She Sells Slip Shells
When the summer’s glare softens the knobbly-knuckled dyers set off from Alder Copse in the direction of Slip Shell Woods. It's an arduous nine-mile hike across the high moorland for this group of mainly women and children.
So propelled by purpose and song are they that their steady pace is scarcely hindered by the wild gusts that whistle in and around them like invisible dervishes.
There’s yield a-plenty across the moss-soaked bog
that draws us hazel-nutters from all around
we pick and hatch and ground and weigh
- yours for just 6d a pound!
Finally they reach Slip Shell Woods where their journey ends. Under the dense canopy of copper, bronze and gold, they rest a while. Then drink from the stream and feast on mix of nuts and berries. Once revived they get to work filling their large empty willow baskets with leaves, twigs, bark and heaps of hazelnuts which will - they pray to Lugh - see them through the winter.
There’s yield a-plenty across the moss-soaked bog
that draws us hazel-nutters from all around
we pick and hatch and ground and weigh
- yours for just 6d a pound!
Some everyday uses of hazel nuts and hazel wood as suggested by the hazel-nutters:
red, yellow, brown, and black dye
agricultural fodder
fuel
food
divining rods
magic wands
fencing
jam stirrers
good luck charms
toothache deterrent
druid staffs
adder bite salve
warding tool against evil spirits
ideal offering to placate the ancestors of the Otherworld
A tip courtesy of the dyers:
At first light on May Day cut a hazel wand and draw a circle around yourself. This will protect you against evil spirits and adder bites over the year ahead.
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