Deepdale Charcoal

We've been making top quality BBQ charcoal in Deepdale Woods  for over 12 years. It's always been very popular because it burns hotter and for longer and it's a lot easier to light than the stuff you get in super markets. Another reason to buy British charcoal is that although it involves volunteer labour they actually choose to do it unlike the more commercial types made from rainforest wood by slaves. Need we say more.

Terra Preta - Black Soil

A big proportion of our charcoal production in the future is going to go into the production of Terra Preta. It's amazing to think that we can combine our two best products - compost and charcoal -  together and make something even more special!

Good quality soil is of course the key to life. A highly nutritious compost is even better because healthy soil ensures healthy nutritious  plants and thereby healthier people and animals. Adding charcoal to compost does this and more.

The Benefits;

• REMOVES TONNES OF CARBON FROM THE ATMOSPHERE
• the soil actually grows as it increases in microbe activity year by year
• retains more water and nutrients
• balances carbon
• restores fertility
• reduces acidity
• reduces nitrogen leaching
• adds potassium

Excuse the impromptu history lesson here but it was actually the Prehistoric Amazonian Indians' Black Soil rather than the gold that kept their civilisations going strong for centuries. They used a 'slash and burn' technique of farming and this turned some of the worlds worst soil into the best by adding charcoal to the earth. Their crops will have increased by about 800% and the soil become more and more fertile as the years went by.

Lighting the kiln

6am lighting the kiln and a nice cup of tea

Here is the dirty job

Teesdale Conservation Volunteers do run courses 4 times a year in charcoal production. Please contact us for dates.