PONDHEAD CHARCOAL – our premium quality New Forest charcoal which is made in the heart of the New Forest lights easily, burns evenly and leaves no odours – you’ve tried the rest now try the best but don’t just take our word for it, read what our customers say:-
“Recently my family and I had the pleasure of enjoying your neighbourhood on holiday. While there we heard about and purchased some of your exquisite charcoal. We are barbecuing enthusiasts and grill outdoors at least twice weekly all year long. Consequently we buy lots of charcoal, many different types. Your Pondhead charcoal is among the finest- lovely, clean burn with plenty of heat and flavour.” MR, London
Charcoal burning is an historic New Forest industry and traditionally a summer occupation so winter coppice management and summer charcoal burning do not overlap and complement each other well in the management of Pondhead. It also ensures that we manage the woodland in a self sustainable way by the sale of high quality New Forest charcoal to the local community.
At present the UK charcoal market is 60,000 tonnes per annum, of which up to 95% is imported from Africa and South America where a large proportion is cut from non sustainable sources such as tropical rainforest. UK charcoal is widely accepted to be of higher quality than the imported product as the wood used is typically less dense giving the charcoal a carbon content as high as 96% compared to only 60% to 70% in many imported varieties. This results in it being easier to light without the need for accelerants and being capable of producing a consistent even heat more quickly. The method used by Pondhead Conservation Trust produces a higher quality product than traditional methods.
By purchasing our charcoal you are helping a local conservation charity to restore one of the most unique woodland areas in the New Forest. The following short video shows our charcoal production process from sustainably sourced coppice timber.
Current stockists are:-
Welcome Store, Ashurst
Redcliffe Garden Centre, Bashley
Fairweather’s Garden Centre, Beaulieu
MacPenny’s Nurseries, Bransgore
Setley Ridge Farm Shop, Brockenhurst
The New Forest Butcher, Lyndhurst
Southampton Calor Gas Centre, Millbrook
Sunnyfields Farm Shop, Marchwood
Tatchbury Manor Farm Shop, Winsor
Hockey’s Farm Shop, South Gorley
Hordle Garage, Hordle
For all enquiries regarding charcoal supplies, please contact charcoal@pondheadconservation.org.uk
or phone 07887811712