Managing woodlands through coppicing is one of the most ancient human practices, thought to date back to the Stone Age and reflecting our need to have access to a ready supply of wood.


For the last 24 years a Cumbrian trust set up in memory of a renowned local coppicer and woodworker has been keeping the tradition alive and spawning a clutch of small businesses in the process.

The Bill Hogarth MBE Memorial Apprenticeship Trust was established in 2000 in memory of the eponymous coppicer, who was well known for his work in the field and for providing training.
When Bill died in 1999 a group of friends set up the trust to continue his good work, offering a three-year apprenticeship in coppicing and woodcraft.

Trainees work with a sponsor business, learning all the skills of coppicing, such as woodland management, charcoal making and coppicing crafts such as producing bean poles, hazel hurdles and, of course, firewood.
"It really depends what crafts the sponsor does and what craft the apprentice wants to learn about, it's made to be quite flexible," said apprentice coordinator Kath Morgan.
The apprentices are also encouraged to go and work with different coppicers in other parts of the country.

They learn how to set up and run their own ventures, usually starting their own business at the end of the apprenticeship and, in many cases, continuing to work with the trust.

There are currently three people progressing through their apprenticeship, with the trust funded by private donations from supporters.
At the end of August each year, the trust also runs its Woodland Pioneers week - currently based in Silverdale - in which people from all backgrounds can come and experience and learn woodland skills.

"It's a heritage skill and a lot of the crafts that come from it are now endangered crafts," said Kath. "There's a desire and a need to keep these crafts going." While the apprentices benefit from finding a career path, the environment also benefits from a new breed of people who can manage woodland in a beneficial way.
Coppicing works by cutting trees down to a short stump in areas of woodland on a rotation, encouraging new growth and creating a variety of trees of different ages.

This, in turn provides a diverse range of habitats which support many plants, insects, birds and animals, as well as a sustainable source of wood.