Hazel commercial value

[Acerforestry]

I have had an enquiry locally about coppicing some 18 year old stands of hazel, but before I can come to any arrangement with the land owner as far as labour costs go - are there many buyers of hazel out there, realistically. Unlike demand for sweet chestnut for example, I only see occasional requests for hazel rods.

[Ernesto]

Hi Acer, generally the system (around Berks/Hampshire anyway) to get over-stood hazel (which this will be at 18yrs old) back into rotation is as follows. You cut the stand for free and get all of the wood you want, or if the estate has a use for it, they will pay by the tonne. The wood won't have massive commercial value as you'll struggle to get much product out of the stand (either binders, bean poles or stakes). There'll be some but most will be bigger diameter stems (hazel gives good firewood logs, small size though). Then when the stand has regrown to usable size, 7 years or so, you also get the first cut of the newly grown back 'in-rotation' coppice, again for free as part of the original contract. This should be much more the right size for usable product. Then the estate has an in-rotation coppice as a usable resource for the future.

Hope that makes sense.

Ernie.

[Acerforestry]

Ernie, yes that's very useful info. I will have to discuss with the man at the weekend and see what he has in mind, but at the size this stuff is, I agree it's firewood.

[woody paul]

Watch you don't get it back in rotation and someone else takes it from you 

[Rough Hewn]

Hazel makes good charcoal if you can process it.
[emoji106]

[Stere]

Shame no one manges any of the hazel round here its all "overstood"  suppose the economics just don't add up.

[Mick Dempsey]

Back in the 60s/70s my old man used to do some coppicing with a mate to supplement his farm workers wages.

 

All gone over now of course.

[devon TWiG]

I doubt it would be possible to cut overstood hazel coppice for firewood at an economic rate !!!! .... also regrowth is prime deer fodder so will need fencing . I drive a lorry part time and quite often shift thatching supplies ( i did today actually .. to Sparkford )  and ALL of the products are foreign !!  wire mesh .. China , Thatch reed ...Hungarian ...hazel spars split pointed and twisted from Poland .... cost of labour plus other costs make it too costly to compete !

[finchyo]

I need hazel whips for hedgelaying in Lincolnshire but cant seem to get a hold of any ?

[Acerforestry]

38 minutes ago, finchyo said:

I need hazel whips for hedgelaying in Lincolnshire but cant seem to get a hold of any ?

Have you given Woodlots a look?