Thursday 7 May 2009

Oak Coppice in Thornton Wood

Heavy Oak Coppice. Photo: Paul Loughnane

This is a photo of Heavy Oak Coppice at Thornton Wood. It shows the oak standards with their raised crowns, the white of recently cut hazel stools and the bluebells.

The trees in Thornton Wood are managed by Wirral Countryside Volunteers. This spring's coppicing was the fourth cut in the cycle, with each successive cut producing thicker regrowth. The increase in light levels reaching the cleared coppice floor allows this display of bluebells and other spring flowers. The wood removed can be used in other conservation tasks - this year's coppice products included 300 hedging stakes, 80 bean poles and 20 pea sticks. The coppicing this year took a total of 45 volunteer days to complete so our thanks go to everyone involved.

No comments:

Post a Comment