Coppicing and beyond: How Southend's Tree Wardens are reviving our woodlands

Ever heard the term "coppicing"? Over the winter, Southend's dedicated Tree Wardens have been busy carrying out this Stone Age woodland practice in a small area, known as a "coupe," within the serene Hadleigh Great Wood.

This traditional practice involves cutting certain trees just above ground level to encourage fresh, vigorous growth. Species such as oak, ash, hazel and hornbeam naturally regenerate, producing multiple stems from the base. These "stools" are then re-coppiced on a 10 to 30 year cycle, creating a sustainable supply of timber while bringing enormous ecological benefits.

Positive practice, longer life

It might feel counterintuitive to cut trees back to stumps, but coppicing is one of the best things we can do for their long-term health.

Believe it or not, by regularly coppicing trees, we can extend their natural lifespan by up to four times. Some of the oldest coppice stools in Southend's woodlands are thought to be more than 300 years old; living history that continues to regenerate thanks to this traditional practice.

New life emerges

And then there's biodiversity. When a coupe is cut, sunlight can finally reach the woodland floor, creating the perfect environment for wildflowers and undergrowth to flourish and the results can be seen for years to come.

This burst of new plant life provides food and shelter for a huge range of insects, birds and mammals, including:

• the rare and threatened Heath Fritillary butterfly
• the charming Hazel Dormouse
• the majestic Tawny Owls
• the active little Treecreeper birds

This work supports the Council's wider commitment to enhancing and protecting Southend's natural environment under our ‘Safe, Clean and Green' priority. The Corporate Plan 2024-2028 sets out a clear ambition to "enhance the environment, biodiversity and our coastline" and to upgrade parks and green spaces as part of improving the city's overall environmental quality.

Nothing goes to waste

Every piece of timber removed from the coupe is reused on site through a traditional craft known as “dead hedging.” The cut wood is carefully stacked into a natural fence that:

• protects the newly opened woodland floor
• prevents trampling
• shelters key wildflowers such as bluebells and cow parsley
• locks up carbon
• creates valuable habitats for small mammals, birds and insects

In our opinion, it also looks beautifully rustic; a feature that blends seamlessly into the woodland landscape while quietly doing important work.

Signs of spring

During the team's most recent visit, two lovely butterflies, a Brimstone and a Peacock, fluttered in, signalling the arrival of spring and the success of the work. If anything, this is Mother Nature's way of telling us to turn off Netflix and turn to the wild instead.

Walk with us in the woods

This spring, Southend's Tree Wardens are hosting "Rackham Revisited," a wonderful series of guided walks exploring the ancient woodlands of South-East Essex. Walks take place across several beautiful sites, and each session offers a gentle 2 to 3-hour wander led by knowledgeable volunteers.

All walks are free of charge, with optional donations to the Woodland Trust and Ancient Tree Forum welcome. Up to 25 people can join each walk, and they are suitable for all ages.

Upcoming walk dates

• Wednesday 15 April: Oakwood Park
• Sunday 19 April: West Wood
• Thursday 23 April: Hadleigh Great Wood
• Tuesday 5 May: Belfairs Park
• Sunday 10 May: Edwards Hall Park
• Friday 15 May: Hadleigh Great Wood
• Saturday 16 May: Oakwood Park
• Thursday 4 June: Edwards Hall Park
• Saturday 6 June: Belfairs Park
• Tuesday 16 June: West Wood
• Friday 26 June: Belfairs Park
• Saturday 4 July: West Wood

To book your place or find out more, or if you would like to get involved in the Tree Wardens' work, please email TreeWardens@southend.gov.uk.