MA22006

I make very nice walking sticks from Mountain Ash though, as with many other wood species, not without difficulty. The main problem is finding shanks of sufficient length. It is prone to produce off-shoots at short distances apart. I am always on the look-out for suitable shanks because, like Hazel, the bark does not have to be removed and produces a lovely finish.

The Mountain Ash tree is also known as Rowan. It belongs to a different genus from other ash trees and is not attacked by the emerald ash borer. The European species of Mountain Ash  grows wild in all kinds of environments in Ireland. It grows to heights in excess of 30 feet and spreads to widths of up to 20 feet.

The tree generally forms into an oval shape with green foliage that turns yellow in Autumn. In late Spring, it displays white flowers which later become bunches of orange-red berries that provide food for birds and wildlife.

1. Advantages of Mountain Ash/Rowan for stickmaking:
   Dense wood so hardwearing
   Attractive bark which takes a lovely finish

I source all my sticks locally in an environmentally friendly way.  I season the sticks for a minimum of two years and finish each one by hand.

The dimensions shown under the Additional Information tab are in inches and ounces. The width is the measurement at the tip (bottom) of the stick. Any stick can be shortened to a specified length at no extra cost.

Guidelines for arriving at the optimum length for you are shown on the Choosing a Stick page.

Handmade walking sticks from Ireland. Native woods and natural finishes. “Designed by nature; Finished by hand”