coppicing

Woodland management practice of severe pruning where trees are cut down to near ground level at regular intervals, typically every 3–20 years, to promote the growth of numerous shoots from the base.

This form of forestry was once commonly practised in Europe, principally on hazel and chestnut, to produce large quantities of thin branches for firewood, fencing, and so on; alder, eucalyptus, maple, poplar, and willow were also coppiced. The resulting thicket was known as a coppice or copse. See also pollarding.