Which wood to include as a gift

[thingswelike]

Hi all
I'm about to give a gift to a friend of a Frosts Mora Clipper, a Crook Knife and a DC4 sharpening stone. Hopefully I'll be able to include some instructions too.
However, I'm new to all this and I'd like to include a spoon-sized block of timber for him to start with.
What's good for beginners, easily available to me (either gathered or bought) and will produce an attractive/useful spoon?

Cheers
Alex

 

[seany boy]

Birch is nice and easy to carve but probably best carved green so you'd want to get it to him as soon as posible once you've cut it.

 

[fishfish]

Ash is good for carving,not too hard! i use it for my pike lures.

 

[jon r]

I think Sycamore is great for spoon carving! Best when green though.

 

[Backyard Bushcraft]

I done my first spoo with a clipper and some walnut that was from a sample of my local hardwood sales room, but birch was definatly easier!

 

[Greg]

I made my first spoon with Silver Birch and it was very easy to carve, and yes it was green wood.

 

[fred gordon]

Yes, I would go with birch. Clear of knots and green.

 

[brancho]

I have just done some carving with some Japanese Scouts and they found birch and Sycamore easy to use both were green.
Some types of willow are Ok
I did not like alder
Hawthorn is good as are most fruit woods I have read.

 

[scottishwolf]

prob have to agree with a bit of fresh cut birch to be honest

 

[thingswelike]

Thanks everyone.
Sounds like Birch is the safe bet. When you say fresh and green, how long have I got between cutting it and carving to be ideal?
I'm going to hand-deliver the present, so if necessary I can get it a day or two before I go - is that ok?