Contributed to by leading experts, this book looks at the history of coppice woodlands, their physical environment, the different management techniques used and their effects on the flora and fauna. The implications of this for conservation is controversial and this is debated in a lively way in many of the chapters.

Contributed to by leading experts, this book looks at the history of coppice woodlands, their physical environment, the different management techniques used and their effects on the flora and fauna. The implications of this for conservation is controversial and this is debated in a lively way in many of the chapters.

Winner of the 2021 John Burroughs Medal for Distinguished Natural History Writing "This deeply nourishing book invites us to reclaim reciprocity with the living world." —Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass Once, farmers and rural people knew how to prune hazel to foster abundance: both of edible nuts and of straight, strong, flexible rods for bridges, walls, and baskets. Townspeople felled their beeches to make charcoal to fuel ironworks. Shipwrights shaped oaks to make hulls. No place could prosper without its inhabitants knowing how to cut their trees so they would sprout again. Pruning the trees didn’t destroy them. Rather, it created the healthiest, most sustainable and diverse woodlands that we have ever known. Arborist William Bryant Logan offers us both practical knowledge about how to live with trees to mutual benefit and hope that humans may again learn what the persistence and generosity of trees can teach. He recovers the lost tradition that sustained human life and culture for ten millennia.

From the early Middle Ages until the late 19th century, most woods in lowland England were coppiced, creating conditions suitable for many plants, insects and birds and those requiring open woodland habitats. This booklet explains how coppice systems worked, why they are important and how coppice can be managed to enhance its wildlife interest.

Coppicing is an ancient method of enhancing woodland biodiversity. The key to successful coppicing is to nurture the new coppice shoots. In return, a coppice will provide an endless supply of wood for a wide range of uses, and the authors present detailed instruction on how to produce many kinds of woodland products from besom brooms, firewood and charcoal to more challenging items such as hazel hurdles and coracles. Topics covered in Coppicing & Coppice Crafts include; how to find a suitable woodland and the pitfalls involved; the equipment, tools and resources that you will need, together with health and safety issues; tax issues, the law and what you can and cannot do; all aspects of coppice management including pests and diseases, and how to plant a new coppice; the flora and fauna of the coppice and how it should be managed; a wide range of coppice woods and crafts and how the products are made; wood as a fuel, including charcoal-making, the best types of wood to burn, wood-fired boilers, woodchips, pellets, kindling, logs and much more, with a useful glossary, bibliography and list of addresses.

Anne Milner presents her family history intertwined with the history of Bliss's irises, which are now part of the Plant Heritage family of National Collections of plants worth preserving. The collection was featured in the second series of 'The Great British Garden Revival' on BBC2 in January 2015. Bliss Irises combines family history and gardening in a unique and very personal journey. Initially triggered by interest in her great, great grandfather who built the Bliss Tweed Mill in Chipping Norton, Anne Milner discovered Arthur J. Bliss, a cousin of a grandfather, and his work with early 20th century irises. Having travelled to New Zealand and South Africa, Arthur had many adventures before becoming famous in the horticultural world for breeding and introducing 'Dominion', an iris that took the world by storm when it was first introduced in 1917. It has since gone on to be found in the pedigree of hundreds of modern irises. With stunning photographs, watercolours and line drawings throughout, the second part of Bliss Irises focuses on the flowers themselves and details the range of irises registered by Anne Milner's ancestor Arthur Bliss. Bliss Irises will appeal to readers with an interest in irises, historic plants and family history, as well as those with a more general interest in gardening and horticulture.

Woodland habitats explores the history and ecology of British woodland and explains why they a re such a valuable resource. It examines the wide range of different types of woodland habitats and the typical species that live within them. It offers a practical guide to all the key woodland issues including: *conservation and management * coppicing * grazing in woodlands * fire breaks * recreation * management for game * pasture woodland and commercial forestry Woodland Habitats also includes a guide to notable sites with location maps and illustrations, suggested practical projects and a full glossary of terms.