Coppicing (Niederwald) is an ancient form of forestry in which trees such as hornbeam, hazel, and ash are cut back to the stump every 15 to 25 years. The rootstock remains intact and sprouts new growth. This method of management, which provides firewood and animal feed, was widespread until the 20th century, especially in Westphalia and the Palatinate. Coppicing management has been practiced again on the museum grounds since the 1980s, with the wood being used as fuel.
The coppice forest with standards (Mittelwald) is a traditional forest type with two layers: below, coppice shoots of fast-growing, shade-tolerant deciduous trees such as hornbeam or hazel, which were used as firewood. Above, there are individual oak trees for timber production. The lower layer was cut every 30 years, the upper layer at longer intervals. Coppice forests with standards were grazed, provided litter and fodder leaves, and were ecologically valuable. These forests have been documented since the 13th century, but lost their importance in the 20th century due to the decline in firewood use. A coppice forest with standards (Mittelwald) has been preserved in the museum to this day.
The Hauberg is a special form of coppice forest that combines agriculture and forestry. Trees such as oak, birch, and hornbeam provided firewood, charcoal, bark, and animal feed every 15 to 20 years. After felling, the land was used for agriculture for one year, usually for growing rye or buckwheat. Then it was turned back into forest. The land was organized cooperatively. Hauberg forestry dates back to the Iron Age and was particularly widespread in the Siegerland region. The conversion of the iron industry to coal led to a sharp decline in Hauberg forestry in the 19th century.
The Hude forest is a grazed forest area where horses, cattle, and pigs fed on grass, leaves, twigs, and fruits such as acorns and nuts. Grazing created sparse stands with a rich herb layer. This ancient form of land use served to secure food supplies at a time when agriculture was still rare. In the 19th century, agriculture and the housing of livestock in barns increasingly replaced forest grazing as artificial pastures and fodder plants became available.
In a selection forest (Plenterwald), trees of all ages and stages of development grow close together. Individual trees are continuously removed, resulting in permanent regeneration. This differs from clear-cutting in high forests, where entire areas are cleared. Selection forestry, which is usually regulated, specifies the number and minimum thickness of the trunks to be felled. As a result, stable, close-to-nature economic forests emerge. The term “plentern” probably comes from the verb “blendern” – the targeted removal of trees that block light. This form of regulated selective cutting spread in Westphalia in the 19th century.
