Chilcote Primary School

Forest School got to work coppicing hazel!

This week, Forest school set to work in a hazel coppice. Coppicing is an ancient way of managing the woodland. Trees are regularly cut down at their base, on a yearly rotation cycle, and this ensures new growth from their stumps, and a regular supply of wood for all sorts of uses! Coppicing also means that light can get to the forest floor, and encourage biodiversity – that is, more plants and animals are able to grow and live there.

Dave, our school gardener, had asked us if we could supply the allotment with some bean poles, so we took some tools down to the hazel coppice. Using secateurs, loppers and bow saws, we were able to bring back some brilliant bean poles to school, ready to use next year! We talked a lot about the risks of tool use, and were really sensible; thinking carefully about our own safety and that of our friends.

We also practiced making fire, ready for our fire week next week. Using a striker to create a flame is really, really tricky, but with a huge amount of effort, perseverance and encouragement from our friends, we got there in the end!