The larger ‘standard’ trees were cut at the same time that the coppice was cut, when they became too crowded, or were needed in engineering projects and for house or ship-building.
Coppiced woodland, almost by accident, provides a continuously changing habitat. Some areas are open and some shaded. There may be big old oaks in one area and in others there may be young saplings. Flowers burst into life with the open sunlight and are replaced by shade-lovers as the tree-tops close over.
Most of our coppiced woodlands are tall and shaded. They are poor in wildlife value and need managing. Only small areas of woodland can be managed by volunteer groups and if large areas of woodland are to be cared for then it has to be on an economic basis.
Hazel rods and ash poles coppiced on Gower are exported largely to Castell Henllys, an Iron-Age Fort in Pembrokeshire. The site is being re-developed and can be visited at castellhenllys.com
