Hazel and Chestnut

[Quickthorn]

Very nice mate! My heart has'nt been 100% behind tree work for the last few years and very rarely do I feel as if Im improving the enviroment that we all live in. Taking these first few steps into copse cutting (Im hoping) might be the breath of fresh air I need . Seeing pictures like yours is very inspiring, keep up the good work

 

Well I think you're in the right part of the country - there's still a huge resource, lots of other people doing it to link up with (but not too many ) and good markets for produce.

 

September to March is the sort of timing I'd go for. If the site is run for wildlife etc, they normally allow a shorter season. On my sites, they want everything doing by end of February, with one or two places now talking about the end of January Having said that, I know of a least one very well respected cutter near you who cuts into June.

 

Most of my coppice ends up looking like this.

 

 

This is probably a little higher than it could be, but the spec on this site tells us not to disturb any leaf litter on the stumps and to cut above it.

 

On bigger stumps, I tend to cut at the level where all the stems meet. This ones become a big high because previous cutters have cut high.

 

 

The reason you cut low is to encourage nice, straight growth.

 

 

Regrowth from high stumps often has a "kick" or curve before carrying on straight. This bit's never much use in a lot of products, but can waste 6" to a foot in some cases.

 

 

It would be good to see the pictures of your site.

 

Something else to think about: a problem with neglected coppice is that the distance between the stools spreads as some stools shade out others. Ideally, you want not much more than 6-9 foot between hazel stools. If the hazel on your site is a bit sparse, you can leave one or two rods on each stool and layer them into the gaps.

 

Layering

[Pat Ferrett]

Superb Quicthorne! Im going to have a walk around tomorrow and will take a few photos. It would be nice to keep this thread going as I've struggled to get info, and it will Im sure be helpfull to others

[Cracker]

Great post!

As well as layering I've put newly cut hazel rods in the ground about mid March and some have taken like willow.

[Quickthorn]

Great post!

As well as layering I've put newly cut hazel rods in the ground about mid March and some have taken like willow.

 

That's news to me, I didn't think hazel would do that. We'll have to try that here. What sort of size rods did you use?

[Cracker]

That's news to me, I didn't think hazel would do that. We'll have to try that here. What sort of size rods did you use?

 

About 1-2". Yes, it surprised me to discover this. I drove some sticks in, to support a cord, and found them sprouting a few weeks later.

[Pat Ferrett]

Well I got the chance to visit the estate and start on the Hazel today, but It didnt go smoothly, the Suzuki jeep had a flat battery the petrol station was out of unleaded and then when I did get up there I cut a couple of dead limbs and the throttle broke on the saw . I rang the owner to see if he wanted to pop up to see Me, but he was busy but laughed when I told him where I had chosen to start and said its always been called Hangmans copse .

Here's a few pictures to show you what Im up against. My plan is to clear all of the limbs that have failed and thin the stands leaving the whips and maybe one or two of the trunks to maintain the food source for our furry friends, and to prevent the stands being stressed, What do you lot think ???

[digga]

looks like you got your work cut out for you there mate

[Pat Ferrett]

looks like you got your work cut out for you there mate

 

How long ago do you recon the big one's were cut ? Is the only use for hazel that size charcoal and logs ?

[digga]

looks like some of it may not have been cut for 15years or more some of the small rods wood be usable but only ral use i could see for the bigger stuff would be charcoal or logs but may be able to make the odd things out of them if you find intresting shapes . whats the chestnut like ?

[Rob Stringer]

How long ago do you recon the big one's were cut ? Is the only use for hazel that size charcoal and logs ?

 

Around World war II i.e 60-70 years ago quite possibly. I am cutting areas like this and the hazel comes back fine as long as its deer fenced (leaving the odd whip on the stool can help as you say to reduce the shock to the stool). The big stuff makes good firewood&charcoal (and deer fence posts) but not much else. This sort of overstood coppice is pretty hard work, might be worth seeing if the local FC can help with any grants.