WoodlandsTV
Natural dyes and dyeing from woodland plants
Experiments with dyes using evidence from scraps of material found at archaological sites from the Saxon period. Using natural products from woods and woodlands such as madder, weld, woad, barks from alder buckthorn birch, and walnut, and wild plants such as yarrow Jennie James shows the varieties of colours that can be achieved. Other techniques to produce different colours include overdyeing, and the use of a mordant such as alum. Much of the research is inspired by the books about dyes by Jenny Dean. Jennie James and Rachel Collins are part of East Sussex Archaeology and Museums Partnership ESAMP. Following this fascinating introduction to dyes and dyeing the next programme looks at some of the natural products and the colours they produce.
Tanglewood – birch, hazel, hawthorn and ..rabbits
An area of tangled wood grew from an event some 50 years ago. Julian explains how it affected part of his wood.