COPPICING

Coppice is a traditional, managed woodland in which wood is harvested without destroying the tree.
In it, the trees are cut down to the stump at regular intervals and the stump is allowed to regrow.
The regrowth develops into a plant with many stems which is where the coppice looks so distinctive.
Hazel is the species which predominates - often planted within a mixed woodland with oak.
Only deciduous species respond to coppicing - once you cut a conifer down its root system dies,
Deciduous species all respond well. Coppicing stimulates regrowth and prolongs the plant's life.

The coppice stool is cut in Autumn or winter, when the plant is dormant. There were at least twelve stems in this one plant indicating that the plant is rather mature. Also, given the thickness of the main stems, it is clear that this stool had not been harvested for quite some time. It is certain that no previous coppicing had been undertaken in our woods for at least thirty years. Probably the last crop was taken more than fifty years ago.

This crop was cut in the winter of 2004/5, and left in the wood stacked in logpiles for several months. Only seven coppice stools were harvested that season. During the following summer this was converted into BBQ charcoal and sold through local outlets.

To protect the new growth from deer, rabbits and other browsers, a solid (and if possible a barbed) barrier is built.

The approach taken, was to cage the freshly cut stool using brash cuttings enhanced with brambles and holly.
In the end, these cages looked more effective than they proved to be, and some spring growth was lost to rabbits.
The cages were duly reinforced and eventually each stool produced shoots that rose above the danger area.

Meanwhile, all the new light breaking through prompted a flood of blue in the Spring. Quite dazzling.
These hazel stools can be left to grow for several years before the next harvest will be available from them.

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