Regenerating Woodland at Clayfield Copse

The fields at Clayfield Copse had been regularly ploughed until about 7 years ago. Since then natural regeneration of woodlands has been occurring, this is much better than planting woodlands, the trees get off to a really good start. However, nearly all our woodlands are not 'natural', they were managed for timber, and this is what gives English woods their character.

The Friends of Clayfield Copse would like to continue that tradition, the plan is to have a variety of woodland on these fields. Some areas will be left to continue their natural regeneration, and no intervention will take place.

Some areas will be managed as coppice particularly the ash. In these areas young saplings will be cut or coppiced and used for hedging and traditional crafts. They will regrow and within 5 -7 years coppicing will be repeated.

In other areas there will be intervention by selecting and leaving a variety of the very best native trees and shrubs already growing, taking out some where they are over crowded, and creating glades and pathways.

Econet and others started work here last year coppicing the ash, and that work will be continued later this year and next year.

David Reece (left) from the Oxfordshire Woodland Project
with Econet volunteers coppicing ash at Clayfield Copse,
February 2007. Much of the coppiced material was taken
for use in hedgelaying.