Chestnut Fencing

Chestnut is a renewable timber resource produced from managed woodland copices. After cutting the tree grows up again so that it can be harvested in the future without replanting. Sussex and Kent are areas with a large production of chestnut copice where AVS Fencing source these items.

Summary

The main areas for growing and harvesting chestnut coppice are Kent, Sussex and Hampshire. The reason that chestnut coppice is sustainable is because when the trunk of a young tree is cut off close to the ground it generally re-grows, often with more than one stem from the edge of the stump. This process can take place repeatedly, in fact with many years of repeated cutting, the stump will enlarge producing re-growth forming a multitude of stems. The constant cycle or rotation of harvesting chestnut coppice every 15-20 years ensures that all the tree stems are maintained in a young stage of growth and never die. Chestnut is harvested when the sap is down, which is in the Autumn and Winter. This is for several reasons but primarily because the rejuvenation of the stools is better and the young growth shoots can be prone to frost damage. This is all part of proper woodland management to ensure sustainability and a good yield at the next harvest. The amount of skill needed for the process of cleaving depends on the products being produced and the length of timber being split up. For larger items, like fence posts, a wedge may be used and for smaller items, like chestnut pales, a froe is used. This is a tool similar to a heavy steel knife mounted at right angles on a stout wooden handle. The operator will normally start at the base or thicker end of the timber by knocking the Froe with a beetle mallet and will steer the crack to keep it to the centre of the log. By cleaving the chestnut logs a huge quantity of useful product can be obtained from a single acre of coppice and there is little waste. Any scrap timber is used for firewood or woodchip. In summary, when you purchase chestnut products there are a number of positive environmental benefits, even more so when purchased in the London and the South East of England as the road miles travelled by the product will be very low.