| Coppice is a form of woodland management that has
provided both fuel and a host of raw materials, since earliest times
(see Traditional Uses of Coppice)
However the latter half of the 20th Century saw a decline in the
demand for coppice products and many coppice woodlands were lost to
agriculture, planted with conifers, or simply neglected
(see Threats to Coppice Woodlands)
The practice of coppicing relies on the ability of many tree species to
produce prolific regrowth from a cut stump, which is also known as a stool
or mock. The principle species coppiced in England are:
- ash
- alder
- birch
- hazel
- hornbeam
- lime
- oak
- sweet chestnut
- willow
Past coppice management has often led to woodland areas dominated by more or
less one species, but mixed coppice which contains various species managed
as coppice is also common. A system known as 'coppice with standards' is
also wide spread. This allows the growth of standard or maiden trees
(typically oak) amongst the coppice. These trees would be managed to provide
large timbers for other uses.
Coppice is cut over an area known as a 'coupe', 'cant', ‘panel’ or ‘fell’
,depending on regional variation.
The time between cuts depends on the species and the product to be produced. The
coppice is then allowed to regrow until it is ready
for its next cut. This is known as the coppice cycle.
For detailed information on all aspects of coppice management see
recommended reading.
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Woodcut
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A 'coupe' or 'cant'
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New growth
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Ready to cut
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