coppici

Coppici, or coppicing, is a traditional method of woodland management in which trees or shrubs are periodically cut back to near ground level to stimulate new growth from the stump or roots. The regrowth, called coppice shoots, is harvested on a rotation cycle to produce a variety of products such as fuelwood, charcoal, fencing material, canes, or small-dimension timber.

A coppice stand is characterized by stools that resprout after each cut. The length of a coppice rotation depends on species and site; fast-growing species such as hazel and willow may be cut every 7 to 15 years, while slower-growing species like chestnut or oak may require longer cycles. A common variant is coppice with standards, where some trees are left to grow into full-sized timber while the rest are coppiced for regular outputs, allowing a multi-purpose woodland.

Historically, coppicing was widely practiced across Europe, especially in the British Isles, continental Europe, and the Mediterranean, providing a steady supply of fuel, charcoal, wattle, and durable fencing materials. In different regions, species selection and uses varied, with hazel for poles and baskets, willow for wattle and baskets, and chestnut or oak for timber or charcoal.

Ecologically, coppicing can create a mosaic of light-rich habitats that support biodiversity and can help maintain soil fertility. Properly managed rotations reduce over-shading and encourage a diversity of understory flora and fauna. In modern forestry, coppicing persists in certain areas as a sustainable method, in agroforestry systems, and as part of cultural heritage and biodiversity programs.