Time is precious, so the older I get the less interest I have in spending it on things that don’t bring me genuine pleasure. These days, joy comes from simplicity and authenticity—not from the polished façades or curated aesthetics of gentrification. I therefore couldn’t have felt happier last June than I did at West’s Wood Fair in East Dean. It was everything I value in a day out.
Now an eagerly anticipated annual event, West’s Wood Fair draws together the “Sussex wood-eratti” — a gathering of some of the most grounded and deeply rooted people you’ll ever meet. Across every corner of the fair, craftsmanship, simplicity and tradition blend effortlessly with the easy joy of a day spent outdoors.
Dorset Axemen
Trade stands are packed with timber, tools, and forestry equipment, while artisans show off age-old crafts like hurdle-making, pole-lathe turning, and the milling of timber by steam. There’s no mass-production here — just the honest beauty of hand carved items, each piece whispering the story of the tree it once was, inviting your hands to trace its lines and textures.
Feast for the Senses
The Wood Fair is a true feast for the senses, alive with sound, scent, and movement. The air thrums with the crack of axes, the buzz of chainsaws carving figures, and the roar of lawnmowers in lively races. Yet woven through this energy is a gentler rhythm too — the steady thud of heavy horses at work, a reminder that traditional skills still have their place in modern forestry. All the while, the subtle scent of resinous timber and woodsmoke drifts through the air, mingling with the mouth-watering aromas of hearty food, wrapping the whole fair in a warm, earthy embrace.
The Man Behind the Scenes
The fair’s ambience is a true reflection of the man behind it — Peter West. The West family has called East Dean home since the 1400s, with records showing they have worked the underwood of Charlton Forest since 1809. As the 200 year anniversary of that date approached back in 2009, Peter was inspired to organise the first Wood Fair. Though he worried no one might turn up, the event was a huge success, with many urging him to do it again. However, balancing the fair alongside his work as a skilled wood turner and furniture maker was no small task — but the enjoyment he got out of creating community and bringing joy to others, eventually inspired him to do it all over again.
Refreshingly Uncommercial
The Wood Fair’s refreshingly uncommercial feel is another reflection of Peter’s values. While it must cover its costs and prepare for the odd rainy year, making a profit has never been the aim. Peter’s focus is on celebrating traditional skills, community spirit, and a shared love of working with wood — not chasing commercial success. That authenticity is what makes the fair so special: it feels real, rooted in passion rather than profit.
With trees the theme for Rural Strides’ walks in 2025, I did consider organising a walk to the Wood Fair. But with so much packed into the daytime programme — and music and dancing taking over once the sun goes down — I could see myself losing walkers along the way. I’d probably need to leave a Hansel and Gretel-style trail of sawdust (rather than breadcrumbs) to help people find their way back to their cars after they’d finally exhausted all the entertainment on offer!
Early Birds
However, walk or no walk, do mark the weekend of 21/22 June in your diaries for a fun-filled day at the fair. Tickets are £12 on the gate, or £10.50 bought in advance online. It’s also open on the Friday, with tickets just £6, but this is because some activities/exhibitors won’t be present.
To find out more about what’s on the programme at this year’s event please visit the fair website here.
