Many kitchens now have a range of wooden chopping boards on display ready for use to present all sorts of delicious food from cheese, salads, stir-fries, cakes and cookies to the Sunday roast. Serving up a simple everyday meal on a beautifully carved board makes the everyday that little bit special.

Most markets tend to have a chopping-board stallholder and Recycled Treasures, who set up stall at the Cleveland Markets, is one worthy of mention. Peter Kozina from Recycled Treasurers is an artist bringing discarded items back to life in the form of sculpture, garden features and chopping boards. One of his chopping board mediums is camphor laurel, considered a noxious weed in many rural areas and in some cases destined for wood chip. Camphor Laurel, however, is also known to be one of the most effective food preparation surfaces as it inhibits bacterial growth. Recycled Treasures’ boards are thick, carved solid pieces that are not joined in any way and the beautiful natural markings of this timber make each board unique.

Peter is also lucky enough to have access to some silky oak trees, producing a traditional timber not normally financially viable for chopping boards, so these babies are a highly sought-after luxury chopping board.

A good wooden chopping board will last a lifetime so choose well, use it regularly and keep it oiled.