Following on from a successful volunteering project last year, we’ve recently been awarded funding by the Climate Hub - a programme of FEL, the Scotland’s International Environment Centre at the University of Stirling and the Scottish Government - and Reforesting Scotland to run an event celebrating coppicing and charcoal making at Kirkton Woods in Aberfoyle (shown with the red marker on the attached map; what3words reference what3words /// The simplest way to talk about location). Coppicing is an ancient form of sustainable woodland management, which involves cutting different trees on a set rotation. This management encourages regrowth, increases the longevity of the trees and is known to increase biodiversity.
The event will take place on Friday 31st January and Saturday 1 February. We will be inviting young people from local schools on Friday, and the woodlands will be open to the public on Saturday. Participants can join us in cutting the hazel sticks, exploring the woodlands, listening to tales from a professional storyteller, and helping us make charcoal. We’ll also have a coffee van with free hot drinks and cake onsite!
It’s free to attend - just drop us a line on hello@greenaspirationsscotland.co.uk if you want to come along on the Friday for some coppice cutting.