Coppicing

18^th February 2006

11 volunteers gathered after lunch to cut the first crop of poles from the hazel coppice. One third of the bushes were cut to the ground: the cut branches were trimmed and the trimmings (brash) laid on the ground in alternate rows. The bushes on the perimeter were not cut - they were kept so that they can cast shade and help to draw up the new growth into straight poles.

This is the first harvest from the hazel, which was planted in February 2000 and pruned to the ground in November 2001. They had grown amazingly well, although being still relatively young the poles were not quite big enough to be used for stakes and heathers.

The plan is to coppice a third in rotation at 2-year intervals. This will ensure that two thirds will be undisturbed for birds and mammals. We aim to establish some woodland flora in the cleared part and plan to raise some primroses and bluebells from seed this year.

The best poles have been sold as wattles for restoring a timber framed building in East Hagbourne with "wattle and daub" walls. These poles had to be straight for at least a metre and thick enough to be split. The majority of the poles were bundled into 20's and offered to anyone in the village for their gardens. Any income will go to Leafield Community Woodland funds.

A few poles were retained for mending the coppice fence, to prevent deer from browsing the fresh young shoots that will sprout from the cut stems this Spring.

Our work party enjoyed the fine weather and a welcome break for tea and cakes. We were assisted by David Rees of the Oxfordshire Woodland Project and Jane Bowley of the Wychwood Project .

2006 diary index