Coppicing

Trees grow slowly, and in the fast modern world don't produce the quick results many people have come to expect. Coppicing, however, sees a remarkably quick return on investment, and is as traditional as could be. The principle of coppicing is that you harvest shoots from the stump, or stool, of a cut-down tree. By cutting the shoots at different stages you produce roundwood for different purposes: thin xx-year-old sticks for beanpoles, thicker stakes for hedgelaying, and the fattest coppice for firewood and green woodworking.

Hazel and chestnut are prized for coppicing because their timber is durable but isn't highly valued in larger dimensions. Oak, ash and beech, which all produce high-value logs once grown to maturity, can be coppiced, but tend not to be managed in the same quantities as hazel and chestnut.

One of the added benefits of coppicing within a woodland is that it promotes biodiversity. There will always be areas (or coupes) of coppice at different stages to provide habitat for a range of wildlife. Dormice thrive amidst coppice, and the extra light reaching the forest floor encourages bluebells and other plants. As a consequence coppiced woodland attracts butterflies, and obviously the whole ecosystem blossoms as a result.

The market for coppice products is still small, but a growing number of people are recognising the value of this traditional form of woodland management. There is plenty of derelict coppice that needs rejuvenating, and there are schemes run by the Green Wood Centre and other organisations to teach people how to manage coppice and what to do with the materials.

Further information & links

Coppice qualifications
Green Wood Centre
Bill Hogarth Memorial Apprenticeship Trust
Coppice courses
coppice-products.co.uk
Beanpole Week