Coppicing is a woodland management technique that produces a sustainable source of timber with a whole range of applications. Coppicing has also been shown to create a diverse range of habitats which in turn has a hugely positive impact on the level of biodiversity within a woodland.
When a broadleaved tree has its stem and crown removed certain
hormone levels within the stump of the tree (the stool) undergo a rapid change.
This causes new shoots to sprout from the side of the stool; which is known as
the re-growth. Re-growth can be rapid, often as much as 2 meters a year, this
is because the tree has a fully developed root system. The practice of
coppicing can be carried out on the same tree for at least several hundred years
and has been shown to actually prolong the life of a tree. In fact, often the
oldest trees in our woods are grown from coppice stools (1).
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| A freshly coppiced hazel stool. No re-growth has begun to grow on this stool yet, but you can clearly see the multiple stems from previous years coppicing. |
Over time the stool of the tree continues to grow in
diameter, however, the diameter of the timber being harvested can be controlled
by the frequency of coppicing; the longer the period of time in between each
time the stool is coppiced, the larger the timber. It is thought that coppicing
was popular in the past because timber of a manageable size could be produced
(2).
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| A freshly cut mixed coppice. You'll notice that these stools are still quite high, this is because they were cut by volunteers with hand tools. They will likely be cut lower to the ground with a chainsaw within the next few weeks. (Picture courtesy of Oxburgh wood, National Trust, Norfolk) |
Culturally, coppicing played a huge role in the development
of our society and its technology. Coppicing has been traced back to as far as
Neolithic times (c4000 BC) (4). Historians believe that during the medieval
period over half of the woodlands in the UK were managed through coppicing (3)
Written records referring to the practice of coppicing date
back to 1251; these records describe the type of material collected from
coppiced woodlands and its value in East Anglia. (2)
The word ‘coppice’ comes from the French word ‘couper’ which
means ‘to cut’. This may also explain why in some parts of the country a
coppice is split up into compartments called ‘coupes’. Each of these coupes is
cut on a rotation, creating areas that have been freshly coppiced, areas of the
wood with young, scrubby re-growth and areas with relatively developed trees.
This diversity creates a mosaic of habitats within a single woodland; providing
opportunities for a wide range of species to thrive.
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| This diagram helps to illustrate the various stages of growth that hazel goes through during the coppice cycle. This illustrates a 'coppice with standards', this type of coppice includes both coppice stools and large standard timber trees. Other types of coppice include 'pure coppice' and 'mixed coppice'. |
More recently, many wildlife centred organisations have
begun to use coppicing as a method of woodland management to solely benefit wildlife. The
benefit of coppicing to our native wildlife is, however, a by-product.
Originally woodlands would have been coppiced solely for the timber that was
produced, and the associated coppice crafts that required this material. Items being produced from a coppice would have included gate
hurdles, tool handles, besom brooms, bark for weaving, barrels and timber for
traditional shelters and structures.
Since the early 1900’s coppicing within the UK has been on the decline, it is estimated that about 1% of the remaining woodlands are coppiced today (3). However, interest in the benefits of coppicing for wildlife is increasing, as is the interest in crafts associated with coppicing. The long history of coppicing in the UK has profoundly influenced the flora and fauna found in our semi-natural woods, the decline in coppicing has caused many open-woodland species to decline in numbers. Therefore the resurgence of coppicing in the UK can only be a good thing.
Refereces / Further reading:
- Badgers, Beeches and Blisters by Julian Evans. Available online: http://www.woodlands.co.uk/owning-a-wood/badgers-beeches-and-blisters/badgers-beeches-and-blisters.pdf
- http://www.norseywood.org.uk/wood/coppicing.htm
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