If you’re here, chances are you’ve stumbled across this blog thanks to Matt Estlea’s video. Welcome! This probably means you already know who Matt is, and no introduction is needed, but for those who’ve found the blog by other means, this is a quick note to welcome you and share more about this exciting collaboration! Join the fun below by reading more about the collaboration & watch Matt’s video.
Matt Estlea is a familiar face to many. His background in furniture making and education, courtesy of Rycotewood, informs his YouTube videos, which routinely reach hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions, of people across the globe.
Whether you want instructional content about tool sharpening or a light-hearted look at finishing wood with children’s crayons, there’s something for everyone.
Perhaps this is why he has introduced so many people to working with wood.
So, Woodland Heritage and Whitney Sawmills leapt at the chance to collaborate with Matt to champion the use of homegrown timber from sustainable, productive woodlands.
Oh, and it’s pronounced Est-Lee!
L-R: Dermot Doyne and Matt Estlea discuss freshly sawn oak.
L-R: Rob Harvey and Matt Estlea film the Mebor Saw.
A day of sylva and sawdust
The collaboration began with Matt and his producer, Rob, visiting Whitney Sawmills and the nearby woodland. Our warm thanks to Will Bullough for helping make this possible.
We toured the woodland and sawmill throughout the day to create an educational video for Matt’s free woodworking school. The critical messages for this video were to help people understand how sawmills work, how to purchase beautiful wood from your local sawmill, and how important and valuable an understanding of woodlands can be to a woodworker.
Using homegrown timber offers many environmental, economic and social benefits and can unlock vital creativity for the maker.
Select-a-slab
The next phase of the collaboration was for Matt to create a ‘project’ video in which he turned some remarkable timber from Whitney Sawmills into a beautiful creation and an exciting and educational video. So, towards the end of the day, Matt selected a lovely slab of ... well, you will have to tune into Matt’s video to find out!
Thank you to Sawmill Manager Dermot Doyne, Matt, and Rob for making this collaboration possible.
L-R: Matt Estlea, John Orchard and Dermot Doyne tour Whitney Wood to learn about productive woodlands.
Rob Harvey films oak log on the Mebor saw.
What’s next?
After watching the video and reading the blog, you may be asking, ‘So what?’ or ‘How can I get involved?’ Both are great questions.
For those asking ‘so what?’
Today's decisions directly affect the knowledge, skills, woodlands and timber we pass on to future generations. This, in turn, affects whether our children and grandchildren can create a thriving wood culture that benefits their environment, people, and economy.
Woodland heritage is not the passive act of preserving the past. It is the active process of deciding what world our children and grandchildren will inherit.
Woodland Heritage is a charity working to create a thriving wood culture in the UK, benefiting the environment, all people, and our economy. We do this by supporting activities like demonstration sites, research, education, and outreach.
Get involved
If you’re feeling inspired (we know we are!), you can get involved in a few ways.
A Walk in Whitney Wood with Woodland Heritage
Matt & Rob joined Woodland Heritage for a walk in Whitney Wood, behind Whitney Sawmills. Watch the extended video below to learn more!
Marking Knives
Produced by Matt Estlea, in collaboration with Woodland Heritage. £10 of every purchase of these English Walnut and London Plane marking knives goes directly to the charity.
Dining Table project
You can find the Dining Table project plans below.
Newsletter signup
If, like Matt, you’d like to learn more about productive woodlands and their role in sustainable timber production, you can sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear about Woodland to Workshop 2025 registration & our upcoming Open Woods and Workshops across the UK.
Whitney Sawmills timber
Love the look of the Cedar of Lebanon? There's a limited amount of the log featured in the video left! If you’d like to secure some of your own cedar, or another wonderful timber from Whitney Sawmills, contact the team office@whitneysawmills.co.uk & 01497 831 656 or visit their website for more information.
Become a member
If you’ve already seen enough and are ready to jump straight into membership, you can become a member of Woodland Heritage today.