Coppicing is the ancient craft of cutting trees and shrubs to ground level and although this might at first appear destructive, coppicing yields important environmental benefits by allowing light to reach the woodland floor. This encourages a rich diversity of fauna and flora like the orchid illustrated whilst strong re-growth from the coppice stools provides a renewable source of timber for many uses.

Here wild garlic (the white flowers) flourishes in a woodland ride. Note that the garlic does not venture into the shade but exists only where unfiltered light reaches the woodland floor.

Wild garlic, bluebells and "butcher's broom" enjoying spring sunlight in coppiced woodland. Butchers broom is an indicator species of old or ancient woodland and is usually found in large clumps like that illustrated.

Coppiced ancient semi-natural woodland. Young hazel stools (foreground), coppiced ash stools and standard oak trees stand amidst a sea of dogs mercury and other wildflowers that cover the woodland floor in spring.

Many woodland plants flower early in the spring to take advantage of the sunlight that is not filtered by the dense woodland canopy later in the year.

A rare woodland buttercup enjoys early summer sunshine in a coppiced glade.