Coppicing in the Millenium Spinney on 7th November 2024
Whilst the Coppicing in the Millennium Spinney did not go exactly according to plan on the day, as the local company Drax who were working with the Canal and River Trust (CRT) cancelled; however, Catherine from CRT turned up alone, armed with an array of tools and a bundle of enthusiasm.
Between Catherine & myself, ably assisted by Colin, we coppiced 1 of the Hazels in the Spinney and built a protective nest. Colin was not going to stand in the way of 2 determined women armed with pruning saws!!! The day proved to be a valuable lesson for myself in what is actually involved in coppicing our hazels; Catherine had explained everything but actually seeing it, and carrying out much of the process myself was a very enjoyable learning experience, and I still have all my fingers. Once we had coppiced the tree we constructed a nest around the coppiced tree, known as the stool, to protect it as it starts to grow back. We used some of the shorter stakes around the stool as a base for weaving the leafy growth around to build the nest.
Tom from the Canal and River Trust came to collect the harvested stakes and binders for their hedge-laying project along the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal. So if you want to see what is happening with our Hazels, go and have a look. We also harvested some thinner sticks, useful for bean poles and garden supports, for allotment holders.
Click on an image to see the full-size image in the gallery.
Gayton Millennium Spinney Closed for Coppicing 
Before the Coppicing 
Before – Back towards the Bug Hotel 
Before – The path along the Hedge 
Before – View towards the Gate 
Before – Several Overgrown Hazel Trees 
A few branches cut to “see” into the tree 
Sue getting to work with the pruning saw 
A few more branches removed 
Catherine going for one of the bigger branches 
The coppicing is coming along nicely 
Catherine & Sue in Action 
Sue with her pruning saw … Beware !! 
Catherine & Sue in action 
Another branch nearly down … spot those pruning saws!! 
Looks like the loppers were needed to help remove that branch 
Two very determined women 
Must be time for a tea break 
We found the original bamboo cane and plastic mesh from wehn the tree was originally planted in 1999 …. someone forgot to remove the mesh and now the tree has grown around it. 
Nearly there … last few branches 
Last big branch … I left that one to Catherine 
Last branch down 
One coppiced hazel stool 
Catherine in action with her Billhook putting a point on the stakes for the nest 
Starting to build the nest with a ring of stakes around the stool 
Starting to build the nest with a ring of stakes around the stool 
Tom from the Canal and River Trust collecting the harvested stakes and binders for their hedge-laying project along the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal 
Tom from the Canal and River Trust collecting the harvested stakes and binders for their hedge-laying project along the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal 
Starting to build the next – weaving the leafy growth around the stakes 
Jens & Manja came along to help build the nest 
Our 1st hazel coppiced and nest built to protect it as it regrows 
And some interesting mushrooms Colin found in the Spinney 
And some interesting mushrooms Colin found in the Spinney 
And some interesting mushrooms Colin found in the Spinney 
The harvested stakes and binders from the Hazels in Gayton Millennium Spinney ready for hedge-laying 
Hedge-laying along the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal 
Hedge-laying along the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal 
Hedge-laying along the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal 
Hedge-laying along the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal 
Hedge-laying along the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal 
Hedge-laying along the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal
Spinney Working Group
A Working Group of the Gayton Parish Council