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What is coppicing?

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 19:17:44 GMT

What is Coppicing?

'Most British broadleaf trees coppice well'

Coppicing is a traditional form of woodland management where trees are repeatedly cut down and then left to regrow to produce a regular, sustainable wood crop.

Coppicing dates back to pre-history and is a practice that continues to this day, albeit to a lesser extent.

Most British broadleaf trees coppice well, the most common being hazel, willow, sweet chestnut, and oak.

How

Coppicing involves cutting the trees down as close to ground level as possible to 'shock' the trees into putting increased energy into regrowth.

Why

This increase in energy creates faster-growing multi-stemmed trees ready for harvesting.

If done correctly, cutting low enough allows the regrowth to emerge from the roots, which results in larger, more robust root systems. All of this increases the health and longevity of the tree.

Hazel left uncoppiced will live for approximately 70 years. However, if coppiced regularly, hazel can live up to over 350 years old.

The regrowth can be substantial. Up to 6ft in the first year for hazel, in particular, slowing down to a couple of feet each year.

History

Historically coppicing was used to create a regular crop of equally sized timber for housing and stock proofing.

A fantastic Bronze Age settlement discovered in Peterborough, called Flag Fen, provides evidence of coppicing in Britain dating at least 3,500 years ago.

Perfectly preserved in the waterlogged peat bogs of the fens are coppiced oak and hazel poles still showing axe marks.

Products

Each tree species is grown and coppiced for different products based on that species' natural characteristics.

Some tree species are more flexible than others; some are stronger, some are more resistant to water.

Each tree species can have numerous associated products, too many to name here, but the most common are;

Hazel

Hurdles (woven fence panels), traditionally used for sheep fencing, but more recently as decorative garden fencing.

Thatching spars, used in the thatching of roofs to secure the thatch in place, think giant hairpins!

Hedge laying stakes and binders. (Hedge laying is the management of hedgerows, another traditional rural craft closely associated with coppicing).

Garden and gardening items such as beanpoles, pea sticks and plant supports.

Willow

Mainly coppiced for weaving and used in basketry and garden structures. Also being tested as a bio-mass crop.

Sweet chestnut

Fencing (chestnut paling), gates and fence/gate posts.

Oak

Is commonly coppiced for its bark, which is used in the tanning industry. It is the only species coppiced during the summer.

Frequency

The frequency of coppicing is important.

Different tree species are coppiced at different intervals depending on the product and the characteristic of the materials used.

Willow is cut annually, as it needs to be thin and flexible for weaving.

Hazel, is generally cut every seven years, and sweet chestnut can be anywhere from 15 – 20 years to give it the size and, therefore, the strength required for fencing.

Conservation

Today, coppicing is also increasingly used as a conservation tool due to its benefits on the trees themselves and the varying habitat they create for a large variety of flora and fauna, including woodland flowers, insects, birds, and small mammals.

When

Hinted at above, coppicing is a winter activity.

The overall volume of the tree is much less when the leaves fall off, so it is easier to manage.

The 'sap is down', meaning the goodness in the tree, seeps back down into the root system, protecting it for the winter.

The bark is harder to remove when the sap is down, which naturally protects the products you make. This is why oak is coppiced in the summer, as it is the bark you want.

Ladyhill Wood

I coppice a 9-acre ancient semi-natural woodland called Ladyhill Wood in Newport on behalf of the local authority.

I do this as a volunteer as a coppice restoration project.

You can find out more about how I got into coppicing here .

How to prepare wood slices for painting to get the best results?

183:840088849 (Lisa Standley) — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:01:59 GMT

How to prepare wood slices for painting to get the best results?

A question I get asked often is, "can you paint directly onto wood slices? Or do you need to prepare them first?"

I call them wood slices, but you might call them tree slices, log slices, wood rounds, or wood cookies.

If you cut a log or branch as you would slice a loaf of bread, with the bark all around the outside (the crust in the bread analogy), then we are talking about the same thing!

Preparing your wood slices.

Before writing this blog, I spoke to several of my customers to get their advice, and the general consensus was:

Sand the wood slices first or buy them ready sanded. Otherwise, the paint may cling to the roughness and emphasize it more, it could damage your brushes, and a rough surface is more challenging to paint in any detail.

Wipe the wood slice over to remove any dust and debris. (If you use a damp cloth, make sure you leave the wood slice to dry thoroughly before painting).

Painted by SLM also likes to cut off any loose bark that is likely to fall off and get stuck in the paint. A great tip as it's difficult and annoying to try to remove 'bits' from wet paint.

Wood is porous.

All wood is porous but end-grain wood, like wood slices, is exceptionally absorbent. (I'll go into 'why' in a future blog about drying wood slices). If you don't use a primer before painting, consider a base coat, or an extra layer of paint.

To prime or not to prime?

Priming for my customers is down to personal preference.

Most like See Queen Stones and Jac's Little Welsh Studio like to draw and paint straight onto the wood, while Painted by SLM likes to prime first with Mod Podge .

The Crafty Capricorn used to seal theirs with a deco art multi-purpose sealer but now actually loves the effect of painting straight onto the wood.

The colour of the wood can also be a factor in whether to prime, or not.

Painting with Poppy says, "if the wood is light in colour, I simply paint using acrylic paints... If the wood has colour to it, I prime it as the colour will affect the paint over time."

Allow time to dry.

Whether you prime or not, it is essential to let each layer of primer or paint dry thoroughly before adding the next.

Otherwise, you risk picking up the previous layer whilst trying to lay down the next, leaving an uneven surface.

Protecting your wood slices.

As always with wood slices, before or after you have painted them, to avoid them warping or cracking, never place them near heat, in damp spots, or in areas where the temperature varies from extreme heat to cold.

Where to buy your wood slices?

You can't beat Hobby Craft or Amazon for cheap wood slices.

However, if you are looking for more variety in both size and wood, or are searching for a more sustainable option, then I sell a range of wood slices for crafts in a variety of sizes from 3cm - 20cm.

I use British hardwoods from sustainable sources; the hazel, I coppice myself in the woodland I manage.

All my wood slices are fully dry and sanded, ready for use.

If you can't see what you need, do ask, as I have a constant rotating stock of drying logs and can slice to order.

That time when...

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 17:23:09 GMT

That time when....

I supplied hazel to the Welsh National Opera

In 2015 I was approached by the prop department of the Welsh National Opera in Cardiff and asked to supply some hazel.

They were tasked with making a throne for the 'Queen of the Woods' character in Iain Bell’s adaptation of the epic poem by Welsh poet, writer and artist David Jones.

I had nothing to do with the making of the throne, unfortunately, but I did deliver the hazel personally and learned more about what they were aiming to achieve and had a brief tour of the prop department. Very fascinating.

It wasn't a simple project. Firstly the throne had to be lowered onto the stage with an actor sitting in it! Secondly, it also had to be fireproof to meet stage set design fire regulations, something wood naturally isn't!

The prop maker was hoping to produce something more natural looking but was forced to spray the whole chair with fireproof paint! He REALLY disliked doing having to do this which I totally understand, I'm not a fan of painted wood either.

But I think he did a fantastic job. The chair looks great sat outside the prop department but looked incredible in the photo of it being lowered onto the stage.

I was very excited to have had a very tiny part in this project.

That time when...

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 15:40:15 GMT

That time when....

I made bookmarks for the book 'The man who made things out of trees'.

In 2015 I was invited by author, journalist and tv presenter Robert Penn to make some wooden bookmarks for his book ' The man who made things out of trees' .

It was a complete surprise. I didn't know Rob then, although I had heard of him from his TV series ' Tales from the Wild Wood '.

He phoned me out of the blue one day while I was working in Ladyhill Wood, as he had seen my work online.

Rob had cut down an ash tree and wanted to see how many things could be made from it.

"After all, ash is the tree we have made the greatest and most varied use of over the course of human history".

The answer as it turned out, was quite a lot!

From axes and arrows, furniture and baseball bats, and, of course, bookmarks!

I picked the ash up from his home. He was already deep into the project by then and had had several things made already which he took delight in showing my husband and me: a paddle, bowls and spoons and a slingshot!

He was trying to eke out as much as possible from the tree he had felled, thus looking for increasingly smaller and smaller things to make, out of smaller and smaller pieces of wood. This is why he contacted me about bookmarks.

It's a beautiful book to read, whether you are a tree enthusiast, a woodworker or just an avid reader.

I am very proud to have had a tiny part in the project.

(That's one of mine, on the top right-hand side of the cover!)

I still make bookmarks

Regardless of the increase in digital books, real life paper books and by association, bookmarks, are still very popular.

I make both finished bookmarks for individual purchases and unfinished bookmarks in bulk for artists to add their own magic too.

Click on the images below to take a look at the range, or message me for a quote.

Work experience

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 15:34:54 GMT

Inspiring the next generation

In 2022, Careers Wales approached me to see if I would consider taking on a work experience student.

I was reluctant at first. I didn't think I had anything to offer.

I don't do a trade. Although I work with wood, I'm not a joiner or carpenter. Although I manage a woodland, I'm not a tree surgeon.

There is no pathway from what I do directly into apprenticeships or work, either.

To follow what the students do on a weekly basis checkout my social media below or use the hashtag #workexperiencewednesday on both Facebook and Instagram.

How to care for your chopping board

183:840088849 (Lisa Standley) — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 08:29:42 GMT

How to care for your chopping board

You can't beat a wooden chopping board.

But over time, with frequent use, your board can begin to get rough and dry to the touch and stop looking its best.

But not all is lost. With a little TLC, you can get your board looking, if not brand new, certainly a lot fresher again.

Here are some dos and don'ts when it comes to wooden chopping boards. And some tips on refreshing your old board.

DON'T...

Put it in the dishwasher.

Wood, unlike your plastic or glass chopping boards, is porous. Aside from the water and heat damage, your board will also absorb the chemicals in the cleaning products used in the dishwasher.

Leave it to soak in water.

Again, wood is porous and will absorb moisture like a sponge. Getting wood wet isn't a problem however drying it without the wood warping or splitting is difficult.

Leave it near a heat source.

Direct sunlight on hot days or near an oven, radiator, log burner etc.

DO...

Wipe over with hot soapy water and/or an antibacterial spray to clean.

Pay attention to any natural edges/holes or engraving as that is where the food will get stuck.

A cocktail stick is perfect for picking out any debris.

Leave to dry thoroughly before putting away. Propped up on the draining board is fine as long as it's not standing in a puddle.

(Be mindful on hot days of leaving it too long in the sun).

Oil your board regularly.

OILING YOUR BOARD

Wood naturally contains oils that get washed out over time, leaving the wood very rough and dry to the touch. To remedy this, you can wipe over your board with oil.

You can buy specific food-safe mineral oil for chopping boards. Or, you can use any food oil that you cook with (such as vegetable or olive oil). However, be mindful of any potential guest allergies (like rapeseed or sesame). Also, be aware that food oil can occasionally go rancid.

Food safe oil is a pure natural mineral oil. It can be bought online or from Ikea (in the chopping board section).

How often you oil the board is entirely up to you and how much time you have. Ideally, you would do it every time you wash your boards, but practically that's not always possible.

The edges of the board and inside the handhole or around the handle (if you have one) will need/take more oil.

TIP - put cling film on your worktop, so you don't have to clean up the oil afterwards!

Make sure the board is thoroughly dry before you oil it.

Pour some oil on a clean piece of kitchen roll and wipe inside the hand hole (if you have one) and then around the edges of the board.

Then place your board flat on the cling film and pour a 10p size pool of oil on the board and wipe it all over. Turn the board over and do the same on the other side.

Be generous. You can't use too much oil.

Leave the oil to soak in for as long as you have (5 minutes or overnight is fine), then wipe off any excess and put away.

If your board is particularly rough to the touch, you can give it a light sand by hand with a piece of 180 grit or finer sandpaper. Just a 2-minute rub all over will suffice. Wipe over with a dry cloth/tea towel, and then oil as above.

If your board needs a rougher sanding, make sure you sand with the grain, not against, and go up the grits (ex. 80 - 120 - 150 - 180), so you don't add more scratches than you remove!

The guest maker series - Wildlife Art by Hayley

183:840088849 (Lisa Standley) — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 15:39:17 GMT

The guest maker series

Having been a maker myself for 11 years and understanding the difficulties of getting your work in front of the people who want to see it, I always wanted to sell other makers' work on my website.

I plan to introduce you to a new maker every few months. A maker whose work I personally love and think you will too.

I'll curate a small sample of their work and, if popular, will add new pieces throughout the year.

I will buy the pieces upfront, so the maker has the sale immediately and doesn't have to worry about the issues around 'sale or return' situations (damaged, lost or stolen stock).

It will undoubtedly go without saying that there will be a lot of wood, nature-inspired and British wildlife themes!

Wildlife Art by Hayley

Our first guest maker this year is Hayley of Wildlife Art by Hayley.

Hayey is a self-taught British wildlife artist painting predominantly on wood pieces, using the wood's natural features as part of the overall design as often as possible.

Apart from her incredible talent, I love her work because, like me, all the wood she uses comes from sustainable sources, including recycled off-cuts, fallen branches and coppiced woodlands.

Hayley also prints her most popular paintings on greeting cards and stickers.

With the exception of her printed materials, all her pieces are original one-off paintings signed by the maker herself.

A fantastic opportunity to own an original piece of art.

All the pieces shown are now available on the website .

What is Christmas in July?

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 20:03:04 GMT

What is Christmas in July?

Christmas in July is commonplace across the Southern Hemisphere.

Why? Because December is generally the hottest time of the year.

They still celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December but have a second or 'midwinter' Christmas in the colder months when it feels more wintery.

I lived in Australia for several years.

While it is certainly a novelty to go to the beach on Christmas Day, you miss out on some of the best bits of Christmas; celebrating in a warm house on a cold day; Christmas jumpers; mulled wine; perhaps an open fire and although there is never any guarantee, snow!

Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, and Brazil all celebrate Christmas in July, to some extent.

Although not in the Southern Hemisphere, the United States is also a big proponent of Christmas in July.

The tradition is said to have started there in the 1930s, gaining momentum throughout the 1950s.

And support is increasing in the UK too.

We're not short of wintery weather in December, the irony being it can be almost as cold in July!

How many people genuinely celebrate Christmas in July is debatable.

Cynics would argue it is nothing more than a marketing tool today rather than an actual holiday; Another so-called Hallmark holiday.

As is the case in the United States, it tends to be an advertising tool for businesses to promote what they will have for sale later in the year and sell discounted stock from the year before.

However, it is an excellent opportunity to get organized as a consumer, especially if you are on a budget.

After the last few years we've all had, perhaps Christmas in July will take off in the UK this year.

Do you celebrate Christmas in July? And if so, how?

7 easy tips to make your garden more wildlife-friendly

183:840088849 (Lisa Standley) — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 20:29:28 GMT

7 easy and budget-friendly tips to make your garden more wildlife friendly this spring

1 - Take a break!

The first one is the easiest of all. Don't do anything, or at least don't do as much.

Take a break from weeding, especially if those weeds are in flower.

Plants such as nettles, daisies and buttercups are an important food source for many insects, including butterflies and moths, providing food when other sources might be absent.

Mow the grass a little less often.

Long grass is one of the rarest garden habitats.

By mowing less often, you will be giving 'short-grass' plants like daisies and white clover a chance to flower in profusion, boosting nectar production tenfold.

Don't fancy letting your WHOLE garden go a little bit wild? Try zoning.

Choose one area to turn over to wildlife or make it a feature.

Leave the grass longer and mows paths through, or create a clearing for sitting and enjoying.

2 - Add water

A pond is an incredible resource for a wildlife garden but not always practical with pets and kids.

Shallow dishes filled with water dotted around are just as valuable, offering fresh drinking water and a bath to birds.

Just remember to top them up regularly.

If you fancy a pond, make sure it has sloping sides, so if other animals fall in, they can get out.

Adding plants such as hornwort and waterlilies will help oxygenate the water and keep its inhabitants healthy.

There are six amphibians native to the UK. They are great pest controllers and beneficial for your garden; you may even attract dragonflies.

4 - Don't forget your nocturnal visitors

Some of the wildlife in your garden only come out at night.

There are 18 species of bats in the UK, and night-flying insects make a lovely meal.

Honeysuckle and evening primrose are night-blooming flowers that release their scents after dark, attracting those tasty night-flying insects.

You can also help bats by removing or switching off artificial lighting from your garden when you're not using it.

Hedgehogs are another night-time visitor that helps keep the ecosystem in your garden balanced.

Leave some gaps at the bottom of garden fences to allow wildlife to move from garden to garden. It will help link different habitats together.

6 - Grow butterfly friendly plants

Planting a variety of flowers that flower at different stages throughout the year will attract a variety of butterflies and other insects.

As a bonus, flowers look beautiful and bring colour and scent into your garden.

Go for native species, if possible.

The different shapes of flowers will attract different insects. The long, thin tubes of honeysuckle are particularly popular with butterflies, and bellflowers and foxgloves are great for bees.

Fruit trees such as plum and apple are good additions to the garden for animals active earlier in the year.

Rotting fruit is also an excellent food source for butterflies.

7 - Start composting

Composting is a win-win situation.

Not only will you reduce what goes to landfill, but you'll also create your own nutrient-rich compost for gardening and provide a minibeast haven to boot.

Compost heaps provide a habitat for worms, woodlice and many other insects, including frogs and slow worms, which are excellent food sources for other wildlife.

Worms help to create compost out of organic material, including leaves. Worms also improve soil drainage and transfer essential nutrients to the surface.

Spreading homemade compost in your garden will encourage worms wherever it is applied.

Slugs and snails are important recyclers, so if you spot them elsewhere in your garden, you can add them to your compost heap.

So many wildflowers growing on an industrial estate

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 16:26:25 GMT

So many wildflowers growing on an industrial estate.

They stand out in such an industrial environment.

I'm trying to go for a walk at lunchtime. Get my steps up, fresh air and exercise, and all that jazz. It's not going exceedingly well, but I am trying!

My workshop is in the middle of a large industrial estate, so I was reluctant to walk in that area. It's not that it's a dodgy area, but it's large, very industrial, lots of traffic, and I didn't think there was anywhere to go or anything to see. Boy, was I wrong?

On Monday, I went for a quick stroll to grab some lunch, and I started to notice how many flowers there were. They stand out in such an industrial environment. My kids hate me for this, but I take photos of everything, so I took a couple of pictures just out of interest. Forty-five minutes later, without realising, I had pictures of sixteen different flowers, not even sixteen different plants but sixteen different plants that were in flower on that particular day.

I've driven through that industrial estate for the last two years and had no idea the abundance of wildflowers. I'm inspired now to see if I can find any other flowers in that area. Hopefully, that will get me walking more!

I recognised some but not all of the flowers, so I've used the PlantNet app to identify them. I'm not sure how accurate my identifications are as the photos aren't the best quality. If you disagree, I'd love to know what you think they are.

Next time you are in a particularly uninspiring place, take a closer look. You never know what you'll find!