Introduction

From the early Middle Ages until the late nineteen century most woods in lowland England were coppiced. In this traditional method of managing woodland the trees were cut at intervals, typically every 5-20 years, to produce a crop of poles for which there was a wide range of markets. By the late 1800s coppicing was on the wane and today only a small fraction of woodland remains actively coppiced. The long history of coppicing has profoundly influenced the plants and animals now found in many semi-natural woods. Coppicing creates conditions suitable for many plants, insects and birds but it is particularly important to those requiring very open woodland habitats. The decline in coppicing has resulted in serious losses of habitat for certain open-woodland species. The future survival of some butterflies, for example, may depend on the return to more traditional methods of managing woodland. Coppicing is being revived on many woodland nature reserves but it may also prove suitable for some woods which are not reserves. This booklet explains how traditional coppice systems worked, why they are important to woodland wildlife and how coppice can be managed to enhance its wildlife interest. It also discusses the pros and cons of reviving coppicing in neglected woodland.