The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Land Management => Topic started by: bealers on February 05, 2013, 12:10:39 am
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Hi,
I've got a few acres of extremely overstood hazel coppice that I'm trying to bring back into productivity. Last year's test coup of half an acre was extremely promising with only one of the stools not reshooting (I wrapped all the stools with chicken wire to stop the rabbits from nomming..)
The woods (8 acres in total) have a number of currently bracken infested clearings that I'd like to get planted up. Given my long term aim for a source of woodcraft materials then more hazel is an obvious choice.
When I google for varieties I find newer hybrids such as http://www.orangepippintrees.co.uk/nut-trees/gunslebert. (http://www.orangepippintrees.co.uk/nut-trees/gunslebert.) Does anyone have a handle on whether the wood product with these varieties is as useful as more traditional hedging varieties? Clearly I won't pay £30 tree! but I like the option of a doubly yielding tree, fruit too.
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More research later (just in case it's helpful for anyone else):
Native Hazel (Corylus Avellana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corylus_avellana))
Apparently nut yield is best when there are a few varieties planted near each other. I don't want to pay poncy £20+ a tree prices so for this year as a trial I'm just buying hedging hazel (it's exactly the same) from local tree nursery 60-90cm tall, price per 100 = 65p. Sprial guards and canes +VAT, we're looking at £300 for 200.