Table 2 The main advantages and disadvantages of the alley coppice system in comparison with traditional SRC

Economic advantages

Economic disadvantages

 • Increased productivity (LER >1)

 • Production of high-quality wood with a high market value

 • Combination of short and long-term returns

 • Product diversification

 • Decreased economic risk

• Potentially lower productivity of the SRC areas

• Reduced land area for SRC

• Long-term engagement in one system

• Uncertainty of future market for valuable timber

• Relatively expensive planting material

• Lack of good planting material with improved stem form

• Need for prolonged and more intensive management operations (weed control, tree pruning)

• Thinning is often unprofitable and difficult to mechanise

Environmental advantages

 • Lower chemical inputs in comparison to SRC

 • Provision of additional environmental services (carbon sequestration, water filtration, biodiversity, landscape amelioration)

 • Increased biodiversity

 • Improved habitat structure

 • Reduced erosion and improved nutrient recycling

 • Labour extensive

 • Possibility of supporting rare light-demanding tree species

 • Higher acceptance of the public