in archaeological sites. Timber in the Sweet Track in Somerset (built in the winter of 3807 and 3806 BCE) has been identified as coppiced Tilia species.

Originally, the silvicultural system now called coppicing was practised solely for small wood production. In German this is called Niederwald, which translates as low forest. Later on in medieval times, farmers encouraged pigs to feed from acorns, and so some trees were allowed