Last winter our friends Bettina (of Upsticks Yurt Holidays) and Jeff were commissioned to make a large yurt to provide an indoor/outdoor space for a childcare nursery. They came to us in January looking particularly for the long poles they needed to create the roof span.
Cows help to sort yurt poles and pea sticks
Whilst we were coppicing the hazel, they mentioned that they were looking for someone to make a hardwood stable door, complete with frame, for the yurt. It would need to be quite wide to accommodate large prams. I decided to take the project on thinking that it would be a good use for some of the lovely, wide cherry boards that we had milled the year before, and which were now air dried in the shed.
Door awaiting its yurt
The boards that we had were 50mm thick – much too heavy for door making, so I ripped them in half with the chainsaw planker. Each of the 50mm boards created two 20mm boards and a large pile of sawdust! The finish produced by this method of milling is surprisingly good.
Trial meeting of poles and door – a perfect fit!
I designed the door based on Jeff’s photos of previous projects. The frame needed to accommodate the hazel lattice of the yurt frame. Cherry is a very suitable timber for external joinery because of its natural durability and attractive appearance.
The delicate elegance of the yurt frame and its glowing cherry door
I always find it difficult to choose boards with complicated grain and waney edges, but it is always these character filled boards which end up looking spectacular. I particularly like the rabbit above the latch.
I am now looking forward to seeing photos of the finished yurt in situ with its covers on, after Jeff and Bettina journey down south to erect it.
Watch this space!