The extended dry weather has given me opportunity to get to a large larch stem on the edge of the woodland pond.

Larch is a deciduous European conifer, naturalised in the UK in the 17th Century, and its heartwood is naturally durable. This makes it a great sustainable choice for use externally as it requires no chemical treatment.

Bigger than it looks from the photos, the slab is 8 foot long, 4 inches thick and weighs more than I do. Milo was too interested in rabbits to pose and provide some scale. The main photo shows it relocated to its temporary home for shaping, planing and sanding.

The plan is to make this into a substantial garden bench with a scorched finish. Scorching further protects the timber from the elements and is a traditional Japanese timber treatment.

To see what’s currently available to purchase visit the Furniture section of the online shop.