The traditional craft of coppicing by Phil Hopkinson
Helping restore local woodland
About Phil
I believe that our native Woodlands are a greatly ignored National Asset and that people of all ages and abilities should have the opportunity to spend time and experience the magical atmosphere within English woodland.
Our Woodlands are unique, if managed carefully have the ability to sustain a bio-diverse range of habitats, whilst at the same time being a totally sustainable source of timber and a place for recreation.
With that in mind I aim to encourage as many people as possible to enjoy
the woodland experience with me, whether it is on a training course, a woodland
walk or other activity.
I Coppice professionally full time, making the career change from the printing
industry after being made redundant.
I have been working in local woodlands since 1999 when I first visited Ravenshill
Woodland Reserve on an open day and then became involved as a volunteer
there.
I now manage areas of the reserve and neighbouring woodland as coppice with standards. I have a woodland workshop used as a base for my coppicing courses and a camp kitchen.
I help 8 other woodland owners manage their woodlands in a number of ways.
From creating Woodland Management plans, applying for Woodland Improvement
grants and felling licenses to undertaking practical work such as PWAS removal
and coppicing.
I am a founder member of the Malvern Hills Coppice Network which was set
up in 2005 and am a member of the Small woods Association and SWOG (small
woodland owners group) and am Chairman of
malvern community forest . A group whose aspiration is to create 13
new Community Woodlands in the area of the ancient Malvern Chase.
I have been running coppicing courses for the last three years for woodland
owners, volunteers and other people interested in learning more about traditional
woodland management
In July I hosted a day for the Small Woodland Owners Group.
Here is a link to the SWOG August newsletter.
My outdoor structures are all created from local timber, which has been
either coppiced or is available as a result of removal of PAWS (Plantations
on ancient woodland sites) this woodland management aim is to return local
woodlands to native species only and enrich woodland bio- diversity and
improve Dormice, Bird and Bat habitats.
I have developed my own web sites which have generated work for my larger
structures in Birmingham London and elsewhere.
I have worked with Zita Elize a top London Florist and garden designer,
creating a structure for on her trade stand at the National Wedding Show
at Earls Court.
I sell coppiced products for the garden such as Pea sticks and Beanpoles
to local customers. For customers further afield I would recommend that
you purchase small scale products and charcoal from your local coppice worker
as transport costs make it unviable to sell low value products further afield.
If you would like to discuss a particular project please contact me.
All pictures have been taken in woodlands that I have worked.