Coppicing Training 2024
On Saturday 16th March, a team of regular and new ATU volunteers visited the Trinley Estate to take part in a coppicing training session, led by Tim Keenan.
Coppicing is an ancient woodland management technique, which involves periodically cutting back a tree or shrub almost to ground level and allowing it to regrow. This produces a sustainable supply of wood, prolongs the life of the tree (some coppiced trees can live for hundreds or even thousands of years), and also benefits wildlife by allowing light to reach the woodland floor and giving other plant species a chance to grow.
The Diamond Wood (of which Harmony Woods is part) contains large stands of hazel which will be ready for coppicing within the next year or two. ATU plans to use these to produce saleable products and raise much-needed funds, and in the process encourage interest in this traditional skill and keep it alive by training local people.
The first part of the day was spent learning how to use all the tools both safely and to achieve the desired results. Coppicing can produce a range of products, including stakes and binders for hedge-laying, and pea-sticks and bean-poles for gardens. Tim then explained why the coppice stools (left behind when the stems have been harvested) need covering with leaves and twigs - to protect young regrowth from being grazed by deer and rabbits - and how to do it.
The team practised their skills, coppicing enough hazel to fulfill ATU orders of pea-sticks and pean-poles - which will provide a source of income for the charity - before processing the remaining wood once it had been removed by our chainsaw-trained team members.
The afternoon was spent covering the stools and sorting the products ready for orders next week.
Thank you to all of the team for taking part. All your hard work really goes a long way and we hope you enjoyed your time with us.
If you would like to purchase some pea-sticks, we cut more than needed so if you would like a £5 or £10 bundle contact abbey.sadler@andovertrees.org.uk
