The English Hazelwood Walking Stick

This handmade walking stick originates from the thick, upright shoots of hardy common hazel in the heart of England's West Country. Each winter in a carefully managed, renewable woodland atop Warren Hill in South Somerset, foresters prune selected specimens of the native deciduous shrub using the centuries-old forestry method of coppicing. The "stool" left by cutting grows new shoots in the spring which are allowed to mature for three years into the robust, straight-growing rods used for each stick, preferred for their strength and light weight. Each stick is dried and seasoned for a year, then rough-hewn to create its distinctive knob, which is sanded to a smooth finish. The bark is left on the shaft to maintain its rustic appearance and the entire stick is finished with a clear, satin-finish lacquer. A non-slip, rubber tip is fixed to the bottom. Sticks are approximately 36" long. (1 lb.)