Prime Coppice
52 acres of woodland and woodland pasture set in the beautiful Marshwood Vale in West DorsetThis semi-natural ancient woodland consists primarily of hazel coppice, ash and mature oak trees.
Prime Coppice video
Common Ground, in conjunction with the Dorset AONB, have captured the efforts of Kit, Ruth and the Working Woodlanders in this short film.
We hope that this film will inspire you to pick up a bowsaw and head out to your local community woodland; to give some much needed TLC and receive much more in return.
Get Involved
We have a regular group of working woodlanders that volunteer and work at Prime Coppice.
Products
We provide firewood, charcoal, wood chunks, quality ash and oak for greenwood working, and much more.
Courses and Venue
We run a variety of courses in our woodland workshop and camp.
Resources
We have woodland and sustainability resources including heating with woodfuel, woodland management, coppicing, and sustainability.
Services
We can provide a range of professional services to help you manage your own small woodland and land management projects.
Projects and Partners
We have a number of projects underway with different partners.
Welcome
Prime Coppice is 52 acres of woodland and woodland pasture set in the beautiful Marshwood Vale in West Dorset. This semi-natural ancient woodland consists primarily of hazel coppice, ash and mature oak trees with other species including willow, silver birch, alder, hawthorn, blackthorn, aspen, spindle and Norway spruce.
The wood has a long history as a working wood but in recent years there has been a alack of active management. Ruth and Kit Vaughan have owned the site since 2011 and are now restoring the woodland, bringing the coppice back into rotation, opening up the woodland rides and tracks and increasing the biodiversity through careful management.
Our vision
Our vision at Prime Coppice is to develop a sustainable woodland which delivers social, environmental and economic benefits, we are also looking at how to manage the woodland in the context of climate change.
Prime Coppice is a remarkably beautiful place to visit and work in, a true wild Dorset gem, offering a level of tranquillity and quiet that are all too rare in our current day and age. In the spring there are wild daffodils and wild garlic, bluebells and violets, and it is a very special place at any time of year. There is a remarkable array of birdlife and wild plants.
Prime Coppice is located close to Lyme Regis, Bridport and Axminster and is only a few miles from Charmouth and the famous world heritage Jurassic Coast.
Latest from the Blog
Find out what is going on at Prime Coppice…
The Landworkers’ Alliance Forestry Manifesto
A time of crisis is also a time of opportunity. The UK’s current and future woodlands represent an opportunity for regeneration. The Landworkers' Alliance (LWA) envisions big changes in the way we manage woods and trees. We see the possibility for them to provide...
Woodlands and Wellbeing
Woods can heal people - and the planet - yet over half of British woodlands lie unmanaged and forgotten. Climate change campaigner, Kit Vaughan, who lives and manages his own woodland in Dorset, explores the role of environmental wellbeing by giving people access to...
Firewood for sale
We have quality, seasoned, dry firewood for sale, harvested from our woodland, Ash and Oak, for collection or delivery. Phone Kit for more details 07778525816