After my trusty Hazel bow cracked last year, my eyes turned to the huge Blackthorn I have in my garden.

Blackthorn, unlike yew or ash, is not the typical bow wood. But this is largely due to the fact that they usually grow in hedges and it is hard to find a piece long and straight enough to make a bow out of it.

First step is to harvest this in late autumn and let it dry for 8 months.