Management
Woodland Management Aims
A Woodland for People and Wildlife
The twin objectives of enhancing The Copse for the benefit of people and wildlife underpin most of the activities of Holt Copse Conservation Volunteers.
Encouraging the Herbaceous Flora
Dense thickets of holly developed once Holt Copse ceased being managed actively. Consequently less sunlight reached the woodland floor and the herbaceous flora and its associated wildlife all went into decline. Thinning the holly and clearing some areas of bramble should reverse this trend and allow a more diverse range of herbaceous flora to re-establish. It will also benefit the hazel which will be coppiced roughly every 7 – 10 years, although more will need to be planted where it is sparse. Regular coppicing will further encourage herbaceous species like bluebells and wood anemones, that make a vivid display in the Copse in the spring.
Regeneration of the Oak Trees
Mature oaks predominate in the Copse (80 per cent of the area), but many are showing their age. Some have died and many more are senescing and losing vigour, but little re-generation from acorns has occurred, principally because of competition from the shrub layer. A project to replace some of the dead trees began in 2013, but deciding where and how many trees to plant to avoid an over dense leaf canopy, needs careful consideration and planning.
Coppicing Hazel
What is Coppicing?
Coppicing is the traditional woodland management process of cutting down broad-leaved trees to ground level in winter, and thereby encouraging the regrowth of multiple stems from the stump, or `stool'. This process is repeated throughout the woodland on a cycle of normally 7 to 25 years. One part of the wood is harvested each year, allowing for regrowth and the formation of a sustainable cycle. This periodic cutting has been proved to extend the life of the trees, and create an ideal habitat for native flora and fauna to thrive.
Why Coppice?
Coppicing has been a major woodland industry since Neolithic times and has shaped the native woodland that we know today whilst supplying a huge range of products; from fencing to firewood, walking sticks to charcoal. Woodland wildlife has adapted to this form of management over thousands of years, but in recent years the practice of coppicing has declined as the need for charcoal, sheep hurdles and other farm products decreased. Old, unmanaged coppiced woodland are unable to support the diversity of birds, mammals, insects and flowers that an actively managed woodland can.
How Does it Work?
Broad-leaved woodlands which have been coppiced over a long time are rich in wildlife and provide a rich environment and habitat to many native flora and fauna. This is achieved by maintaining small scale structural diversity, from newly felled open areas (creating glades and thus letting in light and life) to tall dense wooded areas, all in the same woodland. This process closely mimics the natural ecology of Britain’s ancient woodlands and ensures an abundance of diverse wildlife to create a true native wood.
Management documentation here