When cut at ground level some species of tree don’t die but instead respond by sending up new shoots from the cut stump (often called a stool). This is the case for most species of native broadleaf tree and it’s this characteristic that means a tree can be coppiced. Certain species coppice better than others with hazel, sweet chestnut, willow and ash being good examples. Coppiced trees can go through the cutting and re-growing cycle over and over again and so provide a sustainable source of wood. In the spring after cutting, the established root systems of the stools enable new shoots to grow much more vigorously than a newly planted tree, reaching perhaps 1.5m (5ft) or more in the first growing season, depending on the species and the growing conditions. This means that useful poles are quickly produced which can be cut once they reach a useful size. The process then starts all over again! Excerpt from “Coppicing in a Nutshell,” National Coppice Federation.