After a late start caused by delays in the exchange of paperwork, the 2007-8 campaign is now well under way. The site of this years coupe is at the top of High Path ( the easternmost part of the perimeter path) and runs down almost to the bridle path. It was last cut in 1994-5, and at nearly twelve years old it could regarded as 'overstood'. 'Overstood' is another one of those special words in which woodland management abounds, and refers to a coppiced area which has been left too long, resulting in many stems which are too large for anything other than firewood. Eight years is the rotational period at which we are aiming.

An Early View of the Coppice

This defect is to some degree offset by the density of the regrowth since the last cut, and hence although the average quality is poorer than last year, the actual yield of usable stems is almost as good. This is just as well, because this year we already have some very large orders for hedging materials.

A View of the Density...

However, it is perhaps a little early to generalise about the quality of the coupe; in any coppiced area there tend to be good bits and bad bits. One week one has nothing but birch and willow, the next some really impressive hazel and rowan.

... and another

This coupe plays a critical role in the overall scenery of the wood. The western side of the wood is relatively low-lying and commands very little in the way of views. To the east, however, the land rises quite steeply, and from the middle of High Path one could see the Abberley and Malvern Hills - if it wasn't for the branches in between - to misquote the old Music Hall song.

When the coupe is complete, this view will be restored, and this will give the wood a much more spacious atmosphere. But as regeneration proceeds, it will gradually be obscured again. Because we would like to make the view a permanent feature of the wood, we are coppicing on a straight front downhill from High Path. This approach will tell us where the coppice boundary should be fixed if the view is not to be blocked by regrowth, since the view will gradually open up as successive trees are removed.

This will not be the end of the matter, however. Changing the coppice boundary will require approval from Natural England, and this cannot be taken for granted.

Coppicing can be hard work, but only if one wants to make it so. We have a mixed team with ages ranging - almost - from eight to eighty -

Exploited Child Labour