Woking Palace (managed by Woking Borough Council ) and Friends Of Woking Palace approached Surrey Wildlife Trust for advice on how best to manage the small piece of woodland which forms part of the Woking Palace Estate. This included the ponds, moat and the willows which border onto the moat.
The site comprises of predominately hazel understory with mature Oak, under advisement from The forestry commission the wood would be able to be placed into The Woodland Grant Scheme, and this has given financial assistance to undertake the coppicing and the pollarding of the willows around the moat. This was to be completed over a five year period. A great deal of work has been done to get this site into a management regime.
More About Coppicing
Coppicing is a traditional woodland management system that exploits the ability of most British Broad-leaved trees to produce new growth from the cut stump or ‘stool’. For thousands of years coppicing was the most common form of woodland management over much of Britain. Substantial areas of woodland were worked to provide regular supplies of a wide range of products, but as markets declined many copses were abandoned or converted to plantation forestry.
Today, with greater environmental concerns and the revival of interest in woodland crafts, with many people learning old skills and looking for ways of putting them to use, it is possible to restore our wildlife and landscape heritage.
Much of the diversity and richness of the country’s woodland wildlife has thrived under the coppice system for thousands of years. Periodic cutting boosts the growth of a wide variety of plants, while trees in their various stages of growth provide, in a relatively small area, a great variety of habitats for animals, birds and butterflies.
Commercially managed coppice is not ideal as it often lacks dead wood and the more shaded, damp conditions of neglected woods that can provide a niche for a range of rare and delicate species unable to survive the impact of regular site clearance. It is important that coppice managed for biodiversity has these features built into it.
Importance Of Coppicing
Coppicing may look drastic, but is essential for much of our best-loved woodland wildlife that may be threatened with extiction if this is not continued.
The trees are cut in cycles. Time between cuts varies depending on the intended use of the woods, but needs to be regular so there are always some open areas to allow warmth and light to reach the ground. This encourages plant growth and insect activity, but as the effect decreases yearly, some cutting must be done each year.
Coppicing also provides the wood needed to make a wide range of products. Help wildlife by supporting the coppice industry. Products available to buy include walking sticks, horse jumps, fence sticks and garden furniture.
Visit the Woking Palace homepage to find out more about the site.
The Surrey Wildlife Trust Ltd is a company limited by guarantee, Registered in England No: 645176. President: Dr. David Bellamy OBE VAT No: 791.3799.78. Registered Charity No: 208123. Charities Aid Foundation "Give As You Earn."
Registration No: 005805.
