Notes on woodland management

NOTES ON WOODLAND MANAGEMENT Back to KS2 contents

The first part of these notes outlines the two main woodland management systems practised in Britain today – the traditional coppice system and more modern plantation system. Both of these can be seen at Wilderness Wood.

The second part describes Wilderness Wood and its management.

PART 1: WOODLAND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Coppicing Plantations Ecology

PART 2: MANAGEMENT AT WILDERNESS WOOD Rock and soil Description History Management Aims Coppices Plantations Craft produce Tools

PART 1: WOODLAND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

1. Coppicing

The tree is cut to the ground at intervals of 5-20 years, leaving the stump ("stool") to resprout.
A stool can live for centuries. Most broadleaved trees can be coppiced, but few conifers will resprout.

This system is several thousand years old, and the earliest way of growing wood. It is easy, flexible and produced small material easily worked by hand tools (axes, saws, billhooks). In the past, the poles were used for building, fencing, gates, hurdles, tool handles, charcoal and, above all, firewood.

2. Plantations

Trees are systematically planted, felled and replanted, usually in even-aged blocks. Management includes:

(a) Planting, usually in straight rows to make weeding easier. Young trees must be protected against rabbits by fencing or individual guards, and may need fertilising.

(b) Weeding, until trees are large enough to smother weeds.

(c) Replanting failures ("beating up"). … continues…

(d) Thinning, to give best trees adequate space and light.

(e) Pruning best trees, to give knot-free timber.

(f) Felling.

This system produces the large, straight timber demanded by modern sawmills. Conifers are generally planted rather than broadleaves, because they grow faster and their timber is what the market demands.

3. Influence of Management on Woodland Ecology

Much of our familiar woodland flora, and associated fauna, is adapted to coppicing. Cutting coppice lets sunlight reach the ground, and is followed by tremendous growth of undergrowth (brambles, honeysuckle, etc.); vigorous flowering of plants with underground storage (bluebells, wood anemones, etc.); and growth of invasive plants (foxglove, willowherbs, grass, etc.). Insects and animals feeding on them benefit from the luxuriant growth.

Soils under coppice are generally poor because continuous cropping over the centuries, formerly including even twigs for oven faggots, removed large quantities of nutrients.

Coniferous plantations generally reduce the flora because of continuous shade and a carpet of persistent needles.

All woods support very many fungi because there is much dead material (twigs, leaves, etc.) for them to eat and many live in association with tree roots.

PART 2: MANAGEMENT AT WILDERNESS WOOD

1. Rock and Soil

Underlying rock is silty sandstone with clay bands (Tunbridge Wells sands). Variable soils, all acid and infertile.

2. Brief Description

Approximately two thirds coppice, mainly sweet chestnut and birch. Several “stored” areas, where 2 or 3 poles per chestnut stool are left to grow into large timber trees.

Approximately one third plantations; mainly Scots pine, beech, Douglas fir, western red cedar.

Few large trees, and these mainly on boundaries. Stumps indicate former large trees.

Seasonal stream with mosses, liverworts, etc., and alder.

Boggy areas with sphagnum moss, and small pond.

3. History

An ancient woodland, as indicated by plants such as wood anemones, and old boundary banks. Probably replanted with sweet chestnut around 1800 for hop-poles.

It has been called "Wilderness Wood" for at least 200 years, and probably much longer.

The wood supplied charcoal to Heathfield iron furnace in the 18th century. It contains sites of two "bloomeries" (primitive furnaces for smelting iron ore with charcoal – see trail leaflet). Finds of pottery have dated both bloomeries to Roman or Iron Age.

4. Management Aims

A productive commercial woodland; we make a living from growing and harvesting trees. We aim:

(1) To maintain a financially sound business with income from on-site sales of wood and wood products, and from visitors.

(2) To diversify the range of produce, e.g. by growing some coppice into large trees ("storing"), planting Christmas trees and planting a variety of species.

(3) To maintain and enhance the resource base and conservation value of the wood.

(4) To give people the opportunity to enjoy and learn about the wood.

(5) To provide worthwhile rural employment.

5. Coppices

Mostly of sweet chestnut. This is the preferred species because it splits (cleaves) well, lasts in the ground without preservative treatment and grows fast. It is used for fenceposts, cleft fencing rails, posts for any garden or farm work, rustic furniture.

Birch is our "weed" tree and seeds itself freely. Its tops are used for peasticks and besom brooms, and poles may be sold for turnery (for broom handles and backs, bed legs, etc.). It cannot be used for outdoor products as it rots easily.

Any material not suitable for anything more profitable is used for firewood.

The coppice is cut on a 15-18 year rotation. The stored timber trees are grown for 70+ years.

6. Plantations

Had been mostly planted about 1960 with Scots pine and some beech. These plantations were gradually being replanted with groups of trees, including western red cedar and southern beech, to create uneven-aged woods.

About ¾ of these plantations were blown down in the October 1987 storm, and replanted with western red cedar and Douglas fir (conifers from western North America), and beech. There are also natural Scots pine seedlings. We chose mainly conifers because they mature faster than broadleaves and few broadleaves will thrive in our poor soil.

Large trunks are sawn into planks, and small material is used as firewood or softwood rustic poles, or sold for pulp. The best pine trees will be harvested at 60-100 years old.

There is a “dig-your-own” Christmas tree plantation, mainly of Norway spruce and Douglas fir. The trees are harvested after 6-10 years and the spaces replanted.

7. Craft produce

(1) Chestnut is made into fenceposts, garden constructions, cleft fencing, rustic garden furniture, etc.

(2) Sawn pine is made into bird boxes and tables, cladding for small garden and farm buildings. etc.

(3) We buy local oak timber for some of the garden furniture.

8. Tools

(1) Felling and coppicing is done by chainsaw.
(2) Produce is extracted from the wood by tractor and trailer, and winch; and dumper truck.
(3) Hand tools, especially billhooks, are used for trimming coppice, peeling bark, cleaving, etc.
(4) We have a tractor-mounted sawbench for cutting firewood; log splitter; and peeler/pointer.