Coppice working
The management of woodland such that young tree stems are repeatedly cut down to near ground level to produce long straight shoots for harvesting, and the making of products using these shoots. Many of the coppice crafts have separate entries.
| Status | Currently viable |
| Craft category | Wood |
| Historic area of significance | South East; South West; Cumbria (see ‘Other information’ for further details) |
| Area currently practised | UK (see ‘Other information’ for further details) |
| Origin in the UK | Paleolithic |
| Current no. of professionals (main income) | 201-500 (coppice workers who make a proportion or all of their income from working coppice woodlands) |
| Current no. of professionals (sideline to main income) |
Proportion of the above |
| Current no. of trainees | 11-20 |
| Current total no. serious amateur makers |
|
| Current total no. of leisure makers |
|
| Minimum no. of craftspeople required | 501-1000 |
History
‘Coppice crafts’ is a broad term to describe the making of a wide variety of products including: pea sticks, hurdles, barrel hoops, clothes pegs, tent pegs, rakes, handles, spars, scythe snaiths, furniture and charcoal. Historically some craftsmen would have specialised in particular products, while others would have made a range of products. Today, coppice workers and woodsmen tend to make a range of items.
Techniques
Local forms
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Oak coppice: Cumbria, Argyll, West Midlands for tan bark
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Hornbeam coppice: Essex etc
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Mixed coppice (birch, alder, willow, hazel, ash) for bobbin works: Cumbria
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Ash coppice
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Hazel coppice
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Sweet chestnut coppice
Sub-crafts
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Scythe snaith making
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Spar making
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Tent peg making
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Clothes peg making
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Barrel hoop making
- Pimp making
- Shingle making
Issues affecting the viability of the craft
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Cheap imports of coppice crafts.
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A shortage of in-rotation coppice – and there are high costs involved in restoring coppice.
Support organisations
- Bill Hogarth Memorial Trust
- Small Woods Association
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Local coppice groups
Craftspeople currently known
- The Coppice Products website lists hundreds of makers of coppice products from across the UK.
Other information
Historic area of significance: The heartlands are now Kent where the chestnut industry is still viable, Southern counties such as Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset where the hazel industry was associated with historic sheep industry. However most counties have some connection with a coppice history Cumbria being another that has a remnant industry today.
Current area: The National Coppice Federation has coppice groups affiliated from most areas of England and some in Wales. There are fewer in Scotland but there is some coppice.
Several organisations run coppiceworking apprenticeships, such as the Bill Hogarth Memorial Trust and the Small Woods Association.
References
- Jenkins, J Geraint, (1978) Traditional Country Craftsmen (Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd)
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Tabor, Raymond, (1994) Traditional Woodland Crafts: A Practical Guide (B T Bastford Ltd)
- Edlin, Herbert L, (1973) Woodland Crafts in Britain (David and Charles)
- Oaks and Mills (2010) Coppicing and Coppice Crafts – a comprehensive guide .
