Coppice is a silvicultural practice that enables trees to live for hundreds of years. Growing trees are cut back to ground level which encourages the regrowth of multiple stems. This is done on a regular cycle with the timing dependent on tree species and the requirements for the timber.

​

There are huge areas of overstood coppice in the UK. An overstood coppice is an established coppice woodland that has been allowed to grow on for too long since it was last cut. The effect of this can be that coppice stools (meaing the individual coppiced trees) cannot bear their own weight so that they fall and split at the base, this can kill the stool, which in some woodlands might be several hundred years old.

Coppice products include bean poles, pea sticks, blanks for turning, roof shingles to name a few. Generally the best use for overstood coppice is charcoal, with the next coppicing cycle providing the raw material for more specialist uses. 

​

What we do...

We bring overstood coppice back into a productive cycle, using the timber generated from the initial restoration to make charcoal and biochar. We would be happy to arrange a visit to assess your woodland and discuss management options.