Volunteers coppicing in Gorewell Wood
The Kentish Stour Countryside Project Conservation
Volunteers were out last week carrying out a traditional form of woodland
management, coppicing, in a small woodland near Old Wives Lees.
Gorewell Wood is a 2 ha (5 acre) woodland which has been
managed with the help of the KSCP and its volunteers since 1993. Coppice
woods are one of the most diverse types of woodland and fortunately there
are still many coppiced woods in Kent. Although due to a decline in the
markets for coppice material many are now being neglected. The wood itself
is home to a large number of plants and animals, one of the most notable
is the dormouse. A rare and very small mouse which is often around 7cm
long weighing about the same as two £1 pound coins. The dormouse is a
protected species and a license is needed to disturb/handle it.
Fifteen volunteers from KSCP were coppicing, which
involves cutting small trees like hazel to a few centimetres above ground
level. The tree will then re grow from the cut stool. Coppicing is usually
undertaken on a rotation which means that there are always areas of the
wood at different stages of growth. This is what leads to coppice
woodlands being so diverse. Matt Hayes from KSCP said "Coppice
woodlands are beautiful places especially in spring when everything comes
to life, it was great to spend the day carrying out a traditional form of
management with the volunteers." Some of the materials cut will be
used for hedge laying at Chislet this week.
Volunteer tasks are carried out every Wednesday and
Thursday and occasional weekends. If you are interested in volunteering or
would like any more information about the KSCP contact
us.
