A form of woodland management called coppicing began in the Croes Robert woodland in 1994/95. Trees are cut down and then re grow from the base thus providing a self renewing source of wood. This was done to carry out the correct management of the woodland for dormice which are a protected and nationally rare species. Areas known as coupes are cut annually in the woodland on rotation to provide the mosaic of different aged woodland required by dormice. This management practice also benefits many other species other than dormice, such as fritillary butterflies.

As a by product of the annual coppicing programme, a charcoal burning enterprise was created to produce a sustainable marketable product from the wood which is felled. Lengths of wood are cut and burned slowly in large on site kilns to produce the charcoal. The first bags of charcoal were produced in 1996 and sold direct to Trust members. The charcoal product is successfully marketed locally within Gwent, with demand and sales rising steadily. The demand has increased for the barbecue charcoal to an extent that a permanent ‘burning’ area has been created for the kilns which have been increased from two to four.

A picture of a dormouse "in hand"!  A licence is needed to handle dormice as they are protected by the European Habitats and Species Directive.

The Trust often runs courses about dormice.  Please contact us if you would like details.