Coppicing can commence from about seven years after planting, depending on the species, rate of growth and other factors. Coppicing is an ancient way of managing trees, which keeps them small and easy to harvest with hand tools, producing poles, firewood and other material. Coppice woods which are managed in rotation are rich in wildlife.
Once started, coppicing requires a commitment to long- term management, in order to keep to the coppice rotation. Hazel is normally cut every 7-10 years, sweet chestnut every 15 years, and oak and ash every 23-25 years. This will vary according to growth, the required size of the material for marketing purposes, and other factors. See the table on page 15 for further details.
Coppice woods are very suitable for volunteer involvement, as they can be managed with hand tools and produce materials which can be used within the wood for fencing or footpath work, as well as sold locally for garden poles, pea sticks and so on.
Coppice is normally cut between October and February.
Initial coppicing
Coppice will not regrow if shaded by other trees, so if within a woodland, a reasonable sized area needs to be cut. These areas are called coupes, and should be planned at planting time, so they form a simple pattern which fits the rotation and is easy to implement. The minimum size of coupe should be an area of about 1000 square metres, preferably in a square shape to maximise sunlight and benefits to habitat. avoid long, thin or convoluted shapes. Smaller areas can be cut at edges of woodlands or along rides or glades, but they will not develop the ground flora and other wildlife which larger coupes can support.
Small patches of trees, mixed species or even individuals can be coppiced where the aim is to produce a small crop of pea sticks or bean poles. Hedges can be managed by coppicing sections in rotation, and using temporary fencing ‘copses’ (coppices), can be divided into two coupes and managed entirely as coppice.
Coppicing can begin at the end of the establishment phase, which is when trees are growing vigorously and have no need of weeding or other regular maintenance. This should be about five years after planting. Hazel naturally produces many shoots, and should have produced a reasonable clump of stems at this stage. Other species will only have produced multiple stems if they were intentionally cut back at planting to grow this way, or if they were damaged and then cut back. Any single stemmed tree, such as ash, lime, sycamore or willow can be cut back at this stage with loppers or a small bowsaw, to stimulate multiple stems. Cut as close to the ground as possible, to encourage shoots to grow from the root collar area of the stem. If you cut higher, the stool can become unstable as it develops.
Slower growing species such as oak, beech and hornbeam may need to be left a few more years before coppicing is started.
Regrowth is vulnerable to deer damage. One method of protecting the young shoots is to make a wigwam shaped structure of cut branches around the new stool, with blackthorn the most effective material. Bramble can be woven amongst sparser or non-spiny branches to make a barrier. Successful coppicing is difficult where deer numbers are high, and particularly in small coppice coupes where there is little other available fodder.
For details on managing established coppice, refer to Woodlands – Coppicing.
