“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot”. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
The Danish tradition of Hygge, which dates back to 1800, embraces the ritual of going inside and being cosy. This tradition has become so entrenched in Danish culture that the Danes look forward to the winter months. Anecdotes from locals suggest that, from September, plans are underfoot to invite friends into your home to share the darker months. Over the last decade, this idea of Hygge has reached us in the UK as the nights start to draw in. As the season changes, we get to enjoy the miracle of the trees wearing coats of richly coloured leaves. The deep reds, oranges and browns complement the change to the lower softer light of Autumn, working in an almost orchestral way with the leaves falling. It’s like a walk through the woods as the leaves begin to shed. It seems like nature is having a celebration of its own like confetti being thrown on a wedding day.
The beauty of nature’s changes in the season are sometimes lost on us, as we are subsumed by fears about a dark winter. Over a coffee with a friend the other day, a waitress suggested a comforting mint hot chocolate as the day was so grey. She explained that she had only recently arrived in London from New Zealand and was nervous about the winter, as she had heard how gloomy the weather would be. We had a small chat with her and explained that maybe this fear could be dispelled by seeing it, as nature does, as a period of hibernation. Spiritual practice teaches us that Autumn is a time for introspection and reflection, an invitation to sow the seeds within us for the Spring rebirth. In Gaelic tradition, there is Samhain, a festival that marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter, which is marked by fire. It is a time of year for lighting fires and candles to remember those who have passed.
The quandary that the changing seasons place on our mood, in spite of these beautiful rituals, is a struggle with the early darkness, but this can perhaps be enlivened by a simple change of perspective. Wylde Market celebrates local and seasonal produce through Selon le Marché. This philosophy celebrates the season, the geography and what it produces. Autumn is, in many ways, the season in which the senses are most highly explored as we reach for cosiness. The simple way of finding this is eating or drinking to create an inner warmth. The smells from an autumn kitchen on a dark evening can provide the comfort of a huge hug, but when paired with the interior scene we set, the lighting of a fire, the burning of a candle or incense, we create a feast for our feelings and let go of the responsibility of each day.
When it comes to embracing this cosiness, some of us can be hindered from fully delving into it. We talk about our phones being a barrier to restfulness, the feeling of always being switched on, a kind of avatar feeding into the broader levels of anxiety we all feel in a world that seems ever uncertain, not least of all in its political outlook. This instability often means that we can feel a slight guilt that arises from not always being available. Some artists have taken this to the point where they have rejected the full use of mobile phones. It is rumoured that the artist Prince actively rid his life of clocks, as he saw them as a block to his creativity. The clock seems a simpler dictator than the phone, but the measure of somehow being constantly on watch makes the need to switch off paramount to our own sense of shared humanity.
In his book ‘Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools,’ Tyler Stanton argues that the clock, the light bulb and the iPhone have moved us away from living within the natural rhythms of nature, such as day and night. As we measure the efficiency of our time through the use of clocks, extend working hours by light and have the constant distraction and entertainment of the phone at our fingertips, the time that we have to get bored, and the space to have an awareness for God and a wider outlook to others is limited. The active intention of setting space and silence is what really allows us to hear.
During Covid, as the world stood still, this sense of a shared humanity became apparent through the weekly applause to the NHS, the sharing of food and looking out for our neighbours. Even birdsong seemed to hold more clarity during that time. As we move to a post-Covid world, this search for cosiness continues. Mintel research suggests this is apparent through cooking from scratch as a way of responding to the continued uncertainty. Though it seems to take a crisis for us to look further afield than our own lives, nature works defiantly towards flourishing through connection. The increased biodiversity when nature is allowed to make these connections can be seen in traditional indigenous farming methods such as agroforestry and agrofarming.
So as we embrace Autumn and the winter months ahead, we could take a literal leaf from mother nature and its interconnectivity to flora, fungi and fauna. This is particularly well captured by The Tree of Life mythology. This tree across cultures, represents the source of life and the connection of all lives. The roots of the branches symbolise interdependence in all its forms. So perhaps in those moments we can take the Tree of Life analogy and embrace the season of Autumn by not only going inwards but also looking outwards and seeing where it might also help our neighbour.
Earlier this summer, the Supreme Court ruled that when Surrey County Council granted planning permission for the Horse Hill oil well they should have considered both the environmental impacts of constructing the well and the environmental impacts of using the final oil product. In effect, they said that the full climate impact should have been taken into account (1). Considering the full environmental impact makes sense for these types of decisions; however, doing so does raise deeper questions.
Take the Horse Hill oil well. Whether it’s built or not, the people of Surrey—and indeed the UK—are likely to continue using the same amount of oil products as before. The extra capacity isn’t expected to lower oil prices, so consumption will likely remain unchanged. Instead of oil coming from Surrey, it will come from somewhere else. For Surrey residents, this might seem like a win—after all, who wants an oil well in their neighbourhood? But the same people will still consume oil, just without confronting how it’s produced.Consequences that if placed in full view of those that use the end product might just have a small effect in reducing overall oil consumption.
Would seeing the consequences of our consumption make us more responsible? Does owning the impact of our choices change our behaviour?
Research from Environmental Psychologist, Professor Louis Chawla (2), suggests this may be the case. She has shown that an emotional connection seems to be very important in shaping our beliefs, values, and attitudes towards the environment. A. Kollmuss & J. Agyeman (3) define this emotional involvement as the extent to which we have an affective relationship to the natural world. The ability to have an emotional reaction when confronted with environmental degradation.
Beyond environmental degradation,we should also ask questions about employee welfare and health and safety conditions of ‘faraway’ oil production – is it up to the same standards as the UK? What about decommissioning when the time comes, will that be done in a sustainable way? Our energy choices always have consequences, and real sustainability requires examining them all.
Heating Our Homes: What Does Real Sustainability Look Like?
When considering how to heat our homes, we have to ask: What are the true climate and sustainability impacts of each method? There are a lot of questions that need to be posed and answered to grasp the whole picture.
Equipment— Where is it made? How long does it last? Can it be recycled at the end of its life?
Most homesrequirea heating source, even with proper insulation. This equipment has to be manufactured, and that process has an environmental impact. As manufacturers, this is something we at Charnwood take seriously. We are proud to be a British company committed to making products responsibly and being a good employer. We are serious about keeping each other safe and we work hard to minimise our impact on the environment.We are part of the SME Climate Hub which commits us to work towards net zero and have ISO14001 Certification. Our suppliers are mostly local, allowing us to monitor working conditions, reduce transport emissions and by employing local peoplewe’re investing in the local community.
However, sadly our standards of practice and our ethos aren’t the norm as a lot of manufacturing has now shifted abroad. If true sustainability is being sought, then the employment, health and safety and environmental standards in these non-UK manufacturing companies must at least meet the levels we expect here.
One example is solar panels, many of which come from using Uyghur forced labour (4). The reliance of China to make solar panels makes us very reliant on them when unfortunately, relations are often less than optimal. Solar panels are frequently combined with battery technology which uses metals such as cobalt, mined using child labour in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (5).
True sustainability also compels us to consider what happens when a product reaches the end of its usable life. At Charnwood, we want to make good quality products which last a long time andhave the ‘right to repair’. End-of-life recycling is a crucial focus for us and influences our decisions at every level of the business. We strive to avoid contributing to landfill waste by ensuring our products can be repaired and reused. Testament to our commitment, we have been manufacturing for over 50 years, and many of our original products are still in use today.
Sadly, many heating appliances, and appliances in general do not have longevity and cannot be repaired. At a minimum, we need to ensure that they can at least be easily and effectively recycled. Currently 90% of solar panels end up in landfill despite it being possible to recycle them (6) – this is something that urgently needs to be addressed. It is the same for wind turbine blades, where many will soon come to the end of their life. It’s imperative to find ways of recycling these and hopefully this should provide a business opportunity for some.
Fuel or energy source used— How is this produced?
The fuel we use is critical to sustainability. Is it renewable? Does it harm the environment or biodiversity? And what about the human cost of production?
In the case of Horse Hill, for example, while an oil well in Surrey may not be appealing, not having it just shifts the burden elsewhere, where conditions might be worse. We’re still reliant on non-renewable fossil fuels, so we need to make responsible choices about where we source them. These sources may be in the North Sea, they may be in Surrey or they may be further afield, perhaps in Middle Eastern deserts or rainforests… Do we know the impact on human lives we are having whenwe choose to buy remotely?
Solar and wind energy
Harnessing solar and wind power makes a lot of sense, it’s a renewable fuel sourceand the technology doesn’t emit emissions in operation. However, they’re not without issues—such as inconsistent supply, issues with recycling and the impact on local landscapes.
Growing wood for fuel
Wood, on the other hand, is a renewable fuel that can offer many positive benefits. Planting and managing local forests support biodiversity and energy security. One of our dealers, Scarlett Fireplaces (below), has a brilliant wood fuel scheme calledWood Burning in the UK 2024thatencourages customers to invest in local woodland for their stoves.
In the simplest terms, almost every action we take results in emissions. Some of these have localised effects, such as smoke particles, while others, like excessive CO2 emissions, affect the global climate. It’s widely accepted that human-generated CO2 emissions are disrupting the natural carbon cycle, contributing to climate change. The severe consequences of climate change are now apparent across the world, with flooding, wildfires, and other extreme weather events making headlines regularly. Both local and global emissions matter, but arguably, it’s the global ones that have the most far-reaching and devastating impacts.
All of these factors are important, though impact with different levels of severity and we need to investigate the relative harm of each in order to discuss what true sustainability really is.
Dr Katharine Hayhoe, a leading climate scientist, writes about the comparison of deaths due to bad air quality compared to those of climate change. She states that premature deaths due to climate change are double or triple those due to bad air quality (7). However, the problem is that climate-related deaths disproportionately affect poorer countries, whereas wealthier nations like the UK experience much less of an impact.
Recently, I travelled to Burundi where in the capital Bujumbura the rise of Lake Tanganyika has been devastating – families have been flooded and many have died. Tragically, one family was even killed by a hippo who had come further inland because of the floods. The excess deaths because of climate change are apparent there for all to see and these are deaths of the young and old alike. It is also the case that poorer countries are disproportionately affected by bad air quality. Many homes across the developing world burn wood for cooking inside and suffer from high concentrations of smoke emissions.
In the UK, deaths due to climate change are very low, however, we are told that in London there are 10,000 excess deaths a year due to poor air quality, and 40,000 in total across the country. However, these figures are very misleading. In the BBC More or Less podcast Professor Anthony Frew discusses the 10,000 excess deaths in London. It is his view that even if air quality was drastically improved and the historical effects were removed, life expectancy would increase by just 20 days at the end of your life (8) – i.e 85 and 20 days vs 85 years old! Similarly, a University of Cambridge paper echoes this view, and concludes:
“There are huge uncertainties surrounding all the measures of impacts of air pollution, with inadequate knowledge replaced by substantial doses of expert judgement. These uncertainties should be better reflected in the public debates.
In addition, the situation in the UK is not what we would usually think of as a ‘crisis’. It can still be good to seek improvements in air quality, but only provided these are based on a careful analysis of the costs per life-year saved.” (9)
Despite the figures of deaths being grossly misleading, we do not seek to downplay the impact of smoke pollution on anyone caused by poor wood-burning practices. It is essential that where wood burning occurs, efficient modern appliances are properly installed and the right fuel is used. However, the potential issues arising from improper installation of wood-burning appliances are not unique to this technology; problems can occur with other heating solutions. For instance, a poorly installed heat pump in the wrong location can generate noise pollution and disturb neighbours. Whatever technology is being used it is vital to ensure that these installations are carried out correctly.
So, what does this mean for the choices we make to heat our homes? Below is a table highlighting various heating solutions detailing some of their key positives and negatives (+ / – ).
Campaigners on all sides are motivated to push their preferred solution while knocking the rest. As a manufacturer of wood-burning stoves, we have been on the receiving end of those who don’t like the emissions of wood burning. However, these campaigners often stray into the realm of extremism by refusing to acknowledge the bigger picture. Although usually well-meaning, they can become unwitting apologists of the fossil fuel industries, or less politely,serve as their ‘useful idiots.’
Most of us by now are wise to the issues of burning fossil fuels. However, issues with other greener technologies are less commonly understood. As pointed out by environmentalist Max Wilbert in the Earth Island Journal:
“Behind each piece of green technology is extraction. A recent International Energy Agency report estimates that reaching “net zero” by 2050 would require six times the amount of minerals used today. Another research paper says this would mean mining as much metal over the next 15 years as was extracted between the dawn of humanity and 2013.
‘Mining is unavoidably destructive to the environment and human rights,’ says Jamie Kneen, co-founder of Mining Watch Canada and one of the world’s leading watchdogs of the industry.” (10)
Solar panels on our factory roofs on the Isle of Wight
We’re not saying these technologies are inherently bad. In fact, we’ve made a significant investment in solar panels on our factory roofs, generating well over 1GW of energy to date. However, the uncomfortable truth is that all of our actions have environmental consequences, with our choices being limited to affecting the size of this impact. There is no perfect heating solution.
“Whenever a theory appears to you as the only possible one, take this as a sign that you have neither understood the theory nor the problem, which it was intended to solve.” Karl R. Popper (1972)
Despite the downsides of each heating solution, there are also, undoubtedly, many benefits. As stakeholders in our heating and energy security,we all have our part to play. For those in solar panel distribution, we need to find and create new manufacturing routes less reliant on China and forced labour as well as better recycling methods for solar panels. For us in the wood-burning stove market, we need to keep improving to reduce emissions even further. At Charnwood we are doing this by developing new automatic ways of controlling stoves – with the Skye E700 leading the way.
The Charnwood Skye E700 is an intelligent ultra-efficient stove which you can monitor and adjust from your phone
Working in conjunction with our environment surely is — exporting our rubbish to other parts of the world is not.
Burning wood, when using responsibly made appliances and using locally managed woodlandas fuel, can be sustainable. By being responsible for our local emissions and ‘owning’ our own waste and pollution it motivates us to do something about it and minimise it — like what we are doing at Charnwood most recently with the E700. It is also good for local circular economies by providing employment for those that grow, manage, harvest & deliver wood. However, this does not mean burning wood is always positive and importing pellets from North America to feed the Drax powerplant most certainly is not sustainable.
Solar panels can be sustainable, but we must ensure that we source these panels from responsible factories. Using panels that are made with forced labour is not sustainable and is frankly morally wrong.
It is difficult to ever class burning oil or gas as sustainable, however, we perhaps get closest if we use these fossil fuels from local oil or gas wells – that way we at least ‘own’ our mess and are more likely to alter our behaviours.
So, let’s take responsibility and try to look at the whole picture, factoring in the total impact of each technology.Let’s not oversimplify these arguments to the point we become extreme and refuse to contemplate and engage with other viewpoints. If we want to see genuine progress toward real sustainability, we must come together and collaborate in positive dialogue.
A full assessment of climate and sustainability impacts must be factored into the choices we make when heating our homes. The more visual the downsides, the more we will hopefully modify our behaviours, and where we can’t see the downsides of the choices we are making, we need to be proactive and choose to make ourselves aware.
A heat pump with solar panels and battery storage may seem like a good idea and it well may be!However, the sustainability equation must also account for factors such as the environmental impact of manufacturing the panels and extracting the metals for the battery, the recyclability of the equipment, the noise produced by the heat pump, and the reliance on fossil fuels when the sun isn’t shining.
Similarly, the sustainability impact of wood heating with a stove must also be carefully considered. Is it manufactured responsibly and under good working conditions? At Charnwood, we proudly say yes. Is the wood sourced sustainably? If you’re using a system like the one run by Scarlett Fireplaces, then it’s a resounding yes, as planting and harvesting local wood can greatly benefit biodiversity. And what about emissions? At Charnwood, we offer some of the cleanest burning stoves available, and our team is continually pushing forward with new technological developments to enhance efficiency and reduce emissions even further.
It’s by analysing the various impacts, strengths and weaknesses of each technology, we believe one of the best paths forward is a co-energy solution, combining renewable technologies with modern, efficient wood-burning. When solar panels and turbines aren’t generating power due to a lack of sun or wind, an ultra-efficient wood-burning stove can step in as a dependable heat source. This approach allows people to confidently embrace renewables, knowing they have a reliable backup with wood-burning.
Why Choose Us?
Choose Charnwood for a truly sustainable approach to home heating. Our team go beyond surface-level solutions, considering the full environmental impact of our products. As a British company committed to responsible manufacturing, we prioritise local suppliers, minimise transport emissions, and invest in our community. Our ISO14001 certification and SME Climate Hub membership demonstrate our dedication to reducing our carbon footprint. We design our stoves for longevity and repairability, ensuring they last for decades and can be easily recycled.
Our innovative technologies, like the Skye E700, offer ultra-efficient heating with minimal emissions. We’re not just selling stoves; we’re promoting a holistic view of sustainability that considers manufacturing practices, fuel sources, and long-term environmental impact. By choosing Charnwood, you’re supporting a company that’s actively working towards real sustainability in home heating.
_________
To conclude, of course, we are all more sensitive to what we can see in front of us, but it’s crucial to recognise our broader responsibility to the environment and communities beyond our immediate view. By embracing a more comprehensive understanding of sustainability, we can make better-informed decisions with widespread benefits.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-30)
As a child of immigrants, I was raised with the mantra of hard work, the significance of which was drilled in like instructions from your dentist to floss. You may roll your eyes, but the nagging guilt of that instruction stays with you. This mantra was a way of keeping the bar high and navigating the uncertainty that life presents, especially within the context of being foreigners in an unknown land. Being brought up within this philosophy brings both said and unsaid pressures that have somehow been embedded into my subconscious for which, in many ways, I am grateful. It has certainly resulted in a tenacity to keep going when others might give up. However, it has often been observed by friends, and as I grow older, by myself, that I sometimes do not know when to relax and take a self-care day. In those moments when I fall sick, and it becomes hard work to go further than my front door, the imposed need to rest makes me consider this idea more seriously.
Maybe the benefits of rest could be usefully written into government legislation, but perhaps making something like rest compulsory is a bit counterintuitive, and even a little Orwellian? French culture traditionally holds August as the month of rest, an unofficial cultural guidance that began with the universal closure of factories. There is something not only charming but infinitely practical to this ritual, which seems synchronistic to the psychologist’s definition of rest, which includes giving consideration to physical, mental, sensory, creative, emotional, social and spiritual needs. These categories give us a benchmark to examine our needs, away from tearing through each day with the pressure for results. In a recent study of hospice patients, some of the key findings were, “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me;” “I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings” and “I wish that I had let myself be happier.”
It was only as recently as 1994 that Sunday trading was legalised, so the official day of rest and by default the observance of the tradition of Sunday Sabbath was overturned. As we regard with disappointment in many parts of the country the social loss of community, reflected in declining attendance to church which was once a common place for us to meet and reflect on the week. Where people from all backgrounds and walks of life shared not only their faith but time with the wider church family, forging relationships over the passing of time and giving people the rest from the preoccupations of the week. The loss for many of this ‘home’ has led to a pandemic of isolation and loneliness, which we can see in studies of the increasing levels of anxiety across different age groups. In the book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, author John Mark Comer says “Ultimately, nothing in this life, apart from God, can satisfy our desires. Tragically, we continue to chase after our desires ad infinitum. The result? A chronic state of restlessness or, worse, angst, anger, anxiety, disillusionment, depression—all of which lead to a life of hurry, a life of busyness, overload, shopping, materialism, careerism, a life of more…which in turn makes us even more restless. And the cycle spirals out of control.”
It seems that this materialistic demand to be productive is so ingrained in our culture, the quest for perfection in both our working and personal lives seems so relentless that we suffer from a need to ‘do’. A recent anecdote from a psychologist who had suggested his patient, a GP, needed to take a rest from work, scheduled an intense itinerary of art galleries and a busy social diary in place of work. This was not the rest that had been suggested, but this GP is not alone. Though we are now, more than ever, aware of the many practices that we can undertake in order to relax, from practising mindfulness to yoga and other such rituals that keep us focused in the present moment, it can be that the idea of actively telling yourself to be more zen can feel like pressure for another task to check on a list.
Certainly, the ability to relax and detach is a process that can ultimately lead to greater productivity, particularly when faced with the brick wall of over-exhaustion. In times of total tiredness, the notable moments can be found in the wonder of small everyday moments. The philosophy of Lao Tzu, and specifically the ‘art of not trying’ or ‘Wu-Wei,’ examines effortless action. This is best captured by trying to visualise each moment as an uncarved block, so giving your attention to treating each moment without judgment, free from the mental landscape of our mind. It almost advises one to be more childlike in the wonderment that comes with things anew. The belief that with the approach of being, as the Daoists say, in a state of flow where spontaneity isn’t stopped by the conscious mind and more is achieved by this nonconscious dominated way of thinking. The beauty in Wu Wei is a consideration for being part of a whole landscape. This state of flow is found through time spent walking in nature, staring out at the ocean or contemplating a fire rather than activities that involve more intensely obvious achievable, say, like climbing a mountain.
With this in mind, taking a walk through the summer heat I noticed a butterfly in camouflage. In sensitivity to its surroundings, it was hiding its beautiful wings and then reopened them when it felt the environment was safe enough to do so. Taking the time to observe nature in these fleeting moments, although I have seen countless butterflies, does in fact create a restful joy. The all-encompassing delicate butterfly, when taking the time to fully observe, quietened my mind from thinking about how to relax to just feeling it. This patient observation suggested to me that just going slower has such an important place in well-being. Perhaps without applying the classic New Year’s Resolutions to our lives, it’s just about looking. Nature is infinite in its opportunity for observation, from the discovery of tree names, new plants, watching birds chit chat in the park, there is a flow to nature that we are part of but so often we feel so separate from. These small simple moments, bring me to think about lighting a fire and the ability to rest and reset. The very process of lighting a stove, the drawing of the kindling and wood together before the fire is even lit, brings with it a feeling of just being in the moment, as using our hands and moving our body is very much part of the interaction needed to create that glowing fire. At Charnwood, we think about the building of stoves with these moments in mind and with an integral thought to the holistic picture of the environment and creating rest within a ‘hurried world’. We are given permission each time with a fire to rest and gaze, so it seems that the simple answer to rest is really to spend time truly looking.
Why Choose Charnwood?
For over 50 years, Charnwood has been a leader in crafting high-quality wood-burning stoves. Our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction ensures that we offer products that not only meet but exceed expectations. Whether you’re looking for a traditional stove or the advanced Skye E700, Charnwood has the perfect solution to keep your home warm and truly restful.
For more information or to explore our range of stoves, visit our website or speak to an official Charnwood dealer for guidance on what will best suit your space and other requirements.
I think this might have to be a tart I used to have at primary school, it was a butterscotch fudge tart with custard, unreal.
Can you share any experiences of cooking on fire?
Two years ago me and my partner had an amazing experience in Norfolk staying in a cabin by Un.yoked. At the cabin they supply all the tools, logs etc to build your own fire and then cook on it. We had steaks with a soy sauce glaze and stir fried vegetables.
Do you think cooking on fire adds any additional flavour to food?
100%, especially to any protein. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t love a good bbq or campfire cooking. I feel there’s a real sense of nostalgia when cooking on fire or when the food catches that charred finish.
Are you able to share a simple recipe that we might make on the Charnwood Haven?
Pan-fried cod (also works great with Dover sole), brown butter, crispy capers, chervil, charred hispi cabbage, saffron aioli.
For the Cod:
• 2 cod fillets (about 6-8 oz each) or a 12-16oz Dover sole
• Salt & water for brine
• 2 tablespoons sunflower or rapeseed for cooking
For the Brown Butter and Crispy Capers:
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons capers, drained and patted dry
• 1 lemon, juiced
• Fresh chervil, for garnish (or substitute with fresh parsley if chervil is not
available)
1. Cod – 2 fillets – skin on
Make a 5% brine (1000ml Water, 1000ml ice water, 100g Salt)
Boil the water, add the salt then wait for it to dissolve, pour the salty solution over
the ice water and wait for it to completely cool before adding the cod. Leave the cod
in the brine in the fridge for 45mins. One out of the brine, pat down dry with a
J-cloth and live skin side up in the fridge till cooking time.
2. Prep the hispi cabbage
Cut length ways into quarters.
3. Saffron aioli
Ingredients:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 small garlic clove, minced 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
A pinch of saffron threads
1 tablespoon hot water Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
Instructions
Bloom the Saffron -In a small bowl, combine the saffron threads and hot water. Let it steep for about 5 minutes to release the saffron’s flavour and colour.
Mix the Ingredients:
In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, minced garlic, lemon juice, and the saffron water (including the threads). Mix well. Season, add salt and pepper to taste. Mix again until all ingredients are well combined.
Chill:
Cover and refrigerate the aioli for at least 30 minutes to let the flavours meld together. Preparing the dish.
Char the cabbage:
• Heat a cast iron pan on the Charnwood Haven, add rapeseed or sunflower oil,
Char the cabbage on both cut sides then leave in a warm/hot place on the stove in
a metal bowl.
• Add the cod fillets to the same skillet with a bit more oil, once the oil is hot, skin
side down. Cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until the fish is golden
brown and cooked through. The fish should flake easily with a fork.
• Drain the oil but keep the pan for the sauce
Make the Brown Butter and Crispy Capers:
• In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium and add the butter.
• Allow the butter to melt and cook until it turns a golden brown colour and smells
nutty,
about 3-4 minutes. Be careful not to burn it.
• Add the capers to the skillet and fry them in the brown butter until they are
crispy, about
1-2 minutes.
Add Lemon Juice:
• Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. This will stop the
butter from
cooking further and add a bright, tangy flavour to the sauce.
Assemble the Dish:
• Place the cooked cod fillets & charred cabbage on serving plates.
• Spoon the brown butter and crispy capers over the top of each fillet and hispi
cabbage. • Add a nice dollop of the saffron aioli
• Garnish with fresh chervil (or parsley).
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
We’ve all stood on that crowded train or tube, with everyone packed like tight sardines, each of us trying to catch a breath and doing our best to ignore the people we are pressed against. In these experiences, what if we allowed that person next to us a little room to hold onto a hand rest, or proffered a smile? Those small acts of kindness might create a change not just to that moment but to our whole sense of the world around us. These moments rarely happen in such spaces, but as Maya Angelou says, “Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay.”
It’s often said that in our culture the smiling face may be a hint at naivety and lack of intelligence, but in this we don’t consider the loss of humanity. In the words of Samuel Coleridge, “Friendship is a sheltering tree.” If we were to take the sense of friendship beyond those within our own circle and look outside of our individuality to the stranger, maybe there is also a friend? Schopenhauer defines the gift of genius as the discarding of our own personality, in order to “remain pure knowing subject, the clear eye of the world.’’ In Zadie Smith’s essay ‘Windows on the Will: Anomalisa’ she writes that Schopenhaeur believed that our suffering is a result of us focusing on our individuality. If we saw this ‘will’ as part of us all and, in displaying compassion to each other, we would become part of shared consciousness. We see clearly and understand more now of this sense of shared consciousness within the natural world. The conversation through the mycelium network between trees for instance and the nutritional support that they provide even to a ‘foreign’ tree in trouble are not dictated by their desire for individuality. This kindness is all around us in nature. My daughter recently visited the zoo, and she watched captivated as one monkey carefully removed the fleas from another. Does this counter the old mantra ‘it’s a dog eat dog world’?
Nature itself can seem cruel with the predator and the hunted, but there are many other aspects of nature that show cooperation, such as intertwining fungal networks. Maybe, like nature, we are dealing with differing degrees of sophistication in our understanding of how to behave, but as humans we have a choice. We can draw from what we might perceive as higher intelligence and the basic joy that comes from the essence of kindness, which is, really, a small act of everyday love. In so many ways our cultural norms are governed by a sense of efficiency and the need to make the most of each minute, whether through experiences (like those set out in the infamous ‘bucket list’), or through work and other tangible achievement that makes us feel accomplished in some way. This pressure is somewhat elevated by the telephones in our pockets, drawing us away from what we can see right in front of us. Whilst we have a twenty four hour ‘friend’ in our pocket, we cannot but not miss the news headlines full of increased anxiety and loneliness, in spite of the deep privilege we are afforded in the West.
The contemporary Indian folk artist Raghu Dixit’s new album Shakkar is based on a time when Dixit felt suicidal and “stripped of the desire to live.” The piece that begins this album is about a make-believe sugar fairy called Shakkarpan who he says, “walked him back to life.” The song of the fairy is about how she brings joy and smiles to people just “because.” Dixit grew out of the sadness back to embracing a childlike innocence. In this album, he wrote a series of songs about simple acts of kindness, for example, a song about the school girl that stole sugar to redistribute it to those who had never tasted sweetness.
Perhaps our loss of childhood innocence is further exacerbated by the way we form our relationships. This has changed so much, through such phenomena as dating apps, so many ways a bit like verifying your identity for a bank account to be assessed by some fairly cold criteria on what makes another person acceptable. We’ve all been part of those conversations at dinner or a party, in which we asked “so what is it that you do.” This could simply be a way of understanding another’s interests, but it’s also fuelled with the potential of commodifying the worth of another. How easy it is to not really take the time to know this person, rather a bit like scrolling just pass onto the next.
There is, however, hope in the very essence of being reminded of kindness, trying to remove our prejudices, fears of the ‘other’ and being present in that moment of being kind. If one is still skeptical with what might be perceived as sentimentality, we can take heart in the words of psychiatrists like Dr Ishok of Cedar Sinai who says that kindness is beneficial to our brain both as a mood regulator but a management of conditions such as depression and anxiety. He says that the daily practice of kindness, “helps us feel better and helps those that receive them. We are building better selves and better communities at the same time.”
Sometimes urban living can take its toll on a person’s belief in kindness, in part as everyone is under so much pressure and the currency of time is such a precious commodity in a world built on busy-ness. Yesterday as I was considering kindness and its many facets, I was gifted a coffee for no reason other than a simple act of spontaneous generosity. As Alexander Pope says, “hope springs eternal in the human breast.” Kindness is a lot like lighting a fire, as it catches it grows and spreads both its light and warmth, a symbolic picture of what our small acts of kindness might be.
He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers,
embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them
skilled workers and designers. Exodus 35:35
When I walk around my local neighbourhood, my eye is often caught by left objects atop walls or steps. These can range from toys to books to Tupperware and all the familiar bric-a-brac that makes up the tapestry of our daily experiences. We can perhaps imagine what stories these objects might tell us. The tactility, placement and presence of objects hold a language of their own. Our first steps in the world without the immediate use of language can be witnessed in the gestures of small infants as they chew, lick and pick up any object around them. We ascertain that some objects are more favourable to them than others, simply by perception, but without any confirmation through language from the child.
In his TED Lecture ‘The Secret Language of Objects’, academic, designer and consultant Craig Sampson, shares his belief that objects in themselves create subroutines, (1) a term most commonly used in computer engineering, in which objects themselves define and evolve the way we interact. Taking simple everyday items like the door knob which was invented only within the last hundred years, he explains that we use our multitude of senses when we approach even the simplest of everyday objects, such as, say with a pen that we click to release the nib: do we see, hear or feel this interaction? This multi-sensory method of engaging with objects, Sampson suggests, creates a language of its own, communicated in part by the designers of these objects whose work informs not only function but their own sensibilities.
If we accept this notion that objects create their own language, maybe we can understand why they take on such meaning in our lives. This meaning ascribes to holding longevity, as they connect to the multisensory nature of memory itself. In the book Handbuilt, by Potter Lilly Maetzig, she describes this vividly in a memory of eating porridge with her grandparents in New Zealand. “I felt as though we were digging for treasure. Each spoonful was an uncovering, one bite closer. At the bottom of the shallow bowl was the stark blue and white icon that I know as the willow pattern. It was the fact that I was able to eat off the willow pieces that I found so enticing and special.”
(1) COMPUTING a set of instructions designed to perform a frequently used operation within a program.
We find so many of our memories are formed around what may simply be described as perfunctory or material objects. There is a sense that objects, though themselves without language, can openly communicate. The setting of a fire, for example, invokes not only a feeling of warmth but changes the whole atmosphere of the moment. Objects like wood-burning stoves go beyond their functional purpose; they work to frame and change our daily experiences. The experience of the three bears in the fairy story Goldilocks saw them suspecting an uninvited visitor simply by nudges in the placement of their seating arrangements, rather than the disappearance of the porridge itself. In nature, we see the careful arrangement of say the Coots’ nest and the protective gestures by the mother and father as one guards the nest and the other collects added layers of comfort. Whilst we may not understand the language of birds, we can see that the interaction of coots passing each other twigs as a clear sign of building their home.
The language of objects can also be used as a form of protest to represent identity. In Ahmedabad, Mahatma Gandhi wove Khadi, a handspun and handwoven fabric. Gandhi believed that Khadi was not just a fabric but a means to connect the people of India to their roots, to the rural villages, and to the dignity of labour. Today we face a global refugee crisis that raises many questions about identity and currently affects 170 million people who are globally displaced. One story captured on the 21st of June for World Refugee Day is that of a woman who, out of all her possessions, chose to save her tea set. When asked why she saved that in particular, she replied that it meant that she might one day be able to share tea with others. The study indicates that refugees show the greatest kindness and human empathy and through the stripping back of every sense of home; it’s a testament to this empathy that the sharing of tea informed her decisions of which object to save.
Our deep connection with the objects we surround ourselves with is reflected by Potter Steve Harrison, who believes that an eclectic collection of objects allows for a richness not found in the uniformity of object collection. “For me, using a variety of exquisite and special objects every day creates a richness born from a feeling of familiarity and becomes something I cannot live without. An eclectic mix of pots brought together out of necessity allows for individual pieces to take on a special meaning, not through any intent, but simply because it happened that way. Change occurs when you see the same thing with infinite possibilities. Only through using them freely and without concern can their beauty be revealed. Picasso said ‘Appreciate objects and eat them alive’”
In today’s fast-paced world, stress and anxiety have become commonplace. While there are many ways to combat these issues, you may be surprised to learn that a wood-burning stove can have a profoundly positive impact on your mental fitness and wellbeing.
In this blog, we’ll delve into the ways lighting a wood-burning stove can benefit mental fitness, including reducing stress and anxiety, promoting relaxation and mindfulness. With Mental Health Awareness Week approaching (15-21 May), there’s no better time to explore this simple yet highly effective technique.
How lighting a wood burning stove can support mental fitness
A wood-burning stove is more than just a source of heat and can support mental fitness in multiple ways. The experience of making a fire, followed by the warmth and soothing crackling sounds it generates, creates a calming and meditative atmosphere that promotes relaxation and reduces stress. Focusing on the process of lighting and maintaining the fire can also help shift the mind away from negative thoughts and distractions.
‘Results indicated consistent blood pressure decreases in the fire-with-sound condition, particularly with a longer duration of stimulus, and enhancing effects of absorption and prosociality. Findings confirm that hearth and campfires induce relaxation as part of a multisensory, absorptive, and social experience.’
By incorporating wood burning into your self-care routine, you can enjoy a mindful and fulfilling experience that promotes mental fitness and overall wellbeing.
The physical/mental fitness benefits of wood burning
As well as providing a source of heat that is both sustainable and environmentally friendly, wood-burning can also benefit physical health. Chopping and carrying wood requires physical activity that can help improve cardiovascular health and build muscle strength.
These benefits to physical fitness have a positive knock-on effect to one’s mental fitness:
“There is a growing body of literature that recognizes the positive effects of exercise on mood states such as anxiety, stress and depression, through physiological and biochemical mechanisms…”
Additionally, the unique bone warming heat produced by your wood-stove promotes physical activity as it is a great way to ease any aches and pains of the day. For example, a long winter walk is far more tempting when you know you have a warm fire to cosy up to when you get home.
Wood burning as a type of mindfulness
Lighting a fire and tending to it requires a level of patience, focus, and attention to detail that can bring a real sense of calm and centeredness.
As the flames flicker and the wood crackles, it’s easy to become absorbed in the sensory experience of the fire and let go of distracting thoughts or worries. This type of mindfulness practice can be particularly beneficial for those who struggle with anxiety or stress.
How to get started
With the fire lit, sit comfortably with eyes open or closed and try focusing on the sound of the crackling wood and the warmth of the flames. Allow yourself to be fully present in the moment and let go of any distracting thoughts as they arise and simply return your attention to the fire.
Wood burning Increases bonding and improves relationships
Gathering around the fire with family and friends provides a sense of warmth, comfort, and connection that is often missing in our fast-paced, technology-driven world.
Invite friends or family to join you around the fire and enjoy the warmth and connection that it can provide. You’ll be surprised how much more the conversation flows when there is a fire crackling in the background!
Here are some quotes from some Charnwood customers:
“My grandchildren ask for the fire to be on when they are having a hot chocolate on a frosty day.”
“Winter evenings with friends. Whenever we have visitors during the winter, we always make sure the stove is running as this usually ensures nobody will request the television be turned on, leading to an altogether much nicer atmosphere with people actually chatting and engaging much more, rather than staring at the screen.”
“Chopping wood is a great way to relieve stress! Everyone congregates around the fire and the children like to help with the kindling etc. It just creates a special atmosphere.”
“The stove is the catalyst for family bonding, which helps with relaxation & mood improvement. It helps to unwind after a days exertions at work.”
“You can just gaze into the fire and be taken away from the stresses of work. It gives opportunity for the family to come together and talk. Talking just seems to come easier when siting around the stove.”
A wood-burning stove also has some very practical ways of reducing common life stressors. With energy prices going up and supply issues still a real concern, a wood-burning stove provides a great way to mitigate both worries.
Here are some more Charnwood customer quotes:
“We love our log burner. It makes us feel warm, safe and secure. It helps heat the whole house, which has proved an asset in power cuts. Nothing beats sitting in the living room with the warmth of the fire in the depths of winter.”
“Lighting the stove after a walk by the sea during winter is a joyful experience. Has helped to alleviate the worry of power failures as we live in an area prone to electricity outage during bad weather. Just knowing that we have our lovely stove for independent heat and low light is fab.”
“As an electric only house, we wanted a plan b during a power cut to heat the home”
“Having a wood burner means I am less vulnerable in power cuts. I can still have heating, boil a kettle, cook food if I need to.”
Ensure you use best wood-burning stove practices to save money, reduce emissions and to stay safe! Read more here
Look out for the Woodsure Ready to Burn label which guarantees a moisture content of 20% or less.
For a list of approved firewood sellers in your area click here.
Why Choose Us?
At Charnwood Stoves, we believe in enhancing your home environment and your well-being. Our wood-burning stoves are meticulously crafted to provide warmth, comfort, and a sense of tranquillity. With a focus on mental fitness, our stoves offer more than just heat; they create a soothing ambiance that can help reduce stress and improve your mood. Our team prioritise sustainability and efficiency, ensuring our products are eco-friendly and cost-effective. Choose Charnwood for a reliable, high-quality stove that supports your mental health and enriches your living space. Experience the perfect blend of functionality, style, and well-being with Charnwood.
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With such high demand for wood-burning stoves, particularly in the colder months, now is an ideal time to prepare for next year. We highly recommend purchasing through an official Charnwood stockist where you can be assured of excellent after-care, and you will also qualify for our dealer-backed 10-year guarantee.
Bonus: Podcaststhat contribute to our mental fitness
Disclaimer: The content in this blog is not a replacement for professional medical advice. Please always contact your GP for help with any mental health issues.
We’re delighted to share the news of this year’s Charnwood Dealer Day held recently on the beautiful Isle of Wight. Thank you to all who made the trip – it was wonderful to reconnect in person after two years! It was a chance to celebrate everything that makes Charnwood special – that innovative spirit, the commitment to quality, and of course, the wonderful community we’ve built together.
Over three days, we shared a glimpse into the exciting future of Charnwood, with groundbreaking ideas that will keep our wood-burning stoves at the forefront. The real highlight, though? Unveiling brand new Charnwood stoves – packed with cutting-edge technology and, as always, stunning design.
Read on to learn more about the event and our latest stove releases!
The NEW Charnwood Skye E700
The Future of wood-burning! The Skye E700 (above) is a new intelligent micro-processor-controlled stove fitted with our intelligent I-blu technology and is set to revolutionize the way we burn wood.
Load the fire, close the door, set your room temperature using the Charnwood app and let the stove do the rest. Maximising efficiency is now as simple as that – we can’t wait to see how this game-changer impacts the industry!
The NEW Charnwood Cranmore Insert
Our latest addition to the Cranmore range is our new Cranmore Insert. It features our renowned de-ashing grate and is designed to fit easily into a standard British fireplace. It boasts an output of 4.9kW, has built in external air, a convection box and a single air control for a highly efficient and clean burn. Please note: the flue diameter size is 5″ (125mm)
Charnwood Dealer Day 2024 Summary
This year our key message was ‘Why Choose Charnwood?’ We wanted to show you our design and manufacturing capabilities backed up by our 52 year heritage and passion for what we do.
On Thursday we started the day with a welcome and local Hog Roast lunch at Charnwood HQ. After an introduction in the studio and the unveiling of the Skye E700 and the new Cranmore Insert, we split into smaller groups. We then worked our way around AJ Wells HQ to experience our full manufacturing and engineering facilities. Hugh, our Managing Director, gave an insightful talk on the stove industry and some of the challenges we have been facing, while other sessions included a visit to a local Charnwood showroom to demonstrate what we can offer in creating a Charnwood space. We also ran a session to make your very own enamel coaster. The day ended with a well-earned relax at the hotels followed by a dinner hosted at The Royal Hotel in the spa town of Ventnor.
On Friday the groups headed towards the beautiful West Wight where we held a number of activities including clay pigeon shooting, axe throwing, sauna & ice baths, a permaculture tour and a chairlift & boat ride to view the Island’s famous ‘Needles’.
We then all reconvened at The Cow Co restaurant where we shared a delicious lunch of local burgers. Here we held our coveted ‘Black Dog’ award ceremony where we award the Premier Dealers who have shown an exceptional commitment to Charnwood over the last year.
Black Dog Award Winners!
The Arcade – Golden Dog
Direct Stoves – Top Dealer N England
RW Knight (1) – Top Dealer SW England
Croydon Stoves (5) – Top Dealer SE England
Bonk & Co (2) – Top Dealer Scotland
The Arcade – Top Dealer Wales
The Woodburning Centre (4) – Top Dealer Ireland
Woodstoves Ireland – Top Dealer Northern Ireland
TaviStock Stoves & Fireplaces (3) – Best Newcomer
A.Bell & Co. – Most Improved
Huge congratulations to you all!
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Stay tuned for more exciting news about the new Charnwood product range coming soon!
The next in a series of essays by Dammy Ponnuthurai is about the joy of ‘Tiny Home Living’. Dammy is the author of Midnight Feasts: An Anthology of Midnight Feasts & Late Night Munchies, and co founder of Dammy (a workwear jacket brand riffing on the chefs jacket). She is also former founder of Crane cookware used by the Charnwood team in many of our photo and video shoots.
Read to the end to find out how you can experience the joy of Tiny Home Living for yourself!
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It is He who sits upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants are as grasshoppers, who stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in.
Isaiah 40:22
Anyone who has experienced camping, will be able to gauge a sense of what living in a yurt feels like. Camping in the UK is strictly governed by the weather, with the most dedicated campers battling against lashing rain, high winds and dampness. Whilst struggles with bad weather may not feel pleasant, they force us to exist entirely in the moment and sense nature – in touch, sight and sound. Even within a stormy landscape we now begin to see a seemingly infinite glimmer of light, one that we would likely not notice within the daily grind of our routine.
The first yurt dwellings, known by the Mongolians who used them as ‘Ger’, can be traced back thousands of years to Central Asia. Today over half of the Mongolian population live in Gers, meaning a life led in a far more shared and communal way than other city dwellers. In 2013, the Ger became part of Unesco’s intangible cultural heritage for Mongolian customs, reflecting the fact the innate cultural richness is both physically and inherently sewn into their homes.
The circular structure of the Ger means that it can be efficiently heated, whilst the crown of the yurt allows fresh air to circulate. The structure’s conception is directed by some of the Mongolian cultural and spiritual beliefs in terms of the sense of, ‘ the eternal blue sky’ and the principle of impermanence and embracing of the moment. The outer structure of the tent reflects the wheel of the Dharma and the principles of teaching known as the ‘Eightfold Noble Path’, (Understanding, Thought, Speech, Action, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness and Concentration), whilst the infinity knots are about the universal interconnection between all things.
The opportunity to experience nature outside the cosseted walls of our homes is opened to us by time spent within a yurt. The interior of a yurt, with its circular nature, also creates an openness to how we interact outside of the compartmentalised ways of regular everyday life. Camping is almost an opportunity to renew a connection to our childhoods. Where we hopefully can recount innocent childhood pleasures such as finding that favourite stick, gathering petals, examining shells for the sound of the sea, writing and drawing freely on a myriad of surfaces, first attempting to pretend to read and the endless questions of why. Finding pleasure in puddles, collecting leaves, and enjoying the dirt of the outside world are all small infinite pleasures from childhood grounded in nature.
Young children look at the world with such untainted freshness. For them, there are no thoughts of expectation or judgment. The closest we get to such unabated joy in adulthood is the experience of mandatory snow days that come up from time to time, when nature holds society in deep silence, like a soft canopy. With an enforced slow pace on us, we again are captivated by the slowness that such a moment in nature gives us.
As we made our journeys to school, we began our passage to goal setting, judgement, and expectation. We are influenced not only by our family’s expectations but those set by school and classmates. As the pre-teen age begins this is added to with the intensity of expectations set by a myriad of social channels. Sitting on a bus or train you can probably count on one hand the number of us that travel without the aid of some device that isn’t taking up our attention. This conveyor belt of existence has placed us perhaps in a gilded cage of our own making where the natural world around us, is relatively unnoticed. If a robin appears at your window and pauses, you are likely to miss the resonant joy of seeing it flitter and the opportunity to be brought back to childhood wonder.
Children are the ultimate minimalists; we have all heard a story where the cardboard box proves more of a play item than its contents. Minimalism and interconnectedness are two principles that go hand in hand, offering something close to an answer to the overwhelming pursuit of materialism. Minimalism considers not only the quality of an object, but the joy it brings, and subsequently reducing ownership of items that don’t meet this condition. Circular living takes this further, with the inherent goal to prevent waste and ensure that how we live is aligned with the limits of natural resource use. We look to value not necessarily productivity, but how we may share, reuse and think of regeneration and others in the way we consume. We see in circular thinking an unlimited connection to nature and a way of living that reaches out to those around us.
The Danish word ‘hygge’, shows us how we may think of the whole as a concept, at the simplest level. Hygge means cosiness: feeling warm, comfortable, and safe. The Danes depict this sense as being achieved through such simple acts of lighting a candle, baking and spending time with people you love.
As we head to the end of the year to Christmas and the darkness of winter, light becomes increasingly important. We see it within the reassurance of a roaring fire, the lit candle, the warming oven, but most especially in the light we find in each other. That light can be found just through simple acts in thinking of others and sharing what we can give to make life brighter for all whom we encounter. We can draw that ‘Ger’ living into the walls of our own home, as we take those moments just to sit still and watch the simple magnificence outside our window.
At Charnwood Stoves, we blend innovative design with exceptional functionality, perfect for enhancing any living space, including tiny homes. Our wood-burning stoves are crafted with sustainability in mind, offering efficient heating solutions that minimise environmental impact. Our team prioritise quality and durability, ensuring each stove provides reliable warmth and charm for years to come. With a commitment to customer satisfaction, our expert team is here to guide you in finding the ideal stove to meet your unique needs. Choose Charnwood for elegance, efficiency, and eco-friendly living.
“The most important light is the one you cannot see” Anthony Doeer
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If you haven’t read Dammy Ponnuthurai’s piece on ‘storytelling’ click here – we highly recommend it!
If you want to experience Yurt Living for yourself, in one of the most beautiful locations on the Isle of Wight, then check out our range of wonderful self-catering holiday accommodation at Moor Farm.
We are delighted and honoured to have received a King’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category. The King’s Award is the UK’s most prestigious business award given to only a select number of businesses each year. The award is a recognition of the amazing efforts of everyone here at AJ Wells and Sons and also our wider Charnwood family which includes you, our customers. Thank you for all the support you have given us over the years!
Read on to learn more about why we were chosen to receive The King’s Award for Enterprise 2024
A journey of innovation and adaptation
Our story is one of constant evolution. Founded in 1972, Alfred J Wells and his 3 sons started by making metal fire escapes and railings. With the 1970s oil crisis and a shift in customer needs, AJ Wells & Sons pivoted to design and craft their first wood-burning stove and Charnwood was born. That same adaptability led them to explore vitreous enamel signage when the King’s Cross fire disaster highlighted its importance for safety and durability. These experiences instilled the importance of staying agile and embracing new opportunities, such as our stunning Vlaze super vitrified outdoor kitchens, released in 2020.
One constant over time and across our businesses, however, has been a drive to make a positive difference. We create products that are built to last, designed to be easily repaired, and that are kind to the environment – a reflection of our core values and commitment to sustainability.
The AJ Way: Our guiding principles
Our faith and our family values are at the heart of everything we do. The AJ Way, our company philosophy, embodies this spirit. Our company objectives are to Transform Lives and Delight Customers, and the prestigious recognition of the Kings Award hopefully demonstrates our progress towards these aims. We strive to improve the quality of life for everyone we touch, by creating high-quality products and nurturing a positive work environment. We care sincerely about the environment and are working diligently towards our Net Zero 2050 commitment.
Our international success is a testament to teamwork
We understand the importance of striking a balance between our domestic market and our export endeavours. The UK remains incredibly important to us, offering stability and a familiar landscape. However, exporting has been key to our growth and provided valuable diversification and growth opportunities.
We now operate extensively throughout Europe and trade with South Africa, North America, Japan, and Australia. Our success abroad wouldn’t have been possible without our fantastic team and dedicated partners. Building trust and strong relationships is paramount to our success in each location and in each market, we’ve been blessed to find partners who share our values and vision.
We have also gained valuable insights and knowledge from operating internationally. For example, the demand for external air features in Japanese stoves led to an innovation that benefited customers worldwide. In Australia, an increased focus on efficiency, understanding design preferences and meeting logistical challenges, has fueled rapid growth while providing ideas and knowledge that translate well to other markets.
Investing in the future and striving for excellence
At AJ Wells & Sons, we’re committed to continuous improvement to ensure our products stand out in a crowded marketplace. While market share figures can be interesting, our true focus is on exceeding our own targets and achieving dominance in specific markets.
Our recent investments in advanced laser profiling and robotic welding equipment, ensure we remain at the forefront of British manufacturing. We’re also investing heavily in our people by fostering a culture of innovation and development. Looking to the future, we’re exploring other markets, seeking ways to expand our reach and positive impact.
Some of our other highlights of 2023/24
Here are some of the other highlights, news and outstanding projects our businesses have been involved with in 2023/24.
AJ Wells
The Surface Design Awards
We were delighted to win top spot in the Commercial Building Exterior category at the Surface Design Awards 2024! A.J Wells and Sons designed, developed, manufactured and installed the beautiful vitreous enamel external soffit on the sixth floor of the award-winning project, at The Rowe, Whitechapel, London.
Brent Cross West Station
A.J Wells and Sons are proud to have manufactured and installed the stunning vitreous enamel paneling of Giles Round’s artwork at Brent Cross West mainline train station. Renowned British artist Giles Round was commissioned to create a captivating artwork to adorn the station’s interior. Titled “Time passes & still I think of you,” this expansive architectural frieze graces The Arbour, the station’s eastern entrance, marking the fifth public artwork commissioned for Brent Cross Town.
At Progetto Fueco 2024, this year’s star attraction was undoubtedly the debut of our brand-new Skye E700 wood-burning stove, which wowed attendees. The Skye E700 is a new intelligent microprocessor-controlled stove set to revolutionize the way we burn wood. The E700 uses electronic control to constantly monitor the fire and make automatic adjustments to ensure wood is always burnt cleanly and efficiently. It offers users the convenience of just loading the fire, setting the room temperature using the Charnwood app and letting the stove do the rest. Maximising efficiency is now as simple as that – we can’t wait to see how this game-changer impacts the industry!
This year we introduced our upgraded Vlaze Adapt outdoor kitchen cabinetry. Innovative 60 and 120-module units offer endless configurations making it easier than ever to design and install your perfect outdoor kitchen diner. New internal features like pull-out bins and smooth-gliding drawers, maximise convenience. Plus, our grill cabinets seamlessly fit slide-in gas grills, expanding your cooking horizons. With the summer not far away it’s time to let the fresh air, sunshine, and the aroma of delicious food create unforgettable moments with family & friends.
We also revealed our new Nature Collection organic colour range which is perfect for those who want to add colour, but seek a more subtle approach. Soft, stylish, natural shades blend seamlessly with your garden environment and help create a truly unique and tranquil space.
Here are some detail shots of Sage, Clay and Chalk – subtle shades in glorious vitreous enamel!
A message of gratitude
Like most businesses, we have faced many challenges and uncertainties over the last few years and as we highlighted in our application it has been our faith in Jesus which has proved to be our rock. This King’s Award for Enterprise is a tremendous honour and a humbling recognition of the incredible dedication and hard work put in by our entire AJ Wells & Sons family. We’re incredibly grateful to our team, our partners, and our loyal customers around the world. Here’s to many more years of crafting exceptional products, building strong and meaningful relationships, and making a positive difference!
