Hedgerow Heroes:
Coppice management workshops
Alongside the hedgelaying workshops we have also run five 2-day Coppice Management workshops with Richard Thomason from Wild About Westhope - in one of the working coppices at Westhope Woods near Craven Arms.
These are practical workshops with plenty of opportunities for questions. They are aimed at people who wish to restore old, overstood coppice or plant a new one.
Coppiced woodland can be hugely biodiverse with the changing light levels as the coups are cut in rotation. They also provide the products needed for hedgelaying (heatherings/binders and stakes).
The hands-on workshop covers:
-
Woodland risks and hazards
-
Coppice systems
-
Tools of the trade
-
The coppice fall – starting a fall
-
Creating drifts – different methods
-
The sweet cut, different methods
-
Coppice types and species
-
Neglected, over stood, estimating age
-
Managing light – standard density
-
Creating a coup rotation
-
Dressing out
-
Coppice products
-
Managing standards, selecting poll trees
-
Pest control – Deer management
-
Coppice stock density
-
Layering, stooling, planting, natural regen
-
Coppice grading system
-
Access and extraction
This was a brilliantly designed and delivered 2 days. Richard had the perfect balance between talk and practice, ably demonstrating skills with the tools and demonstrating inputs by showing us different parts of the wood. The choice of venue was perfect in a coppice with various stages of management and all tools were provided. The camp fire and tarpaulin shelter was a good touch too. I cannot think of anything that needs improvement and lucky are those that attend future courses run by Richard. By the way I was very much involved in training and trainer training and management in my professional life and know an excellent trainer when I meet one. Well chosen!
It was a brilliant couple of days, I learnt so much. This is Richard’s chosen subject and his enthusiasm and wealth of knowledge shines through - teaching the practical skills required as well as the history behind the craft and current day coppice management decisions based on core objectives. A great group of people and highly recommended.
Coppice Management training gallery
