Coppicing
A forest management system of the past with a great future
by Michael Veshengro Smith, RFAWU, RFA, EcoFor, RFS
Coppice with standards
Coppice with standardsCoppicing is a traditional form of woodland management that is probably one of the oldest forest and woodland management system, if not indeed the oldest, and it is still as valid today as before and maybe more so even. It has shaped many of the remaining semi-natural woodlands in the United Kingdom. A coppiced wood is cut periodically and the trees are allowed to regrow from the cut stumps known as "stools". Regrowth can be very fast indeed, somewhere around 12inces in a week amounting to often as much as two yards in a year. Numerous shoots or poles are produced rather than one main stem. Woods that have not been coppiced tend to be the same age and structure and they support fewer species.
Coppicing provides an environmentally sustainable source of wood because the periodic cutting of the wood actually prolongs the life of the tree and not just by some years or even a hundred years but longer still. Many of the oldest trees in British woodlands - some well over 1,000 years and more old - are coppiced or pollarded.
The practice of coppicing dates back to the Neolithic times (showing that man at that times had a better idea of woodland and forest management than many have today). Evidence also suggests that the Romans coppiced large areas of the Wealdon woodlands to fuel their iron works. Later, records in the Doomsday Book of 1086 show that coppicing was widespread in lowland England. By the Middle Ages short-rotation coppice (every six years) was the most common form of woodland management.
Traditionally woods were divided into compartments and these were cut in rotation. Each compartment would contain underwood, which was coppiced, and standard or timber trees that were left to grow for uses other than what was coppiced wood would be put to. The underwood storey can be dominated by one or a couple of species, or can contain a mix of species such as hazel, alder, ash, crab apple, field maple, oak, goat willow, small-leaved lime, sweet chestnut, wych elm, beech and hornbeam. The species and intended market dictate how often the coppice is cut.
Underwood was a valuable product so little was wasted. Building and fencing material, as well as firewood were the most common uses, with the twigs being used as faggots, but also the subtle young shoots were used for hedging. Whole or split sallow or hazel rods were interwoven to form 'wattle' used to fill in the panels of timber framed building, from which stems the "wattle & daub" method of building.
The system of coppice as woodland management has been in decline since the demand for coppice products began to falter last century. By 1965 the area of coppiced woodland was as low as 30,000 hectares (120,000 appx.).
It has been proven that, managed correctly, coppice woods can be harvested for many, many centuries, using the same "coppice stools". There are woodlands in the West Country of the British Isles whose coppice stools are estimated to be older than a thousand years and they are still producing wood to this very day.
Coppicing provides an environmentally sustainable source of wood because the periodic cutting of the wood actually prolongs the life of the tree and not just by some years or even a hundred years but longer still. Many of the oldest trees in British woodlands - some well over 1,000 years and more old - are coppiced or pollarded.
The practice of coppicing dates back to the Neolithic times (showing that man at that times had a better idea of woodland and forest management than many have today). Evidence also suggests that the Romans coppiced large areas of the Wealdon woodlands to fuel their iron works. Later, records in the Doomsday Book of 1086 show that coppicing was widespread in lowland England. By the Middle Ages short-rotation coppice (every six years) was the most common form of woodland management.
Traditionally woods were divided into compartments and these were cut in rotation. Each compartment would contain underwood, which was coppiced, and standard or timber trees that were left to grow for uses other than what was coppiced wood would be put to. The underwood storey can be dominated by one or a couple of species, or can contain a mix of species such as hazel, alder, ash, crab apple, field maple, oak, goat willow, small-leaved lime, sweet chestnut, wych elm, beech and hornbeam. The species and intended market dictate how often the coppice is cut.
Underwood was a valuable product so little was wasted. Building and fencing material, as well as firewood were the most common uses, with the twigs being used as faggots, but also the subtle young shoots were used for hedging. Whole or split sallow or hazel rods were interwoven to form 'wattle' used to fill in the panels of timber framed building, from which stems the "wattle & daub" method of building.
The system of coppice as woodland management has been in decline since the demand for coppice products began to falter last century. By 1965 the area of coppiced woodland was as low as 30,000 hectares (120,000 appx.).
It has been proven that, managed correctly, coppice woods can be harvested for many, many centuries, using the same "coppice stools". There are woodlands in the West Country of the British Isles whose coppice stools are estimated to be older than a thousand years and they are still producing wood to this very day.
During the last 50 years or so, from about the end of WWII on, and worse so even in the 1960's and 1970's, this system of woodland management has fallen rather into severe neglect. This is due to some large extent to the "environmental lobby" insisting that our woodlands MUST revert back to their wild state. There have not been wild woodlands in the UK, and many parts of continental Europe, for at least a full millennium, if not much more even, with the exception of maybe a certain area of Poland and especially in Russia. However, generally, and especially in the British Isles there are no wild woodlands and there have not been any that have been untouched by the hand of man. Therefore those nowadays require the intervention by man to remain valuable woodland for amenity and wildlife as well as for the nation.
Yes, it is true that wood harvested in rotation from coppices is not suited for the making of large pieces of furniture and such. That may be so, but most of the needs for wood sure can be supplied by the ancient coppice system, be those wood for pit props (yes, I know the pits have mostly gone now), fence posts, hurdles, for wood turning, for firewood, etc. There are probably more uses for the wood from well-managed coppice rotation woodlands than from the large standing pieces of timber. They do have their place but that is not the object of the discussion here. There are also various forms of coppice woodland management and not just in the different times that the timber will be cut. There are ordinary coppice woods where all gets harvested at a certain time or at different times and then there is, for example, coppice with standards where, as the name suggests, so-called standard trees are permitted to grow and which will be permitted to grow their full term until ready to be harvested as mature oaks, beeches, chestnuts, sycamores, etc. while at the same time all around those smaller wood is harvest at different stages for different purposes.
The Principles of Coppicing...
A tree is coppiced by completely cutting thru the stem of the tree near the base. This does not kill the tree in any way but actually promotes vigorous regrowth from the stump or "coppice stool" during the next growing season. The regrowth usually consists of several new stems, which grow fast and straight. Those are harvested when large enough for the purpose that they are intended for by again coppicing them, resulting in an ongoing supply of timber.
Suitable trees...
Most broadleaved trees, if not indeed all, will coppice, such as oak, birch, hazel, sweet chestnut, sycamore, Hornbeam, etc. are suited for coppice, although some are more suited to it than others, as is Yew. In general conifers are unsuited for coppicing. Beech, in general does not coppice well it at all.
Benefits for Wildlife...
The main benefits to wildlife come from a properly managed rotation of coppice harvest. Proper coppicing of a woodland results in a 'mosaic' of different aged tree growth, ranging from open glades (recently coppiced) to heavily shaded areas (older coppice). This encourages the survival of plants that need a good supply of light as well as those that can survive in shade or those that even need shade. Many of those plants often lie dormant in the soil as a sort of "seed bank" until the coppicing is carried out.
Uses of coppice woods
The uses of the woods depend on their nature, e.g. hazel, sweet chestnut, oak, beech, sycamore, etc., as well as on the ages that they will be cut in rotation. Hazel and willow cut for hurdles, as used in folding sheep (no, you don't fold a sheep in the middle) and such, is done at a 4-year rotation. Sweet chestnut for split-chestnut fencing every 7 years or so while timer for pit props will be an eleven-year rotation and the same is about true for wood from other woods harvested for the turning of chair legs, so-called "bodging", as well as making of wooden spoons and such. Another use for well-tended coppice is ash and hazel for the use in the walking stick making industry, and that is still a trade that is an active source.
Examples of coppice crafts are...
Hurdles/Rustic Fencing
Wood Turning & Carving
Walking Sticks
Rakes & Besoms
Charcoal & Firewood
Basket Making
Hedging Stakes
Tool Handles
Tent Pegs, etc.
Yes, it is true that wood harvested in rotation from coppices is not suited for the making of large pieces of furniture and such. That may be so, but most of the needs for wood sure can be supplied by the ancient coppice system, be those wood for pit props (yes, I know the pits have mostly gone now), fence posts, hurdles, for wood turning, for firewood, etc. There are probably more uses for the wood from well-managed coppice rotation woodlands than from the large standing pieces of timber. They do have their place but that is not the object of the discussion here. There are also various forms of coppice woodland management and not just in the different times that the timber will be cut. There are ordinary coppice woods where all gets harvested at a certain time or at different times and then there is, for example, coppice with standards where, as the name suggests, so-called standard trees are permitted to grow and which will be permitted to grow their full term until ready to be harvested as mature oaks, beeches, chestnuts, sycamores, etc. while at the same time all around those smaller wood is harvest at different stages for different purposes.
A tree is coppiced by completely cutting thru the stem of the tree near the base. This does not kill the tree in any way but actually promotes vigorous regrowth from the stump or "coppice stool" during the next growing season. The regrowth usually consists of several new stems, which grow fast and straight. Those are harvested when large enough for the purpose that they are intended for by again coppicing them, resulting in an ongoing supply of timber.
Suitable trees...
Most broadleaved trees, if not indeed all, will coppice, such as oak, birch, hazel, sweet chestnut, sycamore, Hornbeam, etc. are suited for coppice, although some are more suited to it than others, as is Yew. In general conifers are unsuited for coppicing. Beech, in general does not coppice well it at all.
Benefits for Wildlife...
The main benefits to wildlife come from a properly managed rotation of coppice harvest. Proper coppicing of a woodland results in a 'mosaic' of different aged tree growth, ranging from open glades (recently coppiced) to heavily shaded areas (older coppice). This encourages the survival of plants that need a good supply of light as well as those that can survive in shade or those that even need shade. Many of those plants often lie dormant in the soil as a sort of "seed bank" until the coppicing is carried out.
Uses of coppice woods
The uses of the woods depend on their nature, e.g. hazel, sweet chestnut, oak, beech, sycamore, etc., as well as on the ages that they will be cut in rotation. Hazel and willow cut for hurdles, as used in folding sheep (no, you don't fold a sheep in the middle) and such, is done at a 4-year rotation. Sweet chestnut for split-chestnut fencing every 7 years or so while timer for pit props will be an eleven-year rotation and the same is about true for wood from other woods harvested for the turning of chair legs, so-called "bodging", as well as making of wooden spoons and such. Another use for well-tended coppice is ash and hazel for the use in the walking stick making industry, and that is still a trade that is an active source.
Examples of coppice crafts are...Hurdles/Rustic Fencing
Wood Turning & Carving
Walking Sticks
Rakes & Besoms
Charcoal & Firewood
Basket Making
Hedging Stakes
Tool Handles
Tent Pegs, etc.
