Coppice

I've mentioned it before, I see it all the time, yet it never ceases to amaze me how widespread hazel coppicing must have been at one time.  From small clumps to whole areas of woodland, I come across neglected coppice where ever I walk.  I spied a neglected stool today, long overgrown, which had recently been cut back to the ground and with luck will, come next spring, sprout new rods. It's great to see coppicies rejuvenated. Looking down at the pattern created by the grown out and merging Hazel rods of the stool, I thought I saw a tortoise, then it looked like a bear and finally I settled on a dinosaur.