Coppicing is an ancient form of woodland management, originally undertaken to produce a product such as materials for hurdle making, simple buildings, (wattle and daub), firewood, charcoal production, and fencing materials etc.

Coppicing is the act of cutting particular broadleaf species down to ground level on a continuous cycle, depending upon the species and the product required. For example, areas of Hazel, (coupes) may have been cut once every 7 or 8 years (actual timings varied) to produce material for hurdle making. With one area (coupe) of the woodland being cut over every year.

Coppicing maintained structural diversity within a woodland with a constantly changing pattern of cut-over areas. In the first few years after cutting herbaceous plants such as Bluebells could take advantage of the increased levels of sunlight reaching the woodland floor to flower and germinate. In time the cut-over trees would regrow gradually shading out the woodland floor. As the cycle continued and they were once again cut more sunlight reached the woodland floor, thus enabling the herbaceous plants to flourish again.

This is coppicing in its simplest terms, other effects would be a gradually increasing shrub and bramble layer which would also decrease as the shade increased. The effect of all this being that at various stages through the cycle different forms of wildlife would benefit.

Butterflies and other insects would take advantage of the increase in the numbers of wildflowers. While birds and small mammals would benefit from the increased food, shelter, and nesting opportunities afforded by the denser shrub and bramble layer.

As in many other parts of the country, coppicing declined and ceased in the recent past at Itchen Valley Country Park. It has now been revived and is once again continuing to improve the Parks Woodland Nature Reserve as a wildlife habitat.

Wyvern Technology College from Fair Oak have taken part in coppicing in our Woodland Nature Reserve during their Forest School sessions. They cut down the wood and measure it into seven foot lengths which are then stacked until collected by a local person who makes charcoal from them.

The branches removed from the main stem as well as the ends are then used to create a dead hedge around the coppice coupe. This barrier stops the deer from getting in and nibbling all the new green shoots as they grow.

Wyvern coppicing November 2011