Sticklepath Fireshow wood shortage makes national news

With Bonfire Night just a month away, the organisers of Sticklepath Fireshow are reporting a lack of wood being donated to build their stage.

And the fact that home owners are keeping wood back for their stoves made the front page of The Daily Telegraph this morning (Wed), as well as being the subject of an editorial piece which heaps praise on the show, thought to be the biggest community arts project in the South West

Fireshow Safety Officer Dave Goodwin recently put out a plea for timber for this year's show, tons of which are needed to build the stage for the show - which then becomes the bonfire in which Guy Fawkes perishes.

Here's the full text of the editorial:

"Guy Fawkes's day is on a Saturday this year, and the wonderful show and bonfire at Sticklepath, near Okehampton in Devon, should draw a crowd. Forget mealy-mouthed celebrations like the one Southwark plans, not even mentioning Guy. The Sticklepath Fireshow puts the wicked Guy Fawkes centre stage – then burns down the stage and all the scenery. It is the best of constantly inventive British tradition. But this year, they can't get the wood.

The problem is domestic wood-burning stoves: fashionable but increasingly expensive to feed. Sticklepath finds donations of floorboards and joists dwindling as householders mind their own woodstacks. You'd think that with November 5th close on the heels of a barbecue autumn, there'd be some spare charcoal to tide the home fires over, so that a baulk or so can go to the Sticklepath burn "

If you have any timber you could donate to Fireshow, visit their website to see what's needed and who to contact.