Our Woodland

Our Woodland – 64 Acres of Ancient Woodland

At the heart of Three Copse Woodland Products is our own 64 acres of ancient woodland in the South Downs, near Clanfield, Hampshire.

Over the years, we have been working to restore neglected areas of woodland, bring traditional coppice management back into use and encourage the wildlife and habitats that make these woods so special.

The woodland is more than just where we work. It is the inspiration behind what we make, the skills we share and the way we approach sustainable woodland products.

A woodland with a history.

Known locally as the Bluebell Woods or Little Hyden Wood, our woodland has a history stretching back millennia.

Through research and careful observation, we believe the woodland dates back at least to the Saxon period. Indeed, the name Clanfield is thought to mean a clearing in the woodland. Evidence suggests that the area was cleared during the Bronze Age, while nearby Iron Age burial mounds indicate that this was an area of some significance.

For much of the past 1,000 years, the woodland has been managed predominantly as hazel coppice with standards, although some areas were planted during the 1940s and 1950s.

Our aim is to bring the woodland back into sustainable management, supporting traditional woodland workers and skills while protecting and encouraging the wildlife that already thrives here.

Explore Little Hyden Wood

Bringing a Woodland Back to Life

When we first took on the woodland, much of the hazel coppice had been neglected for decades. Our aim has been to gradually bring it back into productive, sustainable management, working with the natural character of the woodland rather than imposing change upon it.

As a family, we have known this woodland for over 70 years and remember it when it was still being actively managed. When we had the opportunity to buy it back in 2003, however, it was a very different picture. Much of the coppice had been out of rotation since the 1960s, and the woods had become dark and cold.

Over the past 20-plus years, we have been slowly bringing the woodland back to life. We have restored more than 20 acres to active coppice management and begun thinning the plantations to allow more light to reach the woodland floor.

Our woodland is also certified by Grown in Britain, recognising our commitment to managing it responsibly and producing timber and woodland products from a sustainable, traceable source. It is an important part of our approach to ensuring that the woodland remains healthy, productive and cared for into the future.

The results of this work are becoming increasingly clear. By bringing the coppice back into rotation and opening up the plantations, we have allowed more light to reach the woodland floor, helping a greater variety of plants and wildlife to flourish. We are seeing more flora and fauna returning, from insects to mammals such as dormice. It is encouraging to see the woodland responding to careful management and becoming a richer, more diverse habitat.

Wildlife and Habitats

A Home for Wildlife

Over the years we have been managing our woodland, we have seen a remarkable change, with an increase in the variety and numbers of plants and animals living here.

One of the first things we did when we took on the woodland was to find out exactly what was already there. We began carrying out plant surveys across the woodland and looking back at earlier survey records to understand how things had changed. What we discovered was that many of the plants previously recorded had disappeared. But why? One of the main reasons was the lack of light. The woodland had become cold and dark, with very few plant species managing to thrive. The most noticeable exceptions were bluebells and wild garlic.

As we began managing the woodland and continued our surveys, we started to see a gradual recovery. Orchids and other ancient woodland indicator species began to reappear, and the variety of plants increased. As the woodland floor became richer in plant life, insects became more plentiful, followed by the birds and mammals that depend on them. We have since recorded species including dormice, mistle thrushes and coal tits and marsh tits.

We are now involved in the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme (NDMP), working alongside an experienced ecologist who is helping us as a family to learn how to safely handle and monitor these fascinating little mammals. It is a wonderful opportunity to deepen our understanding of the wildlife living in the woodland and to play a part in helping to protect it.

From Woodland to Workshop

There is a saying in the countryside: “A woodland that pays is a woodland that stays.” Over the years, many small woodlands and hedgerows have been lost, often because agricultural land offered a more profitable use. The fact that a woodland like ours has survived is a reminder that it has always had a purpose and a value.

While we love being able to bring our woodland back to life, managing it properly comes at a cost. The work of restoring neglected coppice, maintaining access and caring for the woodland all need to be funded. We therefore look for ways to make the woodland productive while working with its natural character.

Over the past 20-plus years, we have developed a range of products that help support this work. From charcoal and besom brooms to firewood and hedging stakes, we make use of the materials harvested from the woodland, turning them into useful products while helping to fund its ongoing care.

In this way, the products we make help to ensure that the woodland remains a living, working landscape, cared for and enjoyed by future generations.

Life in the Woodland

Follow our Woodland Diaries

The work of looking after a woodland is never finished. Through the seasons, there’s always something happening, from coppicing and woodland management to wildlife surveys, traditional crafts and the occasional unexpected visitor.

In our Woodland Diaries, we share stories, photographs and videos from life at Three Copse, giving you a closer look at the work, wildlife and people behind our woodland products.

Explore All Woodland Diaries