1.3.4 Enhancing
the image of coppice It might also be wise to make the most of the healthy green image
currently enjoyed by hazel coppice, developing it further where possible.
For example, it might be possible to attract funding for special studies
which no single operator could afford, but which might be to the benefit
of all (the present conference is one example). Public opinion also seems
to be increasingly important in many industries, and encouraging the
public (and politicians) to think well of the industry may also help in
the future when sympathetic ears may be needed.
2 UNPRODUCTIVE COPPICE
Much of the coppice in Wessex is not in cycle; it has been neglected
for years. Owners neglected coppice can choose to do nothing, but if it is
to be made financially productive it must first be cleared at some cost,
and then managed in cycle. The question which has to be answered is
whether that cost of clearing can be justified in financial terms
2.1 Costs of rehabilitation Howe (1995) suggests that an average cost of clearing derelict coppice
and returning it to active management would amount to about £1,500/ha £600/ac),
but to this may have to be added a further cost of about £600/ha £250/ac)
for burning up the brash if shooting interests require access to the wood.
If, as was suggested in Section 2, sales per ha amounted to £600-700/ha,
the outlay would be covered in three coppice cycles (18-21 years), and
much less if benefits of game cover are taken into account. But an
investor would apply a discount rate and, as Howe shows, this could
greatly alter the picture. In some circumstances it might only just be
worthwhile to bring the coppice back into production, even if all future
sales were taken into account. We have already considered how amenable to
variation is the income from coppice sales. We must now consider if there
are ways of reducing the capital cost of rehabilitation.
2.1.1 Clearing for other purposes It would be a little cheaper to bulldoze the stools out and return the
land to agriculture as already pointed out, but this is even less likely
to be a feasible option than with in-cycle coppice. The hazel may have
reached a size where it cannot be felled without a license, and it is very
unlikely indeed if the Forestry Authority would permit coppice to be
returned to agriculture. The only other alternative considered was
broadleaved high forest, for which old-growth clearance would also be
necessary, and it was shown that in-cycle coppice is already a better
proposition.
2.1.2 Finding other markets Although no markets have currently been found for material cut from
neglected coppice stands, that is not to say that no markets could be
developed. However little the return it would be better than nothing, and
that would at least reduce the cost of clearing The development of
lucrative and large scale markets for such material could of course alter
the whole economic picture of coppice management
2.1.3 Selling the coppice experience Part of the current resurgence of interest in coppicing has come about
not because of recovery of markets, but because some operators want to
work in the woods, even at low levels of income. Nevertheless, that
represents a market, because it might be possible to attract many others
into old coppice areas (for a fee) to enjoy the green experience of the
ancient crafts of coppicing for a day or two. People can be attracted to
experience for a day the joys of flying a plane, or rally driving, or
handling a tank, so why not the environmental satisfaction of working with
coppice? Using older material might threaten less damage to stools from
unskilled hands, and as long as receipts covered supervision and any extra
work which might be required, this might reduce the cost of clearing
unwanted old growth.
