Coppice woodlands

 

Background

Coppice was the traditional form of silviculture practised in many woodlands in lowland Britain, and the estimated areas of simple coppice, and coppice with standards, has been declining for at least a century.  However, during recent years there has been a revival of interest in this form of management.

Coppice woodlands often have a potentially high conservation value, but many of those that remain are neglected, and require management in order to retain their character and biodiversity. Whilst there has been much interest in the ecology of coppice woodlands there has been little systematic study of the silviculture of either coppice stools or woodlands.

Estimated areas (1000’s Ha) of simple coppice and coppice with standards recorded in surveys made during the 20th century

Year	England		Wales		Scotland		Britain		Total
	C	S	C	S	C	S	C	S
1905	215		6		9				230
1913	208		8		11				227
1924	31	163	7	8	2	2	40	173	213
1947	41	91	7	1	< 1	< 1	48	92	140
1965	18	10	< 1	X	X	X	18	10	29
1980	26	11	2	< 1	< 1	< 1	28	12	40
1997	11	10	< 1	X	< 1	< 1	12	11	23

Notes on table:
C = Simple coppice;
S = Coppice with Standards;
X = none recorded in this survey.
Figures are thousands of hectares.
In 1905 and 1913 coppice types were not differentiated. 
Adapted from "The Silviculture And Management Of Coppice Woodlands" (see below).

Experimental work

• A survey of recently felled coppice woodlands was carried out to gather information on current practices
• Restoration of neglected hazel coppice
• Growth of hazel coppice with standards
• Effects of time of felling and height of cutting coppice.

Experimental results are available in several publications.

In addition a handbook has been published to give information and advice on the management of trees, stools and woodlands as coppice:
The Silviculture And Management Of Coppice Woodlands.