VISITORS are being invited to step back in time as the Dean Heritage Centre prepares to host a traditional charcoal burn over the early May bank holiday weekend.

The free event will run from Saturday, May 2 to Monday, May 4, offering a rare chance to see one of the Forest of Dean’s oldest industries brought vividly back to life.

Charcoal burning has played a crucial role in the Forest’s history for centuries. Long before the rise of coal, charcoal was the primary fuel used in iron smelting, helping power the region’s once-thriving ironworks.

Produced by slowly heating wood in a low-oxygen environment, charcoal burns hotter and cleaner than raw timber, making it ideal for industrial use.

Historically, charcoal burners would work deep in the woodland, carefully stacking timber into large mounds known as clamps or kilns, which were then covered with earth and turf.

These would be left to smoulder for days, requiring constant attention to control airflow and temperature. The role was highly skilled, with entire communities once relying on the trade.

At the Dean Heritage Centre, visitors will be able to witness this process first-hand. The charcoal stack will be built on Saturday morning, before being lit and monitored throughout the weekend. By around midday on Monday, May 4, the finished charcoal is expected to be ready for harvesting.

The site will be open daily from 10AM to 5PM, with knowledgeable volunteers on hand to explain each stage of the process and answer questions.

Organisers say the event offers a unique educational experience, giving people the opportunity to understand how an essential material was once produced using traditional woodland skills that have largely disappeared elsewhere in the UK.

Charcoal created during the demonstration will be available to purchase from the centre’s gift shop in the weeks following the event.