The Brandenburg Coppice

Abstract

Before discussing the rationale behind planting and managing a coppice, the term itself should be more closely defined.

In various locations and amongst various groups of English speaking people a "coppice" or “copse" may mean undergrowth in a forest or a small group of trees and shrubs but also trees that are to be used for coppicing.

The verb "to coppice'0 is however generally taken to mean the harvesting of trees by cutting them off near ground level and allowing them to regrow. In the context of this booklet I propose to attach this latter meaning to the words "coppice" and "coppicing”.

This is not to exclude other functions such a coppice may have in the landscape or ecologically, as, for instance, provision of shelter, sanctuary for biological pest control organisms, supply of pollen and nectar for bees, beautification, etc.

There is a wide range of uses available for trees harvested by coppicing and amongst these are drought fodder for livestock, fuelwood, canes for basketry, poles for fencing and fruitgrowing trellises and, last but not least, high quality timber for artwork, furniture making, parts of implements including wheels and so on.

Some of the uses listed for coppicewood are also fulfilled by timber from various forms of plantation forestry. This tends to be carried out under commercial conditions favouring high outputs per unit area. To achieve this, accepting high establishment costs and - as a consequence of this - seeking high market returns quickly without much consideration for maintaining future production, is the rule. Purposes outside the immediate commercial target such as ecological or recreation ones are seldom considered.