Wood
The selection of the type of wood is as individual as the box design itself. The creation of a box is art and no two pieces will ever be the same, the design may be employ the same principles but the wood characteristics will always change.
English Oak - Quercus robur
Unrivalled king of the forest, the English oak is synonymous with strength, size and longevity. Despite its apparently random method of reproduction, oaks can grow to well over 30m and can live in excess of 1,000 years.
Quercus robur is named for its robust or sturdy nature and since iron tools were first made, people have been cutting down this mighty tree for its strong and durable timber. It can take as long as 150 years before an oak is ready to be used for construction purposes but it is well worth the wait.
One of the English oak's most recognisable characteristics is its leaves. Pale green in colour, they have four or five lobes on each side and are attached to the branches at the base, with almost no stalk. In contrast, the acorns can be found at the end of long stalks known as peduncles, hence the name pedunculate oak.
Wild Cherry - Prunus avium
Widely cultivated for its sweet, edible fruit, the wild cherry has been a favourite of humans since at least the Bronze Age. Grown for its timber and revered for its spectacular spring blossom, it also grows wild throughout Europe.
The wild cherry (Prunus avium) has been cultivated for its edible fruit for thousands of years. As long ago as 800BC, the sweet, red fruit was grown and eaten in Turkey and Greece and quite possibly other places besides. There is also evidence that wild cherries were eaten by humans long before this, in the Bronze Age, with carbon dating putting some discarded cherry stones at around 2077BC.
Prunus avium grows best on clay soils over chalk or limestone and so is particularly prevalent in the Chilterns, the Cotswolds, the Wiltshire Downs and parts of Sussex.
The timber is prized for furniture, wood-turning and carving because of the rich reddish-brown colour. The wood is also used as a fuel as it burns with a fragrant smell similar to that of the flowers. Wild cherries are said to be the best type to use in cherry brandy. The sticky resin has been used by children and forestry workers as a bitter-sweet chewing gum. It was thought to promote a good complexion and eyesight and help to cure coughs.
Giant Redwood - Sequoiadendron giganteum
Giant by name and giant by nature, this huge Californian conifer is the largest tree in the world. With its distinctive spongy red bark and colossal stature, it can live up to 3,400 years old and is a protected species.
It may not be the tallest tree in the world but Sequoiadendron giganteum is the largest by volume. The giant redwood, also known as Wellingtonia, is enormous in every respect.
When it was introduced to Britain in 1853, the species was named after the recently deceased Duke of Wellington. Always on the lookout for new and exciting large trees, estate-owners jumped at the chance of growing another impressive specimen and the Wellingtonia marketing ploy worked wonders. Although planted less frequently now, it is quite common throughout the British Isles, particularly in large gardens and parks.
The speed at which Sequoiadendron giganteum grows can be nothing short of phenomenal. In Italy, a young tree reached a height of 22m (72 ft) in just 17 years. Growth rates depend largely on the habitat and weather conditions and while it can survive in temperatures as low as -30°C, it tends to flourish in a humid environment that has dry summers and snowy winters.
Sycamore - Acer pseudoplatanus
The sycamore is one of Britain's most widespread trees and was naturalised several centuries ago having been introduced from mainland Europe. A tough, long-living tree, one example in Dorset, named after the Tolpuddle Martyrs, is at least 320 years old.
It is not known when Acer pseudoplatanus was introduced to Britain but suggestions range from Roman times until as late at the 17th century.
Above all, the sycamore is a resilient and adaptable tree, which grows quickly and seems impervious to harsh weather and pollution. It also produces a good crop of seeds more often and more reliably than beech or oak, helping woodland and urban wildlife alike to survive.
Yew - Taxus baccata
The common yew, although native to Britain and sometimes referred to as the English yew, is also found across much of Europe, Asia and even Africa. It certainly has a long association with English culture, not least in the use of its wood for bows.
Yew forests were once widespread in Britain but supplies were soon exhausted for timber and as long ago as the 13th century yew bowstaves were being imported for use in battle. The yew longbow is famous for being the weapon of choice at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.
The yew tree is consistently found in churchyards around Britain. As many of these specimens are reputedly thousands of years old, it is suggested that they yew had some sacred significance even before Christianity reached British shores
African Walnut - Coula edulis
The wood is used to make pilings for bridges and railway ties in addition to charcoal and standard construction. It is also used for furniture and cabinetwork construction, decorative veneers, paneling, fixtures and joinery.The wood is bronze-coloured, yellow-brown with irregular dark lines which is how the name tigerwood was derived. It is extremely hard, heavy, close-grained, and resists water well, making it a valuable hardwood. Increasing that value is the fact that it can come in large sizes, has an attractive appearance and easy to shape with tools.
English Elm - Ulmus procera