Coppicing

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A recently coppiced Alder stool in Hampshire

Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management in which young tree stems are cut down to a low level. In subsequent growth years, many new shoots will emerge and after a number of years the cycle begins again and the coppiced tree, or stool, is ready to be harvested again.

Typically a coppice woodland is harvested in sections, on a rotation. In this way each year a crop is available. This has the side-effect of providing a rich variety of habitats, as the woodland always has a range of different aged stools growing in it. This is beneficial for biodiversity. The cycle length depends upon the species cut, the local custom, and the use to which the product is put. Birch can be coppiced for faggots on a 3- or 4-year cycle, whereas oak can be coppiced over a 50-year cycle for poles or firewood.

The same Alder stool after one year's regrowth

[edit] History

In the days of charcoal iron production, most woods in ironmaking regions were managed as coppices, usually being cut on a cycle of about 16 years. In this way, fuel could be provided for that industry, in principle, for ever. This was regulated by a statute of Henry VIII, which required woods to be enclosed after cutting and 12 standels ( or 'standards') to be left in each acre to be grown into timber. The variation of coppicing known as Coppice with standards - scattered individual stems allowed to grow on through several coppice cycles (often 10 or more) - has been commonly used throughout the British Isles as a means of giving greater flexibility in the resulting product from any one area: not only do you have the small material from the coppice but also a range of larger stuff from the standards for jobs like house building, bridge repair, cart making, and so on.

The shoots (or "suckers") may be used either in their young state for interweaving in wattle fencing as is the practice with willows, or the new shoots may be allowed to grow and mature into large poles, as was often the custom with hardwood such as oaks or ashes. This practice creates long, straight poles which are better for working than naturally grown trees which have bends and forks. Coppicing may also be practiced to encourage specific growth patterns, as with cinnamon trees which are grown for their bark.

Coppiced hardwoods were extensively used in carriage and shipbuilding, and they are still sometimes grown for making wooden buildings and furniture.

[edit] Current practice

Diagram illustrating the coppicing cycle over a 7-20 year period

In Southern Britain, coppice was traditionally hazel, grown amongst oak standards (large trees). This provided wood for many purposes, especially charcoal which before the availability of coal was economically significant in allowing smelting of metals. A minority of these woods are still operated for coppice today, often by conservation organisations, producing material for hurdle-making, thatching spars, local charcoal-burning or other crafts. The only remaining large-scale commercial coppice crop in the area is sweet chestnut which is grown in parts of East Sussex and [[Kent]. Much of it was established as plantations in the 19th century for hop pole production and is nowadays cut on a 12 - 18 year cycle for splitting and binding into cleft chestnut paling fence bound together with wire (a much reduced and low value market) or on a 20 - 35 year cycle for cleft post and rail fencing or sawing into small lengths to be finger jointed for architectural use. Other material goes to make farm fencing and to be chipped for modern wood heating systems.

In North West England Coppice with Standards has been the norm, the standards often of oak with relatively little simple coppice - contrast with South and South East England, for example. Post WWII a great deal was planted up with conifers or became neglected. The working almost died out though a few men continued in the woods. Best known, perhaps, was Bill Hogarth MBE who revitalised interest through his courses and appearances at shows and on radio, TV, and in films. A small, and growing, number of people make a living wholly or partly by working coppices in the area today.

Ancient coppice of a sweet chestnut, Banstead Woods, Surrey

[edit] See also

[edit] References

G. Hammersley, 'The charcoal iron industry and its fuel 1540-1750' Econ Hist. Rev. Ser. II, 26 (1973), 593-613.

Rackham, Oliver (2001). Trees and woodland in the British landscape : the complete history of Britain's trees, woods & hedgerows. London: Phoenix Press. ISBN 1-84212-469-2.