Hazel Coppicing Part 1

This is an in depth mini documentary working on several 'over stood' hazel on a woodland edge.
8:34 - felling hazel stool
9:40 - processing and looking what to harvest from the tree
12:47 - Using a billhook
17:30 - Dealing with difficult branches
21:32 - Cross cutting with chainsaw

[@S-P-A-]

Welcome to England. Just listen to the sweet sound of the birds x

[@JasonBarnett-YTisantiWest]

Wish more people knew about this process

[@juliadean2473]

Brilliant and thorough video. I'm encouraged to deal with all the hazel that's overgrown along by a stream and I will be doing a positive as opposed to a destructive environmental thing. Thank you!

[@trevordeane3940]

When you said you were putting a rope from the tractor I was expecting a Fordson Major or a Ford 4000, I laughed when I saw the ride-on mower. Good video, that was accurate and well presented with good information for beginners. Glad to see that you have the same respect for the trees you take down as I have and use every bit of the tree. Well done!

[@nirowood8301]

Thank you for documenting this! Will be rewatching this later. Much appreciated, Ni

[@Woodforgeuk]

Thank you Ni, enjoy 👍

[@yarnybart5911]

I have a line if mature hazels along 2 sides of a 2 acre badly fenced field. I want to selectively coppice, taking out the largest branches I can from each tree. I do have rabbits and deer so want to avoid coppicing entire trees. I'll be using it fir firewood and I also want to ensure the longevity of the trees. I think they were planted a little too close given how neglected they are. Your video was very useful, thanks.

[@joshfoster9832]

Make the stump a bit slanted on the final cut, helps the water run off and prevents pooling and rot

[@futurecaredesign]

I really like how you work. You don't just go around and chop everything down, then clean up afterwards. You cut something and process it. Cut and process. Keeps the work area clean and if you have to call it a day for whatever reason you are not leaving a giant mess. Also, leaving the snedding for the later part of the day is asking for trouble. You are more than likely to be tired and as we say in Dutch 'an accident is hiding in a tiny corner'. Logs can twist, snag your chainsaw, billhooks can slip. Better to have your work measured out more and diversified to keep you sharp.

[@Woodforgeuk]

Thank you

[@maggieadams8600]

I was amazed to learn yesterday that an Ash tree can live for about 200 years, but if coppiced, it can live for a 1000, and that there's a tree in England that's been coppiced and estimated to be around 3000 years old! Apparently it's because they're kept permanently in a youthful state of growth.Prior to learning this I always felt bad cutting trees back. Thanks for your instructions!

[@Woodforgeuk]

Thank you, Wow 3000 years, so that must have been a seedling that started growing in the bronze age and then was coppiced by the people then. It is incredible when you think about what our human ancestors did

[@maggieadams8600]

@@Woodforgeuk Yes, it's in this video I was watching. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4DFhahned-GqsU

[@Woodforgeuk]

@@maggieadams8600 Cool I'll have a look

[@maggieadams8600]

@@Woodforgeuk Watching it again it's 800 years that a coppiced ash can live until. It's right at the end if it, but I found it all interesting.

[@bethatz252]

I wish I would have stumbled upon your video a year ago. Thanks for providing great info on "how to" & safety.

[@Woodforgeuk]

Thank you Beth

[@negahrev]

Good job!

[@elizabethblane201]

Very well made video.

[@Woodforgeuk]

Thank you 👍

[@AWoodlandAdventure]

Thank you kindly for the education :). I'm looking forward to more videos from you. Subscribed :)

[@Woodforgeuk]

Thank you very much

[@trevorcox3020]

Nice to watch

[@Woodforgeuk]

Thank you

[@paulwood9741]

I've just discovered your videos and subscribed. I'm really curious to see the coppiced hazel now.

[@Woodforgeuk]

Thank you. Me too! But unfortunately I no longer work at that estate

[@simonjlkoreshoff3426]

Did you consider laying the hedge?

[@nuruzzaman4893]

Hi, great work, really entertaining and educational. I'm thinking about planting either Hazel, Ash, Lime or whatever I can get my hands on, to be able to make bean poles. 1. What grows the fastest? 2. Lasts the longest? 3. Looks the nicest? 4. Grows the straightest? Thanks. All the best.

[@Woodforgeuk]

Hello thank you, any of those will do fine. Sweet chestnut and willow are also very good for bean poles. There is a lot of variables but roughly Willow is probably fastest growing but only lasts a year or two after cutting (same with Ash and Lime, Hazel could last 3-4 years as bean pole if lucky). Sweetchestnut lasts longest as it has more tannin content (therefore more durable in the soil for several years)All those species look nice in my opinion and will grow straight in a good aspect. Hope that helps

[@nuruzzaman4893]

@@Woodforgeuk Thanks for responding. How long would it take to grow some good poles from the above mentioned names for bean poles?

[@Woodforgeuk]

@@nuruzzaman4893 Sure, growing trees takes a little patience, its kind of a mid/long term investment. If you already have existing trees you could harvest on a 2-3year cycle depending how thick you want the stems (cut them as soon as they are big enough). Otherwise planting new trees you'll have to let their roots establish a couple of years first before starting a coppice/pollard cycle. Good luck

[@robertstallard7836]

@@nuruzzaman4893 If it's any guide, sweet chestnut is cut at about 3 years for NHS walking sticks. That should give you an idea of the growth rate and diameter..

[@duncsmayman5545]

Really enjoyed your video, got some good ideas so thank you. Your pole saw in your video who’s the manufacturer please

[@Woodforgeuk]

Thank you, it's a stihl km130 with a ht-km attachment

[@IanGrayTheGrayMan]

Hi @Woodforgeuk. Thanks for this video. I'm interested in your billhook - can you tell me what make/pattern yours is? Also, where did you get your billhook holster? Thanks, Ian

[@Woodforgeuk]

Hi Ian, thank you. That is a Morris Devon Billhook I purchased from one of my greenwood working tutors. Its pretty good for coppice work and riving hazel, sometimes I have used it for hedgelaying. The holster is one I made myself after seeing the types people wear at the hedgelaying championships. Hope that helps.

[@IanGrayTheGrayMan]

@@Woodforgeuk Excellent, thanks for that! Ian

[@LieuweJongsma]

What is the latest you'd coppice hazel? Late April?

[@Woodforgeuk]

Late March really because the sap will be rising April and you may have birds nesting in large stands of hazel

[@LieuweJongsma]

@@Woodforgeuk I'll leave mine until next year, then. I have a few overstood hazel stands in the back yard of the house we recently moved to.

[@Woodforgeuk]

@@LieuweJongsmaWell you could probably get away with it this weekend if the buds haven't started to open, good luck

[@futurecaredesign]

At 5:20 you speak about animals damaging regrowth. Have you heard of bonesauce?

[@Woodforgeuk]

I had not before but founded some more info

[@futurecaredesign]

@@Woodforgeuk it might work for you. Check out this video especially: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYO9knaJm8hpo8k