THE NATIONAL Coppice Federation (NCFed) has received funding from the Forestry Commission’s ‘Woods Into Management Forestry Innovation Fund (WIMFIF)’, to undertake a new project in South West England for privately-owned woodland.

The ‘More Coppice Into Productive Management’ project runs until end of March 2025, with the aim to significantly improve the understanding of where coppice woodland is located and its condition. This will result in the production of an interactive web-based map.

Improving understanding of the barriers to coppice management/restoration is a part of the project, along with making recommendations for further action and support.

Cheryl Duerden of NCFed said: “The project is entering the survey phase where we are looking to map and survey coppice woodland.

“We would greatly value and appreciate the help of woodland owners, managers and workers across Southwest England in identifying where coppice woodland is located by filling in a short questionnaire.

“Getting more coppice woodland into productive management will increase the availability of good quality coppice material to meet demand and bring many other environmental and social benefits like increased biodiversity.”

The intention is to eventually rollout the project to the rest of England, and ensure it has applicability in Wales and Scotland too.

Complete the survey here.

More information can be found at ncfed.org.uk.