Who are we
We are a widely spread group of trustees although we have a focus in North West England. We are all involved in various ways in the coppice industry. We would like to acknowledge Bill Hogarth's unique contribution to the coppice industry and continue his vital work to train new coppice workers.
Geoff Whitley
(Chairman)
Maurice Pyle
(Treasurer)
Rebecca Oaks
(Secretary)
     
Edward Acland
Charles Miles
Ben Geyer

Our aims

  1. To set up and run an apprenticeship in coppice skills.
  2. To promote the management of broadleaved woodland using environmentally sustainable methods which encourage bio-diversity.
  3. To support the coppice industry in its endeavour to provide an economically viable use for our native woodland resource.
  4. To raise public awareness of the coppice industry and provide enhanced opportunities for people to get involved.
We are currently piloting a three year apprenticeship for two people based in the North of England. We intend to extend that to take on two new apprentices each year. We require coppice businesses that would like to act as sponsors to an apprentice to come forward. We are actively seeking funding to secure the training of our apprentices.
 
About Bill Hogarth
Bill Hogarth worked as a Coppice Merchant in the Furness Fells of Cumbria for 56 years. He learned his trade from his father from the age of 14 and was still hard at work in the woods when he died on February 25th 1999. He saw many changes over his lifetime with the gradual demise of industries that had relied on coppiced wood.
In the early days the main demand was hazel for ship's fenders, poles for the bobbin mills and bundles of birch for the steel mills. By the 1960s these markets had dried up and many of Bill's contemporaries had retired or moved onto other work. He, however, weathered the lean 1970s, peeling oak for rustic furniture and making besom brooms. In the early 198O's Bill began to be approached as a source of knowledge about coppicing and coppice crafts. His response was open-hearted and generous. By the end of his life Bill had supplied one hundred different coppice products, ranging from hedging stakes to barrel hoops and walking sticks to hurdles. Bill became dedicated to passing on his skills to anyone who showed an interest in his work. Many people attended courses that he taught, and were inspired by his skill and the ease with which he moved around the woods bundling and stacking wood. Bill was awarded the MBE in 1995, in recognition of his services to the Coppice industry. He was very proud to receive that award and in the same year to be unanimously voted winner of the 1995 Living National Treasure Award from the Country Life magazine.