The term "allotment forestry"  conjures up a picture of planting bushes or trees on a normal allotment. However, it is highly unlikely that any landlord would allow the planting of a suburban allotment in this way. Because the trees are still going to be there, and still growing, long after the original allotment holder has lost interest and the allotment can no longer be used for its original purpose by anyone else. It just doesn't seem a practical and sustainable approach to a genuine problem: the substitution of home-grown timber by imports.

 

Unless you have your own land then it is probably better to source your requirements from local growers. These might be coppice plantations such as ours, semi-natural woodlands or the local wildlife trusts and water authorities who use volunteer labour to manage reserves for the benefit of wildlife. An arrangement might be possible whereby one could "volunteer" to cut coppice and receive either free or discounted material in exchange.

 

 

 

 

 

We certainly take the point about it better to source beanpoles locally rather than import bamboo from China. But why not grow your own bamboo canes?

 

The variety Pseudo-sasa Japonica is a hardy, clump-forming bamboo that produces excellent quality canes. It is tolerant of shade and, once established, requires little maintenance.

 

After about 5 years it should be possible to start harvesting canes. Living bamboo canes, or "culms", take 3 years to fully harden. Once culms have started to grow to the desired height, simply adopt the Chinese method of colour-coding. Use red, green and blue marks in turn for the canes from a given growing season.

 

When all the colours have been used then it is time to cut the first crop. In the Autumn, cut down the canes with the oldest colour code (red, for example); strip off the leaves and branches; and store upright in a dry airy place until Spring. Mark the new seasons' culms with the red marker.

 

Repeat this process each year for the next colour in turn.

 

Be careful when cutting off the branches from the culm. Any stubs that are left on will become razor-sharp when hardened and could cut your hands to ribbons.

 

Bamboos are members of the grass family and, like all grasses, they will spread; clump-forming or not.

 

Harvesting canes for beanpoles will significantly reduce the vigour of the bamboo and so reduce its propensity to spread.

 

 

 

 

 

Hens .

 

Those people who keep hens can go one step further with bamboo. Chickens seem to have retained all of their natural instincts from being a jungle fowl. They will therefore benefit from the cover provided by bamboo, whilst the hens will keep the bamboo manured. This system has been widely practised in China.