Coppicing

Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management where trees such as hazel and willow are cut down to a stump to encourage regrowth for future harvesting. This method dates to the stone age and is an ecologically sound approach that benefits wildlife, the survival of our woodlands, and the harvester of the wood who will reap prolonged benefits for years to come.

Our Coppicing project has so far seen us managing part of the woodland at Kilby Woodland Trust to gather the materials needed for our natural woven fences.

We also collaborated with researchers from the University of Leicester on a day at Whetstone Ancient Farm, chopping down ash trees with replica bronze axes made by master Bronze-smith Neil Burridge to analyse the micro-use wear. The axes turned out to be exceptionally effective!