Some people may be aware that last week our wonderful Hauswin in Golden Wood was badly vandalised.
The flooring has been stamped through, railings have been torn off and sections of the roof have been pulled off.
This happened between the evening of Friday 20th and morning of Saturday 21st September. I am deeply saddened by this and would like to highlight how special the Hauswin is, not only to me but to so many others in the community.
Originating from Papua New Guinea, a Hauswin (Papuan pidgin for Wind House) is a structure designed for escaping the heat of the rainforest while meeting with fellow members of the village, talking and gathering.
In July 2010, six tribesmen from the Hunstein Range in Papua New Guinea came to Golden Wood and worked with the local people to help us build our very own Hauswin. The main structure was made from ash and the flooring and roofing were made from willow, both of which were harvested from Golden Wood itself. The design for the building incorporated elements of both traditional British and Papuan cnstruction and was erected by both communities.
Subsequently, the Hauswin is enjoyed by many. Children and adults alike continue to run to the top of the hill and then pause a while to admire the canopy of the young and prospering woodland behind. My friends and I would gather at the top of the mound in the evenings and talk. Golden Wood is yours to use, and the Hauswin is a big part of that. It is a great symbol of our village's connection to the wood and beyond, and this is why I feel so disheartened that there are individuals so unaware and disconnect from Golden Wood and the Hauswin that something like this can hapen.
Of course, we plan to repair and rebuild the Hauswin over the course of this winter. Suitable materials for the floors, roof and sides will be harvested from Golden Wood and work parties will be organised accordingly when each stage of repair is ready to be undertaken. Anyone wanting to help harvest materials for the Hauswin, or for more information on the plan to repair it please come along to the Grand Coppicing work party on 27th October in Golden Wood. I hope to see you there.
Jasper Kemp, Forest for Our Children