Most native broadleaved species coppice, but some are stronger than others, with hazel, oak, sweet chestnut, ash, field maple and hornbeam being the trees traditionally coppiced in England. Far from being destructive, coppicing rejuvenates the tree, with some coppice stumps or 'stools' being hundreds of years old. Because it already has a mature root system the growth is faster and more vigorous after coppicing than with new planting. This rejuvenation meant that an area of woodland could be harvested again and again through the decades, providing a constant sustainable and renewable source of timber.
Indeed, many of our woodlands have survived because of their ability to provide coppiced timber – referred to as ‘underwood’ because it grows beneath the canopy of the larger woodland trees - for a wide variety of uses, upon which the rural economy relied. Coppice products were used for building, fencing, hedge-laying, fuel, furniture, charcoal, thatching spars, sticks, tool handles and many other uses; nothing was wasted. It also provided work for numerous woodland workers: cutters, timber merchants, craftsmen and purchasers.
Traditionally coppice is cut from the beginning of October to the end of February; cutting in spring is avoided as it causes disturbance to nesting birds, and results in trampling and damage to spring flowers, and summer-cut material is thought not to be as durable as material cut in winter.
These stems were from a single hazel and show the advantages of hazel plantations for producing a reasonable harvest of timber. Today, there is much less demand for coppice timber, although sweet chestnut is still harvested for making fencing. Unfortunately, may other traditional uses are supported by timber imported from overseas (e.g. approx 90% of the charcoal used in this country is imported), not always from a sustainable source.
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Straight stems are cut and used to make 2 parallel lines of stakes, into which is piled the remaining stems and brash. By inserting the stems into the ones previously laid it is possible to construct a tightly-woven hedge. Although this is a fairly repetitive task it also very therapeutic, as each stem slides and locks into the others, building a sturdy, impenetrable barrier. At the end of 3 days we have constructed approx 230ft of hedge and can't even begin to guess how many 100s of stems have been used.
Traditionally, hedges like this would have been constructed around a coppice area to keep out the deer that love nothing better than to browse of the new shoots - not something to be encouraged when your livelihood depends on the next harvest.