Knott Wood Coppicers

We started managing Knott Wood, near Hebden Bridge, in 1994. In 1997 we became a worker's co-op. Our aim is to manage the woodland to enhance biodiversity, create saleable wood products and preserve woodland crafts which have been neglected in recent years. The woodland is a mixture of Victorian sycamore plantation, semi natural birch/oak woodland and open fields. Much of the site is on steep, south facing slopes. The management plan has concentrated on felling areas of sycamore and restocking with native hardwoods, and planting open areas. The main species planted are hazel for coppice, with some ash, oak, sweet chestnut, rowan and field maple.

We have also planted two small orchards in the open areas, and a small area of larch. There is a forest schools area, including a new pond, and we carry out regular biodiversity surveys. We are now at the stage of felling our first coppice coups of hazel, as well as continuing to fell some of the sycamores to create new coppice areas. Knott Wood Coppicers was also central to the creation of climate awareness and re-forestation group Treesponsibility in 1998. We continue to work in this group, planting 5 hectares of new land each year throughout Calderdale, for flood protection, biodiversity and woodfuel.

We run an open day once a year, usually in late spring, and have working days and weeks throughout the year.

10 Broughton Street

Hedben Bridge

West Yorkshire

HX7 8JY