Dr Bryan
Welcome to a different kind of ‘tree surgery’: this is your chance to consult Dr Bryan, our resident tree expert, on his favourite subject. Dr Bryan knows more about trees than is healthy. Is there something you would like to know about trees? Ask Dr Bryan.
When is a wood a wood?
Dr Bryan says:-
When it’s a relatively small and confined area of land supporting a well delineated stand of trees. These can be either one species or a mixture of species.
What is a spinney?
Dr Bryan says:-
A spinney is a term used to describe a small grove (see below) or copse (see below) of trees and is derived, via an old French word meaning a ‘Thorny Place’ which in turn derives from the Latin for ‘Thorn’ – hence the botanical name for the Black Thorn - Prunus spinosa ( I know what you’re going to ask now. What does Prunus mean? Well you’ll have to wait ‘til next time for the answer to that)
What is a grove?
Dr Bryan says:-
A grove is defined as a small area of trees without undergrowth, often, but not exclusively, planted with species to produce edible fruit or nuts for human consumption.
What is a copse?
Dr Bryan says:-
The term derives from the French word ‘couper’, meaning to cut. Today a copse or coppice defines and area of trees that have been regularly cut to provide firewood or building materials. For instance Hazel is coppiced to produce hurdles or pea sticks and Sweet Chestnut is coppiced to produce small timber for building or fence posts.
What is a stand?
Dr Bryan says: -.
This is a commercial forestry term referring to a well defined area of trees, usually all the same species and age, deliberately planted to provide a timber crop. Subdivisions within commercially planted woodland are further divided into ‘compartments’ and ‘coups’. The term coup clearly derived from the French word ‘couper’ meaning to cut. So a coup is an area of trees to be cut.
What is a Forest?
Dr Bryan says: -.
Many people immediately think of a forest as a large area covered with trees like the Amazon Rainforest. However a Forest is much more than just trees. The New Forest was originally designated as a Royal hunting preserve with trees, deer lawns and large areas of tree-free lowland heath. Today, in addition to the conifers grown for timber production, the New Forest supports probably the largest concentration of ancient trees in Europe and also has the largest area of lowland heath
Got a tree question email drbryan@newforestnpa.gov.uk and we will do our best to answer your question.