The Hampshire Coppice Craftsmens Group

"Putting Life into your Landscape"

HCCG went on a walk round Roughay Woods led by Jonathan Howe, and by kind permission of the owner, Harry Trigg, on Sunday 22nd April.

Roughay Woods are a series of three woods which were purchased by the present owner over several years, the latest only 2 years ago. They have been deer fenced completely, but a few deer still lurk in one of the woods.

The woods are about 75 acres in extent and contain about 50 AWVPs (Ancient Woodland Vascular Plants, indicator species specific to ancient woodland ) and 200 plant species. There were some good patches of bluebells and a
number of other interesting plants including solomon’s seal, yellow archangel and yellow pimpernel.

Some of the stunning flora of Roughay Woods (© 2007 Huw Edwards)	Peter and Bill lane in deep discussion. (© 2007 Huw Edwards)

Most of the hazel we saw had been kept in rotation, but one or two parts had been left for a few years by previous owners. Generally the coppice was in good condition, although in some places the standards were shading it rather too much. In the third wood, ash is being removed with the coppice to reduce the standards, but the oak is being left in all the woods.

Pheasant shooting is carried out in the wood, but not to a serious extent so the woodland is only slightly affected by the shoot, and the owner, being more interested in the woodland than the shooting does not impose restrictions on coppicing for the sake of the birds.

Jon Rau & Peter Jameson alongside Bill lane looking at one of his hurdles. (© 2007 Huw Edwards)

We were invited into the camp of the two coppice workers who work this wood; Bill Lane and Dave Curtis. Bill claimed
not to have any hurdles available but a store was found behind his hut, and a picture was taken in the coppiced hazel with him, a hurdle and the bluebells. Dave had a camp set up to work ash as well as hazel, as he makes gate hurdles.

The woodland has been fenced in three parts, otherwise it would present a long barrier to the deer, and there would be more chance of them breaking the fence. Between the first and second, the hazel had been grubbed out by a previous owner, and this is now a meadow, all be it with woodland flowers. Between the second and third woods there is a bridle path; an ancient lane which is frequented by horses, cyclists and pedestrians.

A general shot of the group as guests in Dave Curtis's coppice camp. (© 2007 Huw Edwards)

The third wood has a public footpath running through it, which makes deer exclusion more difficult. It has been fitted with a high kissing gate at each end, but there is some doubt about whether these are completely deer proof. We saw an area which had been coppiced as the deer fence was put up, and while there were still a few deer left in the wood. It resembled a field more than coppice coup, but it was hoped that now there were only one or two deer at most in the wood, this would start to grow away.

We also saw a very large marl pit which had been taken over by badgers, which provoked some discussion on working near badger setts. The walk finished by completing the circuit round the outside of the wood along a track, and by the provision of beer and lemonade in the farm buildings.

Our thanks for the hospitality of Harry Trigg and the refreshments he provided. Thanks also to Jonathan Howe for his guided walk, and to the coppice workers for letting us into their camps.

Chris Westcott