Hacking wood parcel

To the right of us, we see a coppice plot. Every five to ten years, young trees and shrubs are cut down to the ground. From the remaining stumps, shoots or re-sprouts emerge, which are allowed to grow until the next cutting.

In forestry, there are three types of management, namely highwood, coppice, and mediumwood. These terms indicate the growth form of the trees and how a new generation of forest is created. Highwood consists of separate upright trees that have originated from seeds and are often planted. In highwood, long straight trees (timber) can be produced. The Helleketel Forest consists of nearly 95% highwood.

Coppice refers to several shoots on one stump that arise from regeneration after cutting. Coppice is ideal for harvesting firewood in particular.

Mediumwood is a combination of highwood and coppice. Mediumwood is a forest type where a number of trees are allowed to grow into high stems, while some other trees are cut at regular intervals.

On the other side, we see a grassland plot. Early in the morning or at dusk, you are most likely to spot a roe deer here. In the past, attempts were also made to afforest this area, but these were unsuccessful. Due to the glacial deposits with a clay layer at a very shallow depth, this plot is too wet in winter and too dry in summer, making it less suitable for forestry or agriculture.

Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos