood pile behind the workshop as waste; we see it as a treasure trove of possibilities! This partnership is a cornerstone of our commitment to zero-waste craftsmanship.

Combining the precision learned from my engineer dad with the artistic vision inherited from my mum, I use advanced CNC machines to transform these storied pieces into works of art, carving intricate logos, creating stunning signage, and crafting bespoke pieces. Every cut is made with precision and respect for the grain; every finish is applied to highlight the wood’s inherent beauty. There’s no project too big or too small, because when you love what you do, anything is possible.

Join me next time as we delve deeper into the fascinating history of Shropshire's trees and their incredible connection to the people who lived and worked among them. Then, we'll journey through time and geography to explore the literary links that bind our greatest tales to the wisdom of the wood.

(P.S. If you've got a tree story or a question, drop a comment on my LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.)