Woodlands
The most traditional form of management the Trust undertakes on its woodland reserves is the coppicing of trees. This is carried out at Devichoys Wood and Cabilla and Redrice Woods.
There has been a history of coppicing on both sites and this form of management is being reinstated. Different areas or 'coups' are cut each year. This creates a varied structure within the woods, letting in light and promoting a flourishing woodland flora. Insects, especially butterflies, occupy the new sunny areas created by coppicing and this provides food for woodland birds.
Coppice management would have been targeted to produce specific lengths of timber for use in mining. Although the Trust does not carry out this practice for a particular market we try not to let anything go to waste, providing a sustainable source of construction materials for work on the reserves. Any wood left over is stacked on the reserves, where it provides a valuable habitat for invertebrates and fungi. Where possible, certain non-native species are removed from woodland reserves, including rhododendron, laurel, sycamore and beech.
