coppicing

A form of woodland management in which trees are cut back to ground level regularly (every 10-15 years) to encourage growth of numerous adventitious shoots from the base. The resulting thicket is termed a copse or coppice. The young shoots are harvested for firewood, charcoal burning, fencing, etc. Many British woodlands have been managed in this way. Often selected trees may be left to mature, giving a coppice with standards.