Volunteer teams from the local office of Lockheed Martin, based on Hayling Island, recently joined the Chichester Harbour Conservancy Rangers for an morning of coppicing at Salterns Copse. The volunteers spent a busy morning, working in teams to learn the skills of coppicing and discover the nature and wildlife of Chichester Harbour.
Lead Ranger Rosie Ellis said, “The volunteers from Lockheed Martin have done a great job and really helped with the management of this important woodland area. It was hard work but everyone had a lot of fun too.”
Coppicing has been practiced since Anglo-Saxon times and has played a vital role in the history of woodland management over the centuries. Initially the practice was used as a renewable source of timber, both for harvesting young shoots and for fencing, or using older shoots for ship building. As well as this it has been used as a way to naturally change the landscape of a woodland, providing more space, and therefore more sunlight for other plants, particularly ground nesting plants and flowers. This can have a huge boost to the biodiversity of an area, providing shelter and food for a variety of fauna species.
Once the wood has been harvested it is used to create dead-hedges, as this provides a great habitat for insects and a variety of fauna. A bonfire is also used to dispose of the cutting and arisings that can’t be re-used.
Salterns Copse is an eight acre woodland adjacent to the shoreline of Chichester Harbour near Chichester Marina. It is the largest ancient woodland remnant on the Manhood Peninsula and is of great ecological interest. The area is managed by coppicing, cutting young trees close to the ground on a regular cycle.
Supporting Access for All
Lockheed Martin are currently working with Chichester Harbour Conservancy, supporting a new education initiative – Chichester Harbour Champions. The programme supports STEM curriculum learning in the classroom with real world practical experience and gives children the opportunity to explore the harbour and spend time in nature.
Lockheed Martin are active supporters of STEM careers access and readiness for students. Their sponsorship of the Champions programme, run by the Chichester Harbour Conservancy Education Centre has provided fully funded places on the educational field trips for school children from Hampshire. The support from Lockheed Martin has given over 250 primary school children the opportunity to visit the harbour and be part of the programme.
Emlyn Taylor, Group Managing Director of Lockheed Martin UK in Havant said, “We are proud to be able offer funded opportunities for local children to walk alongside Chichester Harbour Conservancy conservationists, learning first hand about the vital work of protecting native wildlife and plant species in this very special area.”
Chichester Harbour Conservancy work with organisations and businesses interested in supporting education and nature recovery projects. To find out more contact us at: info@conservancy.co.uk.
