Sustainability at Handspring
From our workshop in Sheffield's ancient woodland, we practice a timber craft that honors both tradition and innovation
"At some point over the last four hundred million years, some plant has tried every strategy with a remote chance of working. We're just beginning to realise how varied a thing working might be. Life has a way of talking to the future. It's called memory. It's called genes. To solve the future, we must save the past."— Richard Powers, The Overstory
Handspring is a small design-led organisation run by Scot Fletcher. It represents an attempt to run a creative, practical and skilled timber craft-based enterprise following the principles and ethics of sustainability.
Having a workshop in the middle of South Yorkshire's largest ancient woodland might seem ideal for a timber business. However, as human understanding of the important and complex natural processes in forests has blossomed, so has our acceptance and celebration of the forest for itself. Trees communicate, exchange resources, coordinate activities, and support vast ecosystems. A mature Oak may host over 400 different species under its canopy.
Our Five-Point Manifesto
Scroll to explore our commitment to sustainable timber craft
Renewable Materials & Conscious Sourcing
We use UK FSC sourced Oak and Douglas Fir for 95% of all materials, mostly freshly sawn with very low embodied energy. Trees are remarkable chemists – creating waxes, fats, sugars, tannins, resins, and countless compounds we haven't even identified.
We minimize high-carbon concrete and non-renewables like plastics, using steel carefully only for essential connections. When we cut down a tree, what we make from it should be at least as miraculous as what we cut down.
Forest Intelligence & Ecosystem Understanding
"A forest knows things. They wire themselves up underground. There are brains down there, ones our own brains aren't shaped to see."
Trees communicate above and below ground, exchanging information, food, and medicine. They coordinate flowering and fruiting, and have early warning systems for predator attacks.
We celebrate this complexity by designing with nature, adding wildflower greenroofs, planting trees, and incorporating bug, bat, and hedgehog houses into our projects.
Circular Economy & Community Networks
Nothing is waste in nature, and we follow this principle. Wood waste becomes firewood for homes and workshops. Shavings go to local chickens, pigs, and horses, with eggs and manure returning to us.
50% of our firewood income supports tree planting and rewilding organizations like The Wildlife Trust, Trees for Life, and Mossy Earth. We've built an ecosystem of relationships, mimicking the fungal networks that connect forest trees.
Local Skills & Sustainable Transport
We use local labour, skills, and suppliers – connections with our community nurture and support us. We develop skills through apprenticeships, school placements, and live projects.
We cycle to work through South Yorkshire's largest ancient woodland, collect materials by bike when possible, and use public transport for meetings. We've eliminated our diesel van, hiring vehicles only when essential.
Reciprocity & Regeneration
Following the principles of reciprocity beautifully put forward by Robin Wall Kimmerer in 'Braiding Sweetgrass': being grateful for what nature provides, learning from older and wiser plants, not taking more than we need, and always giving back – even just in thanks.
We've turned away from business growth, preferring to stay small, light, and hands-on. We say no to excessive commercial development. Every project is an opportunity to enhance biodiversity and heal our connection with the living world.
Our Practice
From our workshop at Ecclesall Woods Sawmill, we witness daily miracles – honey bee swarms darkening the sky, dragonflies visiting our timber, bird nests in our workshop, newts in our rewilded gardens.
The physicality and fresh air of our craft connects brain to hand in the most fundamental way. Being absorbed mentally and physically by the craft of making creates a deep connection between maker, material, and place.
Organisations We Support
Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust
Caring for 15 nature reserves across Sheffield and Rotherham, protecting local wildlife and wild places.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Yorkshire's largest independent conservation charity, looking after almost 100 special places for wildlife.
Trees for Life
Rewilding the Scottish Highlands, restoring the Caledonian Forest and returning missing species.
Woodland Trust
The UK's largest woodland conservation charity, planting, protecting and restoring native woods and trees.
Beaver Trust
Restoring beavers to regenerate landscapes and rebuild ecosystems across Britain.
Thousand Year Trust
On a mission to triple the amount of temperate rainforest growing across the UK over the next thirty years.
Rewilding Britain
Championing rewilding across Britain, connecting practitioners and inspiring people to take action for a wilder future.
Rewilding Europe
Making Europe a wilder place, restoring natural processes and wildlife across the continent.
Mossy Earth
A rewilding and reforestation membership turning everyday people into rewilders across the globe.
Planet Wild
A global community bringing back endangered species, cleaning up oceans and rewilding entire landscapes.
Justdiggit
Cooling down the planet by regreening degraded African landscapes with nature-based solutions.
Books That Guide Our Journey
Books that have recently awed, humbled, educated and amazed me on my journey.
Join Us in Sustainable Craft
Whether you're planning a project or want to learn more about our approach, we'd love to hear from you