Sourcing softwood poles to build a bushcraft shelter

[WildlyCurious]

I'm in the process of designing a bushcraft shelter, where eventually I'll be able to run bushcraft sessions for young people. It's going to be a ridge-tent-style construction, with a tarp over the top. I'll need 6m long poles for my design. I'm based near Cambridge - we're relatively near to Thetford forest with its numerous softwood plantations. However, I'm really struggling to find anything that long locally. I'm even contacting tipi-pole companies. So far, any success I've had has been with companies a significant distance away from Cambridge, where delivery is going to be anything from £150 upwards. I'm keen to source from a more local producer, but seem to have exhausted Google! Anyone got any ideas?

 

[Tony]

Talk to the local scout site to see where they get their poles from, it's years ago but i've bought pioneering poles a couple of times at a good price, it's worth asking them where they source theirs.

I'm presuming scouts still use them

 

[WildlyCurious]

Hee hee - yes,I am actually a Scout Leader, and have investigated our usual pioneering pole supplier, but they don't do anything that long. We definitely still use them though!

 

[Tony]

Ha ha, glad to hear they're still used.

You might need to compromise on your design then as 6mt is long, I know you can get them but your'e probably looking at £80 a piece, telegraph poles will be too big and heavy

 

[StuMsg]

Could you use multiple smaller one bound together? it would be an opportunity to teach some ropework. 2 x 3m or 3 x 2m would be cheaper and easier to source. Maybe try a large hardware store for some pine hand rails?

 

[Janne]

It may be easier to find hardwood ?

 

[Tengu]

cant you slice up a telegraph pole?

 

[Nice65]

Not sure of your soil type where you are, but if there's chestnut coppice about then that would be a good option. It weathers extremely well due to the high tannin content.

 

[WildlyCurious]

They're too thick. I want poles around 100m diameter - telegraph poles are much more than that.

 

[WildlyCurious]

It's a semi-permanent structure, so I'm looking to bolt it together and then put rope lashings over the top for effect!

 

[WildlyCurious]

Both softwood and hardwood are proving tricky to source locally. Also the hardwoods are expensive.

 

[chas brookes]

Hi

did a search for Tipi poles this may help

http://tipipoles.co.uk/Home.aspx

they are normally about the size you are after or contact your local coppice group if they do not know where to source they will be able to point you in the right direction