Coppice Club in the bluebells - April 2026

Hello! I'm Jaz, joining Em as co-director of Sawpit Woods CIC, and this is my first blog post since joining the team at the end of 2025. It’s really joyous to be posting about April’s Coppice Club where we were spoiled by the woods at one of their seasonal peaks, in the spring sunshine. 

The bluebells were incredible, the sun shone beautifully, and we all got busy tending this special place. Meanwhile, as it always seems to in the woods, time stretched and slowed, with time to chat and chat to new faces and familiar community members.

Em explained that the bluebells peak at this specific moment, when the tree cover is light, and so the sun hits the forest floor and they can flourish. Continuing to care for the woods will mean the bluebells and other native species can wow us for years to come.

A key job of the day was dead hedging, which are structures built from cut and fallen wood, stacked between upright stakes to create a boundary. Ancient, elegant solutions that are being revived at Sawpit and many places. Sawpit’s dead hedges will help protect the woods while we use them more, from feet, causing compaction, disturbing young seedlings and wildflowers like the bluebells. The dead hedges have been the work of the last many months of Coppice Club, and it’s exciting now to see the protected areas flourishing, and the paths clearer and better used. It’s so satisfying to see winter jobs prompt spring growth, as I learn about the cycle of care for the woods.

We gathered long-fallen trees to lay as paths, and hauled stumps into position as seats as we continue to establish and shape our woodwork area. In the woodwork area, we made the stakes for the dead hedges. Adults and children learned to sharpen coppiced hazel, taking the cut stems and working them to a point with a blade on a shave horse. 

A highlight of the day was the debut of the new children's-sized shave horse, made by Toby and Ben. Watching the kids settle into it on their own, rather than sitting on grown ups was exciting and a chance to build skills and independence. Thanks Toby and Ben!

Coppice Club isn’t for kids, so they mostly they ran wild, giving the adults time to learn,  share lunch, tea and chat. 

The bluebells will still be there for Beltane on 2nd May, carpeting the floor. Come and see - event detail here.

We'll also be sharing some exciting funding news on the blog very soon — news that will allow us to open the woods up to more people who have less access to nature, and to help more of our community build a real connection with this place. Watch this space.

Coppice Club meets monthly. Our next seasonal gathering is Beltane, with one-day and camping options available.