Craftsman to pass on his skills in Belize

Belize, which borders the Caribbean Sea between Guatemala and Mexico, is plagued by high unemployment and Mr Hadfield hopes to give people a better quality of life.

Mr Hadfield, 63, was approached by a businessman who saw the craftsman's exhibition at Westonbirt Arboretum last summer.

On the spot, he offered Mr Hadfield the opportunity to travel to Belize because he was so impressed with his creations.

"I only had to think about it for a second," Mr Hadfield said. "There are certain people who are worse off than you are and after a life of learning this I can pass it on to other people who can take something from it."

Mr Hadfield will teach just a few people in a trial six-week trip but if the project takes off he hopes to extend his stay or return in the future.

He makes individual chairs from hollow trees and unusual timbers. Last year some of his designs featured in the popular Channel 4 show Big Brother.

He also exhibits his work in Japan and three years ago went to Africa for a few months to pass on his skills.

Mr Hadfield said: "It's exciting but also a little scary because people there have hopes of finding employment. It's some responsibility. I've no idea if the trees there are suitable for what I do."

Timber for the chairs will come from the rainforest. Frequent hurricanes devastate the trees and acres are being cleared to build a dam.

"I would never go into a forest and take a dead tree but some timber has to be moved," he said.

"This way the money is being ploughed back into the rainforest. I'm hopefully going to pick out the most interesting pieces. You just look at it and know."

Mr Hadfield is not getting paid but has free flights, accommodation and food. One of the things he will take with him is his chair-maker's adze, a cutting tool which has been with him throughout his career for 25 years.

He said: "I love making beautiful things. It's my life. I'm going to go out there and give it everything that I've got."