04/01/2026
This is very an interesting post about how to develop a tree so the foliage is above munching range!
Heading: The method of pollarding, particularly the initial stage known as "heading," is a centuries-old woodland management technique rooted in both practicality and sustainability.
This practice involves cutting the main trunk or branches of a young tree at a predetermined height, typically between 6 and 10 feet above the ground.
This height is not arbitrary; it is deliberately chosen to keep the tree’s regrowth beyond the reach of grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and deer, which would otherwise browse on the tender new shoots.
The first heading cut is typically made when the tree is still young and vigorous, allowing it to respond robustly with a flush of new shoots just below the cut.
These shoots will eventually grow into a dense crown of branches, which can be harvested cyclically for a variety of purposes, firewood, fencing material, fodder, or even charcoal production.
Because the tree’s root system remains intact and mature, regrowth is usually rapid, and the pollarded tree can live for hundreds of years with regular maintenance.
In many traditional landscapes, pollarding was done on a cycle of anywhere from 5 to 25 years, depending on the species of tree and the intended use of the wood.
Commonly pollarded trees include ash, oak, willow, hornbeam, and lime, each responding differently in terms of regrowth and utility. Over time, the repeated cycles of cutting and regrowth create distinctive bulbous forms at the cut points, often referred to as "pollard heads", which are key identifiers of historic pollarding in the landscape today.
"Heading" not only promotes longevity in trees but also supports biodiversity, as mature pollards provide habitats for birds, insects, fungi, and bats. The technique remains in use today, both in conservation management and urban tree care, illustrating the enduring relevance of this ancient practice.
