A 6,000-YEAR-OLD craft is being revived in Northwich, doing wonders for the town’s green ambitions.
Coppicing is a way of harvesting useful wood from trees that doesn’t involve cutting them down, and it has been practiced in Britain since the Bronze Age.
Hazel trees are grown and used to make stakes that are very straight and tall, while willow is used in traditional basket weaving.
Now, Transition Northwich, a group dedicated to the town’s move toward a carbon-free future, is bringing this traditional craft back with the help of funding from Chester Zoo's ‘Nature Recovery Corridor’ project.
By planting 1,000 hazel and willow trees at a community orchard on the banks of the River Dane, the group hopes that after a few years growing, they will be ready to coppice and share with local residents.
Transition Northwich co-ordinator, Alison Allum, said: “Willow is really colourful and can be woven into all sorts of things, from baskets to furniture, and in France, it is even used to make eel traps.
“Hazel stakes are tall and straight, last a very long time, and are perfect for using in the garden.
“We can distribute these to encourage the use of natural materials rather than plastic stakes.
“We'll obviously leave some hazel stems for small mammals to enjoy the nuts.
“Our seasonal events are a great way to welcome local residents to the orchard, where they can learn about coppicing and local wildlife in a way that is fun and informative.
"All tools and tuition provided, but you should bring along gardening gloves, warm clothes and a packed lunch, if you wish to stay for the day."
Pete Attwood, from Grozone Community Outreach, leads the volunteer sessions each fortnight at the orchard, and will be overseeing this project and teaching volunteers how to plant the young trees.
“Fast shooting willow is ideal for this lakeside location,” said Pete. “It will help to stabilise this flood-prone land, which supports a wide range of native plants and insect, amphibian and bird life.”
Everyone is welcome to join the team planting on Monday, March 6, from 10.30am to 3.30pm at Dane Valley Community Orchard.
The footpath to the orchard starts alongside Marlowe Road, off Shipbrook Road.
You can contact Transition Northwich via its website.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here