In this episode of Yours for the Making, Robin Johnson sits down with tree surgeon, timber framer, and chainsaw instructor James Vann for a grounded, unfiltered conversation about the life of a modern woodsman. From growing up on a Kent farm to working across Europe in forestry and learning the craft of timber framing, James has built a life around the forest.
He talks about the danger and discipline of felling trees, the devastation of ash dieback, and the importance of sustainable woodland management. The conversation dives into deer stalking, ethical hunting, the use of local timber, and the undervalued nature of tree work as a trade. This is an honest portrait of a man who lives by the seasons, works with nature, and finds meaning in hard work, good tools, and doing things properly.
Key Topics Covered
- How James built a life around forestry and woodcraft
- Growing up on a farm and starting a firewood business at 15
- Working in forestry across Europe and learning global approaches to woodland management
- The dangers and unpredictability of tree surgery and felling ash dieback trees
- The moral dilemmas of felling old trees in modern landscaping
- Deer stalking and sustainable hunting for food and forest balance
- The challenges of competing with imported timber
- The value of local woodland management and native species
- Timber framing and building with green wood
- The undervalued culture of forestry and manual trades in the UK
- Lessons in focus, skill mastery, and self-reliance
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Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.
Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.
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Key Moments:
00:00 – Robin introduces James Vann, a craftsman of the forest
02:00 – Starting a firewood business as a teenager and learning through graft
03:16 – Working abroad and discovering a global community of foresters
05:38 – The dangers and discipline of tree surgery
07:59 – Understanding and managing ash dieback in British woodlands
11:00 – The role of deer in forest health and biodiversity
13:40 – Hunting in Australia and the ethics of sustainable hunting
17:45 – Butchering, processing, and cooking wild game
21:00 – How hunting changed James’s relationship with food
32:35 – Shifting from furniture making to timber framing
34:20 – Milling, framing, and building with local oak
37:05 – The moral conflict of felling healthy trees
41:06 – The obsession with imported timber and monoculture forestry
44:17 – Chestnut coppicing, undervalued crafts, and the cost of cheap timber
47:11 – Why forestry work is undervalued and misunderstood
50:28 – Competing with European oak and imported timber
53:50 – Moving into training and forestry education
55:07 – Reflections on Kings of the Wood and lessons from TV work
57:16 – Advice to his younger self: focus, commit, and master one craft
