Table 1 Comparison of management systems: the ancient coppice with standards and the alley coppice system
System component | Coppice with standards | Alley coppice system | |
|---|---|---|---|
Coppice | Species | Oak (Quercus spp.), ash (Fraxinus spp.), maple (Acer spp.), cherry (Prunus spp.), poplar (Populus spp.), beech (Fagus sylvatica), hazel (Corylus avellana.), alder (Alnus spp.), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), birch (Betula spp.), lime (Tilia spp.), walnut (Juglans spp.) | Poplar (Populus spp.), willow (Salix spp.), alder (Alnus spp.), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), Eucalypt (Eucalyptus spp.) |
Rotation length | 10–30 years | 2–5 years | |
Regeneration | Mostly natural (coppice and seedlings) | Planted | |
Products | Small-sized construction timber, fuel wood | Fuel/fibre wood | |
Management | Harvesting | Management of accompanying ground flora, planting, harvesting | |
Standards | Species | Same as coppice species | Cherry (Prunus spp.), ash (Fraxinus spp.), maple (Acer spp.), walnut (Juglans spp.), Sorbus spp. |
Rotation length | 80–150 years | 30–70 years | |
Regeneration | Selected natural (vegetative, seed-origin) | Planted | |
Products | Timber | Premium timber for veneers | |
Management | Thinning, harvesting | Planting, thinning, pruning, harvesting, weed control |