J-P

Biggest problem for CCF in the UK is low light /sunshine levels compared to a Continental climate. Clearfell or complete coppicing enables a more substantial regrowth here. But now we have Sitka Spruce which suits our Atlantic climate in UK and Ireland.

Last picture could be a Longhorn Beetle - maybe such as a Rhagium -one of which favours conifers (bifasciatum ?) Head looks wrong for a Stag Beetle - but I'm no expert. South Wales also has an alien Longhorn in Conifers - don't know the name.

Just for the record- and IMHO Any native willow grown on a longer rotation ( 15 yr) is denser than poplar or spruce. cinerea -burns best - stays dry in stack viminialis - primitive clones good on 15yr+ rotation. New clones - need more research for SRF caprea - good yield on drier soils - draws moisture in stack - similar density to viminialis. Very poor from cuttings. fragilis, alba, etc - density too low. I plant caprea x cinerea or viminialis on forest soils. Viminialis x aurita is the way forward for marginal, acid or upland sites.

If you are going to cut rods every year, leave an inch of new growth at the bottom. If you want firewood size, cut to near ground level and thin shoots, crop every ten years or so. Watch out for deer, hare, rabbit damage !! Any idea what species / clone you have? I am using viminialis (local form) Bowles Hybrid and am trying out some Bowles x caprea hybrids.Also some cinerea selections. These are growing as SRF (6" dbh in 10 years I hope) I need a wood density of about 0.4 which rules out Bowles Hybrid even though it has a great form (sg of 0.32 at 4 y.o. so far) Cheers JP