Comments on: Chestnut Coppice – The Alternatives http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/woodland-activities/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/ A blog about woodland activities, outdoor skills and conservation Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:04:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Nick B. http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/woodland-activities/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/comment-page-1/#comment-11660 Nick B. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:31:41 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/conservation/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/#comment-11660 I'm curious why sweet chestnut is considered such a poor tree for wildlife in the UK? Are there aren't many species of animals there that feed on their nuts? Here in the United States, chestnut is considered one of the best trees for wildlife due to it's annual nut production; the near-extinction of the native American Chestnut tree to blight in the early 20th century devastated populations of deer, bear, squirrel, and turkey. Forest regeneration with oak, maple, hickory, birch and ash still to this day don't support the same population densities of wildlife. Several national organisations and numerous private nurseries here are working to re-introduce chestnuts, either through cross-breeding the surviving American chestnuts with Chinese or Japanese chestnuts, selectively breeding any American chestnuts that show resistance to produce a purebred blight-resistant tree, or even genetically engineering blight resistance into them in a lab. I’m curious why sweet chestnut is considered such a poor tree for wildlife in the UK? Are there aren’t many species of animals there that feed on their nuts? Here in the United States, chestnut is considered one of the best trees for wildlife due to it’s annual nut production; the near-extinction of the native American Chestnut tree to blight in the early 20th century devastated populations of deer, bear, squirrel, and turkey. Forest regeneration with oak, maple, hickory, birch and ash still to this day don’t support the same population densities of wildlife. Several national organisations and numerous private nurseries here are working to re-introduce chestnuts, either through cross-breeding the surviving American chestnuts with Chinese or Japanese chestnuts, selectively breeding any American chestnuts that show resistance to produce a purebred blight-resistant tree, or even genetically engineering blight resistance into them in a lab.

]]> By: Margaret C http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/woodland-activities/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/comment-page-1/#comment-10252 Margaret C Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:59:06 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/conservation/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/#comment-10252 We have acquired a small area of land, with old coppiced trees around the edge. We think it was coppiced as we all use woodburners here in France. As we would like to utilise our own wood for the woodburner, can we coppice again these old trees? We know there are sweet chestnut, birch and beech. There are also several acacia trees- can these be coppiced? We would like to know if we can just cut down the old coppiced trees to start the coppice again, and if we have a large single tree, how do we start coppicing that? We have acquired a small area of land, with old coppiced trees around the edge. We think it was coppiced as we all use woodburners here in France. As we would like to utilise our own wood for the woodburner, can we coppice again these old trees? We know there are sweet chestnut, birch and beech. There are also several acacia trees- can these be coppiced?
We would like to know if we can just cut down the old coppiced trees to start the coppice again, and if we have a large single tree, how do we start coppicing that?

]]> By: patrick http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/woodland-activities/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/comment-page-1/#comment-3591 patrick Wed, 26 May 2010 09:34:39 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/conservation/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/#comment-3591 What type of flowers grow in the coppice area in the Spring time ? What type of flowers grow in the coppice area in the Spring time ?

]]> By: Tracy http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/woodland-activities/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/comment-page-1/#comment-2933 Tracy Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:16:04 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/conservation/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/#comment-2933 Hi Dave If you want to make some more contact with woodland owners, to find work, try the Small Woodland Owners group. (all free) www.swog.org.uk Hi Dave

If you want to make some more contact with woodland owners, to find work, try the Small Woodland Owners group. (all free)
http://www.swog.org.uk

]]> By: Dave Lambert http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/woodland-activities/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/comment-page-1/#comment-2658 Dave Lambert Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:48:42 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/conservation/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/#comment-2658 Hi there. Very interesting article, so thanks for that. My view is as follows. If you coppice an acre (or lets say 1/20th of your forest for those of us lucky enough to have hundreds of acres) every year, particularly if you are growing sweet chestnut which is my own passion, then you are doing the best you can for the environment. a) You benefit wildlife by providing fresh clearings every year as described in the article but also b) your trees rapidly regrow so you are locking in massive amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. After about 20 years or so the chestnut is ready to be recoppiced and the cycle starts again. Chestnut is great as most of it goes into fencing etc not burned so the carbon is locked up for ages as its such a long-lasting wood full of tannin, so over your lifetime by coppicing continuously you can easily actually lock in 3x the amount of carbon that your acres would otherwise hold if you never coppiced and just let the trees grow, as mature trees do not typically sequester more CO2 from the atmosphere, whilst young, vigorous trees do so readily. If the government would wake up to this and help us coppicers more then I reckon a lot of the UK's carbon footprint would actually disappear. If you own a sweet chestnut wood and want to coppice some (and get paid for the priviledge - this is very cost effective guys, better than trying to maintain clearings and rides which YOU have to pay for or do yourself) I can perhaps help you. So many people like me want to own woodlands but don't want to wield chainsaws etc but I have a mate who is really good and careful, using 'low impact extraction' that doesn't chew up the ground as much as huge tractors etc that some people use, and he's a lovely guy too who could use the wood as he makes post and rail fencing with the chestnut. He leaves the site very clean as well. Feel free to call me on 07878457902. Cheers and keep up the good work on the site. :) dc_ski@hotmail.com Hi there. Very interesting article, so thanks for that. My view is as follows. If you coppice an acre (or lets say 1/20th of your forest for those of us lucky enough to have hundreds of acres) every year, particularly if you are growing sweet chestnut which is my own passion, then you are doing the best you can for the environment. a) You benefit wildlife by providing fresh clearings every year as described in the article but also b) your trees rapidly regrow so you are locking in massive amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. After about 20 years or so the chestnut is ready to be recoppiced and the cycle starts again. Chestnut is great as most of it goes into fencing etc not burned so the carbon is locked up for ages as its such a long-lasting wood full of tannin, so over your lifetime by coppicing continuously you can easily actually lock in 3x the amount of carbon that your acres would otherwise hold if you never coppiced and just let the trees grow, as mature trees do not typically sequester more CO2 from the atmosphere, whilst young, vigorous trees do so readily. If the government would wake up to this and help us coppicers more then I reckon a lot of the UK’s carbon footprint would actually disappear.

If you own a sweet chestnut wood and want to coppice some (and get paid for the priviledge – this is very cost effective guys, better than trying to maintain clearings and rides which YOU have to pay for or do yourself) I can perhaps help you. So many people like me want to own woodlands but don’t want to wield chainsaws etc but I have a mate who is really good and careful, using ‘low impact extraction’ that doesn’t chew up the ground as much as huge tractors etc that some people use, and he’s a lovely guy too who could use the wood as he makes post and rail fencing with the chestnut. He leaves the site very clean as well. Feel free to call me on 07878457902. Cheers and keep up the good work on the site. :) dc_ski@hotmail.com

]]> By: Tracy Pepler http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/woodland-activities/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/comment-page-1/#comment-2606 Tracy Pepler Fri, 22 May 2009 09:36:14 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/conservation/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/#comment-2606 Hi Elizabeth It is very difficult to say when something is expensive per acre as there are so many variables. That sounds about normal for this area. It is pretty easy to find someone to manage the wood for you - and you can sell the timber standing, which means it is there problem when it comes to selling it. If you would love to own a wood, then there are many ways to get round all the other questions. Feel free to be in touch tracy@woodlands.co.uk Hi Elizabeth

It is very difficult to say when something is expensive per acre as there are so many variables. That sounds about normal for this area.
It is pretty easy to find someone to manage the wood for you – and you can sell the timber standing, which means it is there problem when it comes to selling it.
If you would love to own a wood, then there are many ways to get round all the other questions.
Feel free to be in touch
tracy@woodlands.co.uk

]]> By: Elizabeth Day http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/woodland-activities/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/comment-page-1/#comment-2289 Elizabeth Day Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:14:05 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/conservation/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/#comment-2289 Hello, I wonder if I could ask for some advice please. My husband and I, almost retirement age are thinking of buying 4 acres of coppice with some mature trees in Kent. It's around £30,000, is that expensive? The small patch of woodland is within a larger wood. It obviously hasn't been coppiced for a some time, with some very large branches. We would not be physically able to cut them, not strong enough. How do you find someone to do the work? How much does it cost an acre? Is there a market for the wood, probably chestnut and some hazel? Having read around on this site I find there is a lot of advice. I'm interested in making it more bird and wildlife friendly, and have thought of introducing native berry trees and shrubs, and open some of it up for wild flowers. Any advice would be most welcome. Thankyou Hello,

I wonder if I could ask for some advice please. My husband and I, almost retirement age are thinking of buying 4 acres of coppice with some mature trees in Kent. It’s around £30,000, is that expensive? The small patch of woodland is within a larger wood. It obviously hasn’t been coppiced for a some time, with some very large branches. We would not be physically able to cut them, not strong enough. How do you find someone to do the work? How much does it cost an acre? Is there a market for the wood, probably chestnut and some hazel? Having read around on this site I find there is a lot of advice. I’m interested in making it more bird and wildlife friendly, and have thought of introducing native berry trees and shrubs, and open some of it up for wild flowers. Any advice would be most welcome. Thankyou

]]> By: Tracy Pepler http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/woodland-activities/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/comment-page-1/#comment-2171 Tracy Pepler Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:04:36 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/conservation/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/#comment-2171 Patrick Roper will be leading free walks around the Woodland Trust's Brede High Woods between Sedlescombe and Brede, East Sussex on Saturday, 14 February and Wednesday, 4th March 2009. Each walk will last about 3 hours starting, respectively at 10.30 am and 13.30 pm. The first will be aimed particularly at families. Both walks are free and will start from the main car park at TQ804206 off the B2089 (Cripps Corner to Rye road) almost opposite Watt's Palace Lane. As places are limited, if you would like to come, will you please book in with Hannah Yates on 0845 2935 531. If you have any queries, please contact James Luxton on 0845 2935734 Patrick Roper will be leading free walks around the Woodland Trust’s Brede High
Woods between Sedlescombe and Brede, East Sussex on Saturday, 14 February
and Wednesday, 4th March 2009. Each walk will last about 3 hours starting,
respectively at 10.30 am and 13.30 pm. The first will be aimed particularly
at families.

Both walks are free and will start from the main car park at TQ804206 off
the B2089 (Cripps Corner to Rye road) almost opposite Watt’s Palace Lane.

As places are limited, if you would like to come, will you please book in
with Hannah Yates on 0845 2935 531.

If you have any queries, please contact James Luxton on 0845 2935734

]]> By: Tracy Pepler http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/woodland-activities/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/comment-page-1/#comment-2136 Tracy Pepler Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:12:17 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/conservation/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/#comment-2136 Hi Steve Ken Broad wrote a good book called 'Caring for Small woods' You might like to also look on the SWOG (Small woodland owners group) site for other recommendations Tracy www.woodlands.co.uk/swog Hi Steve

Ken Broad wrote a good book called ‘Caring for Small woods’
You might like to also look on the SWOG (Small woodland owners group) site for other recommendations
Tracy
http://www.woodlands.co.uk/swog

]]> By: Tracy Pepler http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/woodland-activities/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/comment-page-1/#comment-2132 Tracy Pepler Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:34:08 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/conservation/chestnut-coppice-the-alternatives/#comment-2132 So many interesting comments on this blog! I think Mike makes an interesting point - there are pros and cons to all kinds of management, and where we do want to manage our wood as coppice, to promote local timber (as Toby points out is so important) we are also singling trees and choosing some to grow on. This will add to the biodiversity of the woodland. As we have coppiced up our ride this year, we have found all kinds of wonderful trees hidden under the chestnut - and we are working hard to give them a good amount of light to grow on. I think that managing woodland for biodiversity and products do not have to be seen as separate goals, as long as we are not too rigid in our planning. As for a good book on woodland management? Steve, depends what you are looking for, but Ken Broad ' Caring for small woods' is very good. Use the small woodland owners group too- others will be able to suggest other books www.woodlands.co.uk/swog Tracy So many interesting comments on this blog!
I think Mike makes an interesting point – there are pros and cons to all kinds of management, and where we do want to manage our wood as coppice, to promote local timber (as Toby points out is so important) we are also singling trees and choosing some to grow on. This will add to the biodiversity of the woodland. As we have coppiced up our ride this year, we have found all kinds of wonderful trees hidden under the chestnut – and we are working hard to give them a good amount of light to grow on.
I think that managing woodland for biodiversity and products do not have to be seen as separate goals, as long as we are not too rigid in our planning.

As for a good book on woodland management? Steve, depends what you are looking for, but Ken Broad ‘ Caring for small woods’ is very good.
Use the small woodland owners group too- others will be able to suggest other books
http://www.woodlands.co.uk/swog
Tracy

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