Coppice Woodland Management for Wood Fuel Supplies
Current energy and environmental issues are on all our
minds, the mention of renewable energy is no longer just the concern of the
green ones among us. One answer lies in the sustainable management (coppicing)
and replanting of our local indigenous woodlands in harmony with urban and
rural society.
Coppice is an ancient woodland industry, mastered in the
Tudor era. Sustainable sections of forest were harvested to produce a variety
of products, from firewood to battleships. The coppice was regulated by a
statute of Henry VIII, which required woods to be enclosed after cutting (to
prevent browsing by animals) and 12 standards (mature uncut trees) to be left
in each acre and be grown as structural timber.
Traditionally the coppice takes place on a 10-20 year rotation depending on the product needed. Young tree stems are cut down to the stump (stool), which re-grow producing multiple stems called poles. This process is especially beneficial for plant and wildlife as a wide variety of habitats unfold. The sunlight (previously blocked by dominant trees) reaches the woodland floor to release dormant flora such as bluebells and orchids. Trees that are well managed live longer, support local biodiversity and consume more carbon dioxide.
As a leading renewable energy company in the South East we
have spent many years and resources researching and perfecting the potential of
using our business as a tool to sympathetically manage indigenous woodlands
that would otherwise be left to decay. We actively manage local
woodlands and show how our customers energy bills are helping to improve these beautiful wildlife habitats.
We have a dedicated woodland management team who understand
the importance of creating a sustainable wood supply chain. From thinning the
woodland to the final delivery of processed timber; we have experimented with
every finer detail to ensure a truly low carbon final product.
England's Natural Heritage
Before
the industrial revolution, wood was the main fuel for England. It is estimated
that there are 40,000 Hectares of unmanaged woodland in England, in the form of
coppice. The traditional use of British woodlands dates back thousands of years
to a time when our ancestors lived in harmony with nature. The forests gave
food, building materials, firewood and indeed many myths and superstitions
evolved from the use of certain tree types.
To keep our local woodlands healthy for generations to come,
standard practice of woodland management is to leave wood in the woodland to
naturally decay. This process leaves much needed habitats for a variety of
insects, birds, animals and plants. Removing this wood is illegal and is the
very worst environmental crime.