Biodiversity

We are Steve, Tommy, Bob and Richard who firmly believe in ongoing maintenance of the woodlands to provide a sustainable supply of local charcoal, replacing some of the 90% of charcoal imported. Your purchase will support local coppicing where we see improved biodiversity in the woodlands, due to more light, we recorded thirty additional species of plants., whose seeds have been lying dormant for decades. This has attracted many insects to feed on the renewed flora.

Encouraging Biodiversity

Woodland is a natural renewable resource, which is sustainable when it has been harvested from areas which are cut in a 10-20 year rotation (coppicing), this replenishes biodiversity including tree seedlings as well as the coppiced stools. Therefore, by sourcing materials from Wealden Charcoal, you know we are putting sustainability at the heart of our charcoal. We are registered with FSC, and GiB, giving consumer confidence you are contributing to a greener future

Increasing Biodiversity

We aim is to encourage a better understanding of the importance of biodiversity. These photos are form shadow woods after recent coppicing work opened up the ecosystem

Fern Bud

This is one of our species of ferns unfolding in the spring

Beefsteak fungus

A bracket fungus found on oak trees, the mycelium make the wood dark and valued in furniture making. Tastes good

Symmetrical Fern leaf

The fern not only has beauty in the coil uncurling, but forms into a magnificent crown

Leaf Miner

A egg laid in the leaf, eats between the leaf layers and then pupates into a moth

Spurge Laural

Spurge laurel is an evergreen shrub with glossy leaves that is found in open woodlands

Mushroom sprouting

We ensure enough tree debris to ensure a healthy ecosystem in our woods

Our Woodlands
All in Sussex, and providing long term sustainable charcoal supplies

Ifold Copse

We have started coppicing a new area, with removal of Ash die back, and coppicing the Hazell which has been over-stood. AS we clear the older wood we quickly see the light in the wood and new life and biodiversity coming with the light entering the wood.

Restarting the rotation

We have been working and living in these woodlands since the millennium year , over this period we have sympathetically bought back woodland glades, meadows and various ponds, thinned regenerated areas which were fields, the last time it was cut before WW2, this has created an abundance of native flowers, being on a band of calcareous clay we have noticed over the years some unusual plants that are more readily seen on the chalk down land, north and south of us.

Where does your sweet chestnut charcoal come from?

Biannual thinning and coppicing of the copse has encouraged biodiversity and flora such as bluebells, narcissi and snowdrops, buddleia and elder. in 2011 we received a forestry commission grant for coppicing and woodland regeneration. we are now able to cut Chestnut in a sustainable harvesting cycle for the manufacturing of finest quality BBQ charcoal. By using a modern retort charcoal kiln charcoal can be processed in an efficient and environmentally friendly manor.

The management of habitat around the fields and woodland now encourages many varieties of wild flora and fauna

Our Woodlands

Further stories as we progress with the woodland coppicing

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