Coppice Woodlands

The term 'coppice' derives from the French word couper - to cut. Coppice woodlands are cut on rotation, normally from between 6 to 25 years (but 21 years for Norsey) and usually one part of the wood, called a coupe, is harvested each year. The coppice trees produce material called underwood. Underwood species, all deciduous, respond to cutting by sending up multiple stems from the cut stump, which is called a stool. Periodic cutting often extend the life of these trees and many ancient stools can be seen in Norsey. In many coppices, some trees are left uncut to grow as standards - tall and single-stemmed.

Coppicing can be traced back to Neolithic times (c4000 BC) and through the Bronze, Roman, Saxon and medieval periods. It was the most common form of woodland management in Britain until the mid 1800s. Because of this long history, ancient coppice woodlands are often considered to be direct descendants of the original forest that covered most of Britain after the last Ice Age. The system of 'coppice with standards' is also ancient.

As a sustainable woodland management technique, coppicing is still relevant today. A crop of wood is obtained annually, yet no trees are removed - only cut and allowed to regrow. In ancient coppices, such as Norsey, much of the wildlife has come to rely on the periodic cutting and regrowth of the stools. In addition, continued cutting ensures that a woodland with a healthy coppice structure is passed on to the next generation, as it has been by countless woodcutters through history. Please also see the page about the Society's Millennium Project.

Coppicing at Norsey, 2000-2001

Unfortunately, coppicing was severely affected, firstly by the adverse weather, which made ground conditions very difficult, and secondly by the restrictions caused by the Foot and Mouth epidemic.

Clearance of the two areas (13 and 14) along the main ride, which were coppiced the previous winter, were completed and area 13 was deadhedged by workparty volunteers.

Deadhedging involves using the smaller material obtained from the coppicing operation. A double row of vertical stakes is driven in at roughly one metre intervals around the coppiced area and brashings (thin branches) are laid between the stakes to form the hedge. The purpose of this hedge is to form a barrier, so that certain flora, which would be encouraged to emerge now that light can get through to the ground with the removal of most of the canopy, would be protected from dogs and humans, and ground nesting birds might find suitable sites.

Work on area 9 (to the east of the path from the Lilford Road entrance) was started in spite of the adverse weather conditions, but had to be halted after just two days because of the restrictions. We will have to wait now until October/November 2001 for this work to be continued. It is hoped that area 16 (north of the car park and open day site) will also be coppiced then.

Coppicing at Norsey 2001 - 2002

Work on area 9 to the north-east of the path leading from the Lilford Road entrance, which was delayed last season (2000-01) because of the Foot and Mouth restrictions, was completed last winter. Similarly, coppicing of Area 16, around the Open Day site and to the rear of the car park was completed and the perimeter has since been deadhedged.

One of the benefits of coppicing is the reappearance of plants that were shaded out by the heavy tree canopy or which found germination difficult or impossible because of the low light conditions. This benefit became evident in the summer of 2002, when surveys in Area 16 revealed between
50 and 60 plant species thriving in the more open surroundings.

It had been planned to transplant some trees from the Society's Millennium Project tree nursery in Spring 2002 but the heavy rutting of much of area 16 and unfavourable weather conditions delayed this. In December and November, the first trees were transplanted into Area 16. For further details, please refer to the Tree Nursery page.

Coppicing at Norsey 2002 - 2003

Part of area 4 was completed at this time. This can be found to the right of the Main Drive, coming from the Deerbank Road entrance, just as the path forks to the left.

In the interests of safety, please observe any caution notices and taped off areas and ensure that children and dogs are closely supervised.